7 most beautiful goddess lakshmi temples in india
Goddess Lakshmi, consort of Lord Vishnu, is one of the most popular Hindu goddesses. She is known as the Goddess of wealth, prosperity and good fortune. Goddess Lakshmi is portrayed as a beautiful woman with four arms, standing on a lotus flower and has two elephants on her side. She is also believed to appear during Mahabharata when Gods and Demons were churning the Ocean of milk. She is considered the source of eight forms of wealth, i.e. creativity, stability, courage, strength, progeny, victory, knowledge & material wealth. As the Goddess of wealth and fortune, she also symbolizes good luck. Lakshmi is worshipped by a large section of Hindus all over the world.
Friday is considered the day of Goddess Lakshmi. Dhanteras and Diwali are two major occasions every year when special poojas are done in her reverence. There are several temples dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi in India. Of these, the seven most beautiful and prominent temples are given here below:
1.) SRIPURAM GOLDEN TEMPLE (VELLORE):
One of the important temples of Goddess Lakshmi is Sripuram Golden Temple, situated on a hill called Malaikodi in Vellore (Tamil Nadu). It is the largest golden temple in India dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi. It is a unique temple, the shrine and temple tower coated in gold foil weighing 1500 kilograms, worth Rs. 300 crores. The temple has a star-shaped path representing a Wheel. The temple, dedicated to the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity, is worshipped by Jains and Buddhists.
2.) LAKSHMI NARAYAN TEMPLE (DELHI):
Lakshmi Narayan Temple, commonly known as Birla Mandir, is one of the important temples dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu. This temple is situated in Delhi, on Mandir marg. Built-in 1939 by Sh. B.R.Birla and Sh. Vijay Tyagi, this temple was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi. The temple is open for all visitors from 5.00 am to 1.30 pm and 2.30 pm to 9.00 pm. This temple also houses shrines of Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva, Lord Hanuman, Goddess Durga and Lord Buddha.
3.) MAHALAKSHMI TEMPLE ( MUMBAI ):
Mahalakshmi Temple is situated at Bhulabhai Desai Road in Mumbai. This famous temple is managed by a religious and charitable trust called 'Shree Mahalakshmi Temple Charities' and houses three powerful women deities, i.e. Mahalakshmi, Mahakali and Maha Saraswati. According to legends, the temple has an interesting story of its construction. An engineer named Vellard was constructing a building of Hornby, the wall of which collapsed twice immediately after its construction. The engineer tried to find out the reason for its collapse but did not find any fault in its construction or design. One day he dreamed of the Goddess of wealth, and he started his search in the area. Surprisingly, he pondered upon a statue of Goddess Lakshmi in that area. Hence, the Goddess Lakshmi statue was installed, and the temple was built in her reverence. It was only after the construction of that temple; he was able to complete his bridge project, the wall of which had collapsed twice.
4. LAKSHMI DEVI TEMPLE (HASAN):
Another ancient and popular temple built in honour of Goddess Lakshmi was Lakshmi Devi Temple at Doddagaddavalli / Hasan in Karnataka. It is one of the ancient architectural temples built in Hoysala style during the year 114 A.D. by Kallahana Rahtha, a wealthy merchant of Kolhapur (Maharashtra). The beautiful temple has a large pond adjacent to its building and is connected with granite steps to the main compound where the main shrine exists. The temple also has idols and shrines of other Gods and Goddess surrounding the shrine of the main deity Goddess Lakshmi. If you intend to worship goddess lakshmi at the comfort of your home, then wait no more & buy lakshmi statues online at best rates..
5. ASHTALAKSHMI TEMPLE (CHENNAI):
Ashtalakshmi Temple is another famous Lakshmi temple located near Elliot's beach in Chennai. Goddess Lakshmi is believed to be incarnated in eight forms, and this temple has dedicated shrines for all the eight forms of Lakshmi, who are worshipped with great fervour. All the shrines are around the main shrine, housing the main deity of Goddess Lakshmi and her consort Vishnu. This temple is constructed with Ashtanga Vimana in the tower in the Omkara design, due to which the shadow of the tower does not fall on the ground. Many devotees come to visit this temple to pay their respect to the Goddesses of wealth, success, prosperity, courage, knowledge and bravery. The temple is open daily for all visitors from 6.00 am to 11.00 am and from 5.00 pm to 8.00 pm.
6.) MAHALAKSHMI TEMPLE (KOHLAPUR):
Mahalakshmi Temple, situated at Kolhapur (Maharashtra), is one of the most renowned and ancient Shakti Peeth of Goddess Lakshmi and a famous Hindu pilgrimage site. According to History, it was built by Chalukyas. The Mahalakshmi shrine is situated at the centre of the temple. A staircase from the left of Goddess Lakshmi idol leads to the temple's storey, which houses an idol of Ganapati, a rectangular Shivling in its front, which is exactly at the top of Goddess Lakshmi idol at the compound beneath it. It is believed that Lord Vishnu was very fond of this place where his wife Lakshmi stayed, and hence the area is blessed by Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi. A large number of people come every year to seek the blessings of the deity.
7. GORAVANAHALLI MAHALAKSHMI TEMPLE (KARNATAKA):
Goravanahalli Mahalakshmi Temple is another very popular Mahalakshmi temple built in Tumkur District, Karnataka. It was aesthetically carved in South Indian architecture during the year 1900. The temple has a large multi-coloured Gopuram. The worshipped lakshmi murti is believed to have originated on its own and is housed in the Garbhagriha. Idols of other deities, i.e. Nag Dev and Marikamba, are also installed there. This temple founded in 1900 was deserted many times, and finally, in the year 1952, the same was taken care of by a devote Kamalamma who maintained this temple, which is now a famous pilgrim spot of South.