Kolhapur is one of the glorious cities of incredible India in Maharashtra state, located on the bank of Panchganga River with a long ancient spiritual history. Kolhapur city is surrounded by many temples and ancient monuments as a proof of spiritual history. Temple of shri Ambabai (Mahalaxmi) is well known all over India and as such Kolhapur cit has precious spiritual heredity.
In such a blessed city there is a one famous Temple of Lord Khandoba, known as KholKhandoba. It is said that Lord Khandoba has mainly three incarnations like Jejuri, Pali in Maharashtra and Mangsuli in Karnataka state. Many myths attached to this holy place. It is spiritually charged place, blessing to devotees, experienced by people.
Beside many myths it is said that Shri Manajirao Jagtap of Kolhapur was profound devotee of deity Lord Khandoba, and he was visiting to Jejuri, the night of the new moon in every month without any conveyance, trudging and trudging for worshiping of Khandoba. As the days passed and in his old age trudging to Jejuri was not possible to him. His devotion was so profound that Lord Khandoba of Jejuri actually insighted and dreamt by to Manajirao Jagtap and showed the holy place for his existence.
After actual perceivance of Lord Khandoba Shri Manajirao was drawn in supreme happiness and he suggested place for excavating and ‘Shivlinga’ (a particular engraved stone as a sign of Lord Shiva) was found. After his death other devotees build a temple. Thus Shivlinga was found in a deep ground hence it is named as KholKhandoba.
Main door of temple is at East side and upper part is in round shape as Islamic Masjid type. It is said that this temple was built in the periods Moghal (Islamic) emperors near about 13th to 14th century.
In the temple ‘Shivlinga’ is deep in the ground. Internal space is about hundred square feet. Behind ‘Shivlinga’ there is square table type place for pooja materials etc, and front of that place there is marble idol of ‘Shri Mhalsakant devi’ supposed as wife of Lord Khandoba. Height of temple is about up to 50 feet from bottom to upstage and strange is that, this temple is without any pillers. Other idols Lord as Banaidevi (second wife of Lord Khandoba), Havaldar, Pradhan etc, are around the temple. Main gate of temple made of stone pillars is in good condition till today.