Jyotiba Temple

Shri Jyotiba of Kolhapur

Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
District	Kolhapur
Location
Location	Jyotiba
State	Maharashtra
Country	India
Location in Maharashtra Pradesh
Geographic coordinates	16°47′41″N 74°10′35″E / 16.79472°N 74.17639°E / 16.79472; 74.17639

Jyotiba Temple (Marathi: ज्योतिबा) is a holy site of Hinduism near Wadi Ratnagiri ^[1] in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra state in western India. The deity of the temple is known by the same name. An annual fair takes place on the full moon night of the Hindu months of Chaitra and Vaishakha.

Location

There was a small temple in the place of today's Jyotiba's big temple. Jyotiba temple is situated at a height of 3124 feet above sea level and is dedicated to Jyotiba. The temple is 18 km north-west of Kolhapur and around 55 km from Sangli.^[1] According to the tradition, the original Kedareshwar temple was built by Naavji Saya from village kival near Karad. In 1730, Ranoji Shinde built the present temple in its place. This temple is simple and has been constructed with fine black basalt stone. This shrine is 57 ft x 37 ft x 77 ft 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 13 ft x 13 ft x 40 ft high including its dome. This temple was constructed in circa 1780 by Malji Nilam Panhalkar.^[2] The interior of the temple is ancient. There are other few temples and Light-towers in the premises.

Ancient story

Shri Jyotiba or Kedareshvar is incrarnation of Bramha, Vishnu, Mahesh and part of sage Jamadgni's anger, and shine of 12 sun. Legend says Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva came together to incarnate as the deity Jyotiba who eventually destroyed the evil Ratnasura.^[3] Jyotiba helped Ambabai in her fight with the demons. He founded his kingdom on this mountain, and belongs to the Nath sampradaya. Lord Jyotiba destroyed Raktabhoja Rakshasa, and Ratnasura Rakshasa thus liberating the region from their tyranny. The idol of Lord Jyotiba is four-armed.^[4]

Festival

On Chaitra Poornima of Hindu calendar, a big fair is held, when lacs of devotees come with tall (Sasan) sticks. Shree kshretra padali, vihe, kolhapur chatrapati, himmat bahadur chavan, Gwalior shinde kival navajibaba are some sasankathis in this festival. Due to scattering of ‘Gulal’ by the devotees the entire temple complex appears pink and even the Jyotiba hill has turned pink, resulting in people referring to the temple as the Pink temple. Being Sunday is day dedicated to Jyotiba, there is always rush over there.^[5]^[6]