- Shakti
Bhavani Mandap
- Kolhapur,Maharashtra
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Overview
The Bhavani Mandap is situated in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. It is situated near the famous Mahalaxmi Temple.
Legend and Stories
Bhavani Mandap was an important meeting venue that housed the offices of various court officials and was centre of many celebrations. It also saw a famous murder in the central courtyard. The place has the nostalgic charm and typical architecture of the British Raj bringing back memories of the rich princely state Kolhapur used to be. At Bhavani Mandap, we can find the life size statue of Kolhapur's most loved prince Shahu Maharaj. Although, he was deemed king by the city dwellers, most of his political life was spent under the Raj. On display are stuffed animals actually hunted by Shri Shahu Maharaj including a giant bison (who has achieved some spiritual importance considering the amount of saffron spread over it), Panthers, a pair of deer and few others! It also exhibits a modest wooden throne believed to be the one used by Shivaji on his visits to Kolhapur, strengthening the idea that He was more a man on a mission with not much regards to wordly-comfort. In its present form it functions as a collective tomb of Kolhapur's Maratha royalty. Legend says that there is an underground tunnel leading to Bhavani Mandap from Panhala, the hillside fort about 20 km away from Kolhapur built to allow an escape-route for warring Maratha soldiers. Any attempts to discover this tunnel or its discovery have not been heard.
Significance
There has been a long running controversy about the Bhavani idol worshipped at Bhavani Mandap. The Kolhapur front claims it to be the real statue of Bhavani that Shivaji used to pray to and rescued from Tuljapur during a siege by Aurangzeb. The clergies from Tuljapur do not agree and maintain that their idol is genuine.
How to Reach
The Kolhapur Airport has no commercial airline services. The nearest civil airport is in Pune. Kolhapur Railway Station is around 5 km away from the city. Kolhapur lies on National Highway 4 which connects the city to Mumbai and Bangalore. It is served by a good number of buses plying from various nearby cities like Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore amongst others.
Temple Address
Bhavani Mandap,
Kolhapur,
Maharashtra.
Significance
Devotees visit this temple to seek fulfillment of the following:-
- Marriage
- Get married to a person of a girl's choice
- Health and longevity of husband
Shlokas
Sarva Mangala Maangalye Sive Sarvaardha Saadhike, Saranye Tryambake Gauri Naarayani Namosthuthe
Meaning -We offer you our salutations, Oh auspicious Naraayani, who is the good of all good, who can achieve everything and can offer refuge, Oh three-eyed Gowri.
Saranaangatha Dheenaartha Parithraana Paraayane Sarvasyaarthi Hare Devi Naaraayani Namosthuthe
Meaning -We offer salutations to you, Oh Narayani, who has the infinite power of creating, preserving and destroying. You are the basis and epitome of the 3 gunas.
Sarvaroope Sarvese Sarvasakthi Samanvithe, Bhayebhyastrahi No Devi Durge Devi Namosthuthe
Meaning -I offer my salutations to you mother Durga, who is present in all beings and has all power, save us from all our wrongdoings O mother of the universe.
Yaa Devi Sarva Bhooteshu Shakthi Roopena Samsthita Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namaha
Meaning -Salutations to the Goddess who resides as Shakti in all beings.
Timings
The temple is open from 9:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m