The famous temple of Mata Mahalakshmi is located in Kolhapur, Maharashtra which is also known as Ambabai Temple. Shri Mahalakshmi Temple of Kolhapur is one of the 108 Shakti Peethas of Mata. This temple was built by King Karnadeva of the Chalukya dynasty in the seventh century. It is believed that the idol of Goddess Lakshmi installed in this temple is about 7,000 years old.
Inside the temple, along with the Navagrahas, Lord Surya, Mahishasura Mardini, Vittal Rakhmai, Shivaji, Vishnu, Tulja Bhavani, etc., are also places of worship for many deities. Some of the idols of these deities are also said to date back to the 11th century.
Here on a black stone platform, a four-handed statue of Goddess Mahalakshmi, wearing a crown on her head, is installed. The idol of the mother is decorated with precious ornaments. His crown also weighs about forty kilograms, which is studded with precious gems. The height of the Mahalakshmi statue made of black stone is about 3 feet.
Shri/Lakshmi Yantra is carved on stone on one of the walls of the temple. Behind the idol of the goddess, there is also a statue of her vehicle lion made of stone. At the same time, there is a picture of Sheshnag, the beloved snake of Lord Vishnu, in the crown of the goddess. Goddess Mahalakshmi holds invaluable symbols in her four hands, such as a lemon fruit in her lower right hand, a mace in her upper right hand with her tip resting on the ground below. There is a shield in the upper left hand and a pot in the lower left hand.
Apart from the rest of the temples of Lakshmi Mata, Mata is established in the Mahalaxmi temple facing west direction. There is a small open window on the western wall in front of the goddess, through which the rays of the sun come to the central part while consecrating the pada of Goddess Lakshmi and finally illuminating her face.
