Karavira, the second pitha of the Pithanirnaya, is usually identified with Kolhapur (Maharashtra), where the famous temple of Mahalakshmi (Ambabai) stands. By the text Sati’s three eyes fell at Karavira, and the goddess is Mahishamardini and the Bhairava Krodhisha; but some manuscripts read the place as "Sharkarara", taken to be Sukkur in Sindh (Pakistan), so the identification is disputed.
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- Tradition
- Shakta
- Place
- Kolhapur (Karvir), Kolhapur district
- State
- Maharashtra
- Country
- India
- Official website
- Devasthan Management Committee, Western Maharashtra, Kolhapur (mahalaxmikolhapur.com)
Kiranotsav and Navratri
According to Maharashtra Tourism, twice a year, from 31 January to 2 February and from 9 to 11 November, the rays of the setting sun reach the goddess’s face through a small window; this is called Kiranotsav. The temple’s greatest festival is Navratri.
The temple’s official website counts it among the "three and a half Shakti Peethas". This is a tradition of Maharashtra of its own, separate from the Pithanirnaya’s list of 51.
How to reach Mahalakshmi (Ambabai), Kolhapur
- According to Maharashtra Tourism: Kolhapur airport is about 10 km from the city; the temple is about 5 km from Kolhapur railway station (Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Terminus); Pune is about 240 km and Mumbai about 380 km away.
Main festivals
Where the sources differ
- According to the historian D. C. Sircar Karavira is usually taken as Kolhapur, but from the reading "Sharkarara" it has also been taken as Sukkur in Sindh. Because of this dispute no map is given here.
- The Devi Bhagavata (7.30) names the goddess at Karavira Mahalakshmi.
- Official pages also differ on the count of Maharashtra’s pithas: the temple website says three and a half, Incredible India four.
- The temple’s official website gives the daily puja times, but its table and its text do not agree, so no times are given here.
- The count of pithas depends on the text: the Pithanirnaya lists 51, some Bengali lists 52, the Devi Bhagavata (7.30) gives 108 places with names of the goddess, and the early Tantras name only four (Sircar).
Frequently asked questions
Which part of Sati fell at Kolhapur Mahalakshmi?
By the Pithanirnaya, Sati’s three eyes fell at the Karavira pitha, which is usually taken as Kolhapur. The temple’s own website names no limb.
When is the Kiranotsav at Kolhapur?
According to Maharashtra Tourism, every year from 31 January to 2 February and from 9 to 11 November, when the setting sun’s rays fall on the goddess’s face.
Where is Mahalakshmi (Ambabai), Kolhapur Shakti Peetha?
Mahalakshmi (Ambabai), Kolhapur Shakti Peetha is in Kolhapur (Karvir), Kolhapur district, Maharashtra.
Which lists of tirthas include Mahalakshmi (Ambabai), Kolhapur?
The 51 Shakti Peethas (number 2 of 51 in the list).
How to reach Mahalakshmi (Ambabai), Kolhapur?
According to Maharashtra Tourism: Kolhapur airport is about 10 km from the city; the temple is about 5 km from Kolhapur railway station (Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Terminus); Pune is about 240 km and Mumbai about 380 km away.
Sources
- D. C. Sircar, The Śākta Pīṭhas (Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal 1948; Motilal Banarsidass, 1973): table of the Pithanirnaya pp. 35-37, note on this pitha p. 44 (archive.org)
- Vachaspatyam (Taranatha Tarkavachaspati), "pitha": the list of pithas quoted from the Tantrachudamani (Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries, sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de)
- Devi Bhagavata Purana 7.30 (the list of 108 pithas), English translation by Swami Vijnanananda (wisdomlib.org)
- Official website of the Shri Mahalaxmi temple, Kolhapur (mahalaxmikolhapur.com), Devasthan Management Committee, Western Maharashtra
- Maharashtra Tourism (maharashtratourism.gov.in): Mahalaxmi Temple, Kolhapur
- Incredible India (incredibleindia.gov.in): Mahalaxmi Temple, Kolhapur
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