Devi Bhagavata Purana
Skandha 7, Adhyaya 38 — among the sacred places of the south, Kolhapur is declared the permanent abode of Devi Lakshmi
Kolhapur · Maharashtra
Sri Mahalakshmi
Sri Mahalakshmi (Ambabai) Temple, Karaveer Nivasini — Kolhapur
Shree Karveer Nivasini Ambabai Mahalakshmi — Consort of Vishnu and Shakti-svarupa
अन्य नाम: Ambabai · Karaveer Nivasini · Karavira Mahalakshmi · Lakshmi Bhavani · Goddess of the Karaveer Pitha
- Ashtadasha Maha Shakti Pitha
- Three-and-a-half
- 51 Shakti Peethas tradition
- Karaveer Kshetra
इस मन्दिर की विशेषता
- Ashtadasha Maha Shakti Pitha — named in Adi Shankaracharya's Ashtadasha Shakti Peetha Stotram as 'Kolhāpure Mahālakṣmī'
- Three-and-a-half (3.5) Shakti Pithas of Maharashtra — a FULL pitha (the other two full: Tulja Bhavani Tuljapur + Renuka Mahurgad; the half: Saptashringi Vani)
- 51 Shakti Peethas tradition — Karavira Pitha; Sati's three eyes (trinetra) fell here; Bhairava: Krodhisha; Devi-form: Mahishamardini
- Karaveer Kshetra — the permanent earthly abode of Devi Lakshmi per Devi Bhagavata 7.38
01
मूल विग्रह
मुख्य देव एवं स्वरूप
Sri Mahalakshmi (Ambabai) — Lakshmi (consort of Vishnu) in the Vaishnava tradition; Parvati-svarupa in the Shakta tradition; presiding deity of the Karaveer Kshetra
Black-stone (krishna-shila / black granite) standing image — 3 ft (~91 cm) tall, ~40 kg; west-facing (पश्चिमाभिमुख); gem-studded crown; four arms — lower-right: Matulinga (citron fruit); upper-right: Kaumodaki gada (mace, head touching the ground); upper-left: Khetaka (shield); lower-left: Panpatra (drinking bowl); crown holds the five-hooded Shesha-naga and a small Shiva-linga; a stone simha (lion) vahana stands behind the idol
सम्प्रदाय: Dual tradition — Vaishnava (Devi Bhagavata 7.38, Karaveer-Mahatmya — Vishnu's consort Lakshmi) and Shakta (Shiva-linga in crown, lion vahana, Maha Shakti Pitha status). Both warranted in scripture.
02
स्थल-पुराण
कथा, इतिहास एवं महत्व
Padma Purana
Mahalakshmi Ashtakam (Indra-krita stotra) — 'Namastestu Mahamaye Sripithe Surapujite' — 8 verses
Skanda Purana
Lakshmi Sahasranama — 'Om Karavira-nivasinyai namaḥ' — naming the Devi as resident of Karavira
Karavira Mahatmya
Independent māhātmya text glorifying the Kolhapur kshetra; cited under both Padma and Skanda Purana traditions
Ashtadasha Shakti Peetha Stotram
Composed by Adi Shankaracharya — 'Kolhāpure Mahālakṣmī, Māhūrye Ekavīrikā'
संत एवं परम्परा
- Maharshi Bhrigu — kicked Vishnu's chest; the resulting departure of an offended Lakshmi from Vaikuntha and her choice of Karaveer-pur as her permanent earthly abode (puranic narrative)
- Asura Kolhasura — tormented the sages of Karaveer Kshetra; slain by the Devi (aided by Jyotiba); the asura's three boons — that the city be named Kolhapur, that the Devi continue residing there, and that the annual Kushmanda-bheda ritual commemorate him
- Adi Shankaracharya (8th century CE) — praised the Karaveer Pitha in the Ashtadasha Shakti Peetha Stotram
- Narhar Bhat Shastri — Mughal-era priest whose dream-vision revealed the hidden idol; instrumental in the 1712 CE re-installation
- Sambhaji II of Kolhapur — re-installed the idol on Vijayadashami 1712 CE
- Tarabai — founder of the Karaveer state; Maratha-era royal patron
- Shahaji Raje of Kolhapur — re-installation of 1954 CE
ऐतिहासिक घटनाक्रम
- 6347th century CE (~634) — original temple built by Chalukya king Karnadeva — Wikipedia + Trawell + multiple secondary
- 110011th century — Shilahara king Gandaraditya added the pradakshina path and the Mahakali + Mahasaraswati shrines — Wikipedia + Kolhapur Tourism
- 12181218 CE — Yadava king Tolum built the western 'Mahadwar' main gate — Wikipedia + Trimbakeshwar.org
- 17121712 CE, Vijayadashami — Mughal-era hidden idol re-installed by Sambhaji II of Kolhapur following the dream-vision of priest Narhar Bhat Shastri — Trawell + InHeritage Foundation + multiple
- 18431838-1843 CE — Garuda Mandap built by Daji Pandit — Wikipedia + InHeritage Foundation
- 19541954 CE — re-installation by Shahaji Raje of Kolhapur — Wikipedia + Kolhapur Tourism
03
नित्य उपासना
दर्शन समय एवं आरती
04:00 से 22:30 तक
Kakad Aarti05:00
First aarti of the day, one hour after opening
Morning Mahapuja08:00
Madhyahn (Afternoon) Mahapuja11:30
Dhup Aarti19:30
Principal evening aarti
Shej Aarti22:00-22:30
Closing aarti of the day
04
दर्शन
दर्शन के प्रकार
General Free Darshanनिःशुल्क
Main Mahalakshmi darshan is free; standard queue.
Padya Puja₹350
Foot-washing puja of the Devi; book via official portal.
Kumkum Archana₹550
Kumkum offering and archana of the Devi.
Panchamrut Kumkumarchan Abhishek₹1099
Panchamrut bath abhishek plus kumkumarchan.
Maha Abhishek with Vastra₹3049
Full maha-abhishek with vastra-offering.
05
उत्सव
प्रमुख पर्व एवं उत्सव
Kirnotsav (Sun-rays festival) — January-February cycle31 January - 2 February (annual)
Twice yearly the setting sun's rays pass through a small western window directly onto the west-facing idol. 2026: 31 January (feet), 1 February (chest), 2 February (entire body / face). Devotees advised to arrive ~90 minutes before sunset. This is Kolhapur Mahalakshmi's signature unique observance.
Kirnotsav — November cycle9-11 November (annual)
Second annual sun-rays cycle. 2026: 9 November (feet), 10 November (chest), 11 November (entire body / face).
Ratha SaptamiMagha Shukla Saptami
Sun-worship festival; special Devi puja. 2026 — Sunday 25 January.
Lalita JayantiMagha Purnima
Worship of the Devi as Lalita Tripura Sundari; Lalita Sahasranama parayana. 2026 — Sunday 1 February.
Akshaya TritiyaVaishakha Shukla Tritiya
Special alankara of the Devi; auspicious for gold purchases. 2026 — Sunday 19 April.
Mahalakshmi Vrata (16-day)Bhadrapada Shukla Ashtami onwards (16 days)
16-day vrat; daily Devi puja. 2026 — begins Saturday 19 September.
Sharadiya NavaratriAshvin Shukla Pratipada-Dashami
Flagship annual celebration; nine-night festival; daily special alankaras. 2026 Ghatasthapana — Sunday 11 October.
Lalita Panchami — Tryambuli YatraAshvin Shukla Panchami
The Devi's palanquin travels to Tryambuli Devi (a hill east of Kolhapur); Kushmanda-bheda ritual commemorates the slaying of Kolhasura. 2026 — Friday 16 October.
Vijayadashami / DussehraAshvin Shukla Dashami
Devi's vijaya-yatra; commemorates the 1712 CE re-installation of the idol on this very day. 2026 — Tuesday 20 October.
Tulsi VivahKartik Shukla Dwadashi
Tulsi-vivah ritual. 2026 — Saturday 21 November.
Margashirsha Guruvar Lakshmi VratAll Thursdays of Margashirsha month
Maharashtra's famed Margashirsha Thursday Lakshmi vrat tradition. 2026 — 12, 19, 26 November and 3 December.
06
आस्था
मनोकामना एवं फल
Mahalakshmi = goddess of wealth; Karaveer-nivasini consort of Vishnu; the principal Shakti Pitha for wealth-related sankalpa
स्रोत: Devi Bhagavata Skandha 7 Adhyaya 38 + Padma Purana Mahalakshmi Ashtakam
On 6 days of the year (31 Jan - 2 Feb and 9-11 Nov), the setting sun's rays pass through the western window directly onto the Devi; high punya attached to this darshan
स्रोत: Kolhapur sthala tradition
Mahalakshmi (Kolhapur) + Tulja Bhavani + Mahur Renuka — the three full pithas; Saptashringi the half. Combined yatra carries special punya
स्रोत: Maharashtra Shakta tradition
'Kolhāpure Mahālakṣmī' — named in Adi Shankaracharya's Ashtadasha Shakti Peetha Stotram
स्रोत: Ashtadasha Shakti Peetha Stotram (Adi Shankaracharya)
Maharashtra's principal Lakshmi-vrat tradition; Thursdays of Margashirsha month dedicated to Devi-worship for vaibhava-kamana
स्रोत: Maharashtra vrata tradition
07
जप
मन्त्र एवं स्तोत्र
- Mahalakshmi Ashtakam'Namastestu Mahamaye Sripithe Surapujite' — the principal stotram of Kolhapur Mahalakshmi
- Sri Suktam'Om Hiranyavarnam Harinim Suvarnarajatasrajam' — the foundational Vedic mantra of Lakshmi upasana
- Lalita Sahasranama1,000 names of the Devi; composed by the 8 Vagdevis
- Ashtadasha Shakti Peetha Stotram'Kolhāpure Mahālakṣmī' — scriptural confirmation of this temple's status
- Om Karavira-nivasinyai namaḥ
08
तीर्थाटन
समीप के तीर्थ एवं परिपथ
Mahadwar (western main gate) — 1218 CE0 मी
Western gate built in 1218 CE by Yadava king Tolum
Tryambuli Devi Temple4 किमी
Sister deity of Mahalakshmi; receives the Devi's palanquin on Lalita Panchami; Kushmanda-bheda ritual
Jyotiba Temple (Wadi Ratnagiri)18 किमी
Kedarling / Jyotiba Shiva temple; aided the Devi in slaying Kolhasura; usually combined with the Mahalakshmi yatra
Panhala Fort21 किमी
Historic fort of the Shivaji Maharaj era
Narsobawadi (Datta-kshetra)50 किमी
Principal Dattatreya tirtha at the Krishna-Panchaganga sangam
Kopeshwar Temple, Khidrapur60 किमी
12th-century Kopeshwar Shiva temple
FULL pitha — Mahalakshmi Kolhapur; other full: Tulja Bhavani Tuljapur + Renuka Mahur; half: Saptashringi Vani
4 मंदिर
'Kolhāpure Mahālakṣmī' — named in the stotram; preceded by Chamunda Krauncha Pattane (4); followed by Mahurye Ekavirika
18 मंदिर
Central; three connected tirthas of the Kolhasura-vadha narrative; combined 1-day yatra
3 मंदिर
09
मार्गदर्शन
यात्रा एवं संपर्क
- पता
- Sri Mahalakshmi (Ambabai) Temple, Mahadwar Road, B Ward, Kolhapur — 416012, Maharashtra
- हवाई अड्डा
- Kolhapur Airport (KLH, Ujlaiwadi) — ~9-10 km; Belgaum Airport (IXG) — ~100 km; Pune (PNQ) — ~230 km
- रेलवे
- Kolhapur Railway Junction (Chh. Shahu Maharaj Terminus) — ~3 km
- बस-स्टैण्ड
- Kolhapur Central Bus Stand (CBS) — ~3.6 km
- उत्तम ऋतु
- October-March (cool season) is best; Kirnotsav (31 January-2 February and 9-11 November) is unique; Sharadiya Navaratri (October) is peak
- हेल्पलाइन
- 0231-2541779 (Devasthan Samiti)
3 किमीKolhapur Railway Junction
10 किमीKolhapur Airport
3.6 किमीKolhapur Central Bus Stand
100 किमीBelgaum Airport
230 किमीPune Airport
375 किमीMumbai
230 किमीGoa
18 किमीJyotiba Temple
21 किमीPanhala Fort
50 किमीNarsobawadi