2. SHREE KARVEER NIWASINI AMBABAI MAHALAXMI TEMPLE, KOLHAPUR .

This temple was built in the 7th century CE. This temple is dedicated to devi Mahalaxmi wife of lord Vishnu .Visiting Ambabai temple kolhapur Along with Tirupati temple ,Andra pradesh and padmavathi temple it is considered as one can help in achieving moksha . 

The architecture of Kolhapur Shaktipeeth Temple belongs to the Chalukya Empire and it is said that the temple was first built by Karnadeva around 700 AD. The Mahalakshmi idol of Kolhapur is made of sandstone and weighs 40 kilograms. The goddess wears a beautiful jeweled crown on her head. The height of Mahalaxmi goddess idol is about 2 feet 9 inches tall.  Shree Mahalakshmi Devi's vehicle Lion, made of stone stands behind the Idol of the goddess. Shree Mahalakshmi Devi has four hands holding Mahalunga fruit (lemon fruit), Kaumodaki (mace), a shield, and a Panpatra. In Hinduism, almost all sacred idols are seen facing east or north. But Shree Mahalakshmi faces west. It is the architect's excellence, on 6 days from January 31st to February 2nd and November 9th to 11th, the rays of the sun coming from the Mahadwar fall directly on the face of the goddess Mahalakshmi. These days are celebrated as Kironotsav in Kolhapur Shakti Peeth temple

Garud Mandapa:The outermost temple called Garuda Mandap was added by Daji Pandit between 1838 and 1843.In the north, Rajshree Shahumharaj has built Ghati Darwaza with a big bell.  Kolhapur Mahalakshmi Devi Temple has several smaller temples. In 1941, Shrimant Jagirdar Babasaheb Ghatge installed the idol of nine planets (navgraha) on the left side after entering through Ghati Darwaza. On a high stone, there are idols of the Sun God, Shivlinga, Naugraha, Mahishasuramardini, and Sheshashahi Vishnu Temple. On the south side near the university gate, there are small temples of Kalabhairava, Radhakrishna, Siddhivinayak, Tuljabhavani, Lakshmi-Narayana, Annapurna, Indrasabha, Rameshwar, Narayanaswami Maharaj, various deities.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s daughter-in-law Tarabaie made a canon near the northern entrance of the Kolhapur Mahalaxmi Devi Temple. This canon is fired on certain days to salute Goddess Mahalakshmi. There are two water tanks named Manikarnika and Kashi in the Kolhapur Shaktipeeth temple area.Kolhapur Temple is surrounded by a pentagonal wall and this wall has 4 entrances. The idol of the goddess is easily visible from the main entrance in the west. 

Various festivals celebrated in the temple

1.Navratra

Navratra (nine nights) festival is celebrated for ten days during the Hindu months of Ashwin (around October). The daily routine of the temple is modified during this period. At 8.30 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. Abhishek is performed followed by Mahanaivedya and Aarti. Later at 2.00 p.m. the deity is decorated with all the ornaments. On all ten days at 9.30 p.m. the litter of the Goddess is decorated in different forms with flowers and lights and is taken out in procession in the temple complex. Government sponsored police and military band is played at the head of the procession. The event culminates at 10.30 p.m. when the litter returns to the Garud Mandap and is placed on a special pedestal. The Goddess then receives one canon salute. Various cultural programmes are organized by the Mahalakshim Temple Trust in these ten days.

2.Ashtami

At 8.30 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. Abhishek is performed on the deity along with the other usual rituals followed by Alankar Puja. The silver representation of the Goddess is placed in the Garud Mandap from 7.00 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. At 9.45 p.m. the Goddess then receives one canon salute. The silver representation is placed on a throne and is taken around the town in procession from Mahadwar road, Gujri-Bhausinghji road, Bhavani Mandap (where the goddess is honoured with betel leaves and betel nut by distinguished people. She is also offered Oti (comprising golden bordered blouse piece, coconut, bangles, sweets and token money), Gurumaharajwada, Shri Binkhanbi Ganesh (where Lord Ganesh is worshipped) and back to the Mahadwar Road and to the temple. Again an Aarti is done followed by sacrificial fire Puja that continues till wee hours of next morning. It ends with the Purnahuti (culmination Puja)

Outside the temple one can find various kolhapuri chappal and jutis  shops and also various jwellery shops . The place around the temple is well maintained and also the washrooms are clean must visit place for all the believers of hindu (sanatani) .One can find many tourist throughout the year .

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