Jyotiba Temple

Shri Jyotiba of Kolhapur
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Shri Jyotiba of Kolhapur Location in Mahashtra Pradesh
Name
Other names	Jotiba
Proper name	Jyotiba
Devanagari	ज्योतिबा
Tamil	ஜோடிபா
Marathi	ज्योतिबा
Geography
Coordinates
Country	India
State/province	Maharashtra
District	Kolhapur
Locale	Jyotiba

Jyotiba Temple (Marathi: ज्योतिबा) is a holy site of Hinduism near Wadi Ratnagiri in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra state in western India. The deity of the temple is known by the same name, and is held by the locals to be an incarnation of three gods: Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesha, and Jamadagni. An annual fair takes place on the full moon night of the Hindu months of Chaitra and Vaishakha.

Location

Jyotiba temple is situated at a height of 3124 feet above sea level the is dedicated to Jyotiba (Dattatreya). The temple is 18km north-west of Kolhapur. According to the tradition, the original Kedareshwar temple was built by Navji Saya. In 1730, Ranoji Shinde built the present temple in its place. This shrine is 57ft x 37ft x 77ft high including the spire. The second temple of Kedareshwar is 49 ft x 22 ft x 89 ft high. This shrine was constructed by Daulatrao Shinde in 1808. The third temple of Ramling is 13ft x 13ft x 40ft high including its dome. This temple was constructed in circa 1780 by Malji Nilam Panhalkar. The interior of the temple is ancient. There are other few temples and Light-towers in the premises.

Mythology

Legend says that the three gods took the form of Jyotiba to destroy the evil Ratnasur. Jyotiba helped Mahalakshmi in her fight with the demons. He founded his kingdom on this mountain, and belongs to the Nath cult. He was born in the hands of Vimalmbuja, the wife of the sage Pougand, on Chaitra Shukla 6th. Lord Jyotiba is the incarnation that destroyed Raktabhoj Rakshasa, and Ratnasur Rakshasa thus liberating the region from tyranny. The idol of Lord Jyotiba is four-handed.

Festival

On Chaitra Poornima of Hindu calendar, a big fair is held, when lacs of devotees come with tall (Sasan) sticks. Due to scattering of ‘Gulal’ the whole mountain is turned pink. Being Sunday is day dedicated to Jyotiba, there is always rush over there.

Images

• Jyotiba1.jpg

  Jyotiba temple 1

• Jyotiba2.jpg

  Jyotiba temple 2

• Jyotiba3.jpg

  Picture 1

• Jyotiba4.jpg

  Picture 2

• Jyotiba5.jpg

  Picture 3

• Jyotiba6.jpg

  Picture 4

External links

• Location in Wikimapia