My Trip to Nippani, Kaneri Math, Sidhagiri Museum and Sri MahaLakshmi Temple (Kolhapur)

We've started our Journey from Bangalore to Belgaum on Rani Chennamma Express train at 09:15 PM.....It was a good trip in the Sleeper coach but missed India vs Australia World cup Match on 24-March-2011 which India won...Reached Belgaum around 8:30 AM and reached Nipani through Bus via Sankeshwar (Where most of my college memories lye)..

My main intension of the trip was to meet my Engineering college mate and close friend Ram Nakul Sutar after almost 5 Yrs personally at his home town....But have not met due to his leave issue since he works in Pune...But enjoyed the time with two of his brothers, their kids and mom....Me and My family had a very good time staying on 25th March 2011..Got a very little bored since my friend was not there...

We have taken two special things from Nipani…..

1. Turmeric Pickle (Got from Pune by my friend)

2. Amarkhand (Amarkhand is mango flavored shrikhand)

After refreshing our self on 26th March 2011 (Saturday), we planned to visit "Siddhagiri Math" and also "Siddhagiri Museum" since my friend was not there.......which is on the way to Kolhapur where we were to head to my Home Town: Hyderabad at 7PM by MSRTC bus...

"Kaneri Math" and "Siddhagiri Museum":

Since there is no direct Bus from Nipani to Siddhagiri Math....We travelled short distances, First started from Nipani (Karnataka) and went to Kagal (Maharashtra), then took another bus which dropped us at M.R.D.C Circle...Then took a shared vehicle to Siddhagiri (Kaneri) Math, beside that was Siddhagiri Museum..The entire travel from Nipani to Siddhagiri took around 1 Hr.

Shri Kshetra Siddhagiri (Kaneri) Math has a history of more than 1000 years, and is a holy place of worship of Lord Mahadeva (Shiva).

The surrounding around is the museum a very calm and quiet, a hilly place with a good collection of Flora and Fauna.

It was very nice seeing Lord Shiva and the Dhyan Mandir in the premises of the Math.

We had darshan and few snaps inside the Math and went to the Wax Museum very quickly since we had to catch the bus at 7 PM.

The Ticket for adults to enter the "Siddhagiri Museum" is Rs. 40 and for Kids is Rs. 20...We have taken 2 adults and 1 kid ticket for my Daughter since my son is only 2.5 Yrs and Four of us went inside by convincing the security to put our luggage near to the entrance since no valuables were there except our clothes in the Two big bags...

The visit of the Siddhagiri Museum was simply Awesome and unimaginable....It was really superb...But no photography, a fine of Rs. 500 and pictures will be damaged is the only negative point.

As I heard and read the unique wax museum, probably the only one of its kind in India..

It is a perfect blend of fact, powerful imagination and enormous hard work in getting the life-like expressions of the whole village.

I would really go back again once my kids are big so that they can remember this life-like village for their entire life...

For more info and real pictures of the Wax Museum visit: www.siddhagirimuseum.org

As we completed faster at Siddhagiri Museum, came back to M.R.D.C Circle and reached Kolhapur by Bus.

We had good time to visit the "Sri Maha Lakshmi Temple" at Kolhapur which is a Sri Shakti Peeth....

It was really happy to visit the Temple after many years and also to take my family..."Jai Amba Bai"...

I have written on Sri Maha Lakshmi Temple (Kolhapur) as well, check out by clicking here...

Then traveled by bus at 7PM a Super-Luxury a bad journey to my home town Hyderabad which was not booked properly by me...

Probably if Volvo was available I would have booked it....

We reached Hyderabad at 8AM and I've returned back to Bangalore leaving my wife and kids for Summer vacation for a month….

It was over all a very busy but enjoyable journey I ever had after Mekedhat and Chunchi Falls Trip..To see Click here..

Click here for Pictures of entire visit..

Mahalakshmi Shakti Peeth Temple - Kolhapur, Maharashtra

Mahalakshmi Shakti Peeth Temple

Have been visiting many temples of which Mahalakshmi Shakti Peeth Temple is my first Shakti Peeth darshan during the year 2000 – 2004 when I was doing my Engineering in Belgaum (Dist.)..Infact this was together with my younger brother who also Engineered in the same college during 2001 - 2005. We have visited this temple with our parents as well when they came to see us during leisure times…The other Shakti Peeth’s I’ve visited are: Basara saraswathi mata temple, Chamundeswari mata temple mysore and Bramarambika mata srisailam..Have not written about these places earlier except in my trip to Mysore post…Will try to write about my trips to the Basara saraswathi mata temple and Bramarambika mata temple srisailam soon….

Mahalakshmi Temple, an ancient temple in Kolhapur, is dedicated to the Goddess of prosperity Mahalaxmi, locally known as Goddess Amba Bai. This temple had been under the patronage of all the major dynasties who ruled the region and temple is revered by all the royal family members as well as populace of the region. The temple was constructed during the reign of King Karandev of Chalukya dynasty in 7th century AD i.e. around 600 to 700 A.D.

The Shri Mahalakshmi Temple of Kolhapur is one of the Shakti peetha located in Maharashtra. The various puranas of ancient India, have listed 108 shaktipeethas where Shakti (the goddess of power) is manifested.

Amongst these Shri Mahalakshmi of the Karveer area (the area where the present town of Kolhapur is located), is of special significance and significant city lying in the ancient Karveer region which is a treasure trove of ancient religious monuments in Western Maharashtra.

This is one of the six sites of the Shakti, where one can get both fulfillments of desires as well as salvation from them. It is therefore considered of even greater significance than Uttar Kashi, the place where one prays for salvation to Shri Mahalakshmi the consort of Shri Vishnu.

It is said that both Shri Lakshmi and Shri Vishnu reside in the Karveer area eternally and shall not leave even at the time of Mahaprayakala. This region is therefore also referred to as a avimuktakshetra.

Karveer region is eternally blessed and is believed to be held by Mother Jagdambe in her right hand, and so this region is protected from all destruction.

The temple is a marvelous example of architectural style known as ‘Hemandpanthi’ in ancient India. The walls of the temple complex are adorned with exquisite carvings and many sculptures. The temple complex consists of five towers and a main hall. The idol of Mahalaxmi is very unique, weighing 40 kg, made as a monolithic stone structure embedded with precious stones and diamonds. The precious stones that adorn the deity indicate the antiquity of the idol.

The statue of the Goddess has four arms. In the lower right hand she holds the matulinga, (a fruit similar to an ordinary lemon but much larger in size). In the upper right hand she holds large mace, kaumodaks, its head touching the ground. In the upper left hand she holds the shield or khetaka, and while in the the lower one she holds a bowl, panpatra.

On the crown of the Goddess are a cobra-hood (the mythical serpent of Shri Vishnu) and a Shiva-ling with a Yoni around it. Standing behind is the Goddess' vahana - a lion.

Almost all the idols of the God in the Temple face the north or the east directions, whereas here the Idol faces the west.

Lord Vishnu himself adores this region more than Vaikuntha or the Kshirsagar since it is the home of his consort Lakshmi. The greatness of this region has therefore attracted many sages and devotees, the blessings and affections showered by this region on its devotees are immeasurable.

It is believed that Prabhu Shri Dattatreya still comes here every noon to seek alms.

Kolhapur is well connected by rail and road with the major cities of India. Trains ply between Kolhapur and Mumbai, Bangalore, New Delhi and other important cities of Maharashtra like Pune, Sangli, Miraj. The city is also well connected by a road network.

Within the city too public transport is conveniently available to and from the temple

The temple witnesses a heavy inflow of devotees on all occasions. Major festivals celebrated here with much enthusiasm and festivities are Kiranotsav, celebrated for three days from January 31 every year and Navarathri during October.

Kiranotsav: The small window on the western wall which is open. Once a year, the rays of the Sun during sunset falls on the face of the image through this window. This period lasts for three days, each time, the 21st, of the months of March and September. This period is considered extremely auspicious, the Devotees throng the temple on all the three evenings the temple for a glimpse of the beautiful image bathing in the golden rays of the setting sun.

It is not surprising that even the rays of a setting sun pay homage to Goddess Mahalakshmi as the life of human being revolves around illumination and prosperity. But it is the wonder of wise architects who built the temple of Mahalakshmi at kolhapur that the rays of the setting Sun, bow at the feet of the Goddess through a window, for a while before vanishing. This special event is celebrated by thousands of people as ‘KiranUtsav’. Every year this festival is celebrated on the following days at evening: 31 January 1 February 2 February 9 November 10 November 11 November.

It is said that Sun god gives respect to Mahalaxmi for three days in a year. This will be on the occasion of RathaSaptami (which will be somewhere in January every year). This will be for 3 days. The first day, ray falls on the feet, on second day, on the middle portion of the deity and on the third day on the face. It’s the architect's excellence, which is been done more than 1000 years ago, can still be observed. Later during the time of Peshwas, the temple was repaired. Though, many invasions over this part of India have caused some damages of the beautiful idols, which are all around the temple.

Places Nearby:

Kotiteertha: Also called 'Pushkareshwar Teerth', Kotiteertha is about 4 km from the Mahalakshmi Temple. It is said that the Gods bathed in this tank after defeating the demons or rakshas. It is customary for pilgrims to first bathe in the tank and then have Darshan of the 'Pindi' at the temple.

The Jyotiba's Temple: The Jyotiba Temple is said to be built in 1730 by Navajisaya Jyotiba and is located 17 km from Kolhapur. Jyotiba is supposed to be an incarnation of three gods -- Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh and the seer Jamadagni.

Narasimha Wadi: Situated on the confluence of the rivers Krishna and Panchaganga, Narasimha Wadi is well known for the holy padukas or slippers of Dattaguru (an incarnation of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh). It is located 45 km from Kolhapur.

Siddhagiri Gramjivan Wax Museum (Kaneri Math) at Kaneri near Kolhapur, Maharashtra is a unique wax museum, probably the only one of its kind in India. The museum is called ‘Siddhagiri Gramjivan (Village life) Museum’. This unique project is the only of its kind in India and situated at Shri Kshetra Siddhagiri Math. Many people know about Kaneri Math but very few know about this museum.

Other important places near Kolhapur include Panhala, 20 km from Kolhapur - a popular hill station; Vishalgad Fort located 18 km south from Kolhapur is deeply rooted in Maratha history. For those interested in wildlife can visit Dajipur Bison Sanctuary located on the border of Kolhapur. The sanctuary is home to the” Gava" buffalo, bison, wild deer, chital etc.