Narayan Ravi - Mumbai

Aadi Story

Kolhapur is regarded as a Shakti Peetha, with the eyes of Devi Sati believed to have fallen here. Devi Mahalakshmi killed the demon Kolasura here. The sages once conducted a great yagna and asked Maharshi Bhrigu to test Brahma,Vishnu and Shiva to see which of them should receive the benefits of the yagna. Brahma failed to receive Bhrigu when he arrived and Shiva proceeded to attack Bhrigu when he interrupted His privacy so both did not pass the test. To test Vishnu, Bhrigu kicked Him on the chest. Instead of getting angry Vishnu seated Bhrigu on the snake Ananta and welcomed him. Mahalakshmi was angry because Bhrigu had polluted the chest of Vishnu where She resided. She left Vaikuntha and came down to Kolhapur where she meditated for years until Vishnu pacified Her(this leads to the story of Tirupati Balaji- a different story altogether :-) ). It is believed that Vishnu and Lakshmi shall reside here forever. May Mahalakshmi bless us all.

Om Shakti