About Mahakali Temple, Adivare

Mahakali Temple is situated at Adivare in Rajapur Taluka of Maharashtra. It is one of the most popular and revered temple in Adivare. The temple is small yet well-maintained. This temple is situated just 3 kilometres away from Kasheli’s Kanakaditya temple. Mahakali Mandir is an awakened temple and Shree Mahakali is believed to be wish fulfilling goddess.

Temples of Shree Nagareshwar, Shree Mahalaxmi, Shree Ravalnath, Shree Mahakali and Shree Mahasaraswati are in the premises of Mahakali Temple. 

Shree Nagareshwar:
This god is known as Adyadarshaniya Devta of Adivare village. After visiting temple, it is a customary to take darshan of Shree Nagareshwar first. Shree Nagareshwar is Swayambhu (Self-existed) Deity. On the left side is the idol of Ganpati, Nandi in front, Kirtimukh on Mahadwara. Idol of Devi Parvati and Nag Devta is behind Shree Nagareshwar.

There is a big snake burrows in the northwest corner of the temple and It is high upto the roof. it is said that there is large snake in the burrows and he comes out sometime. He is prayed for prevention of fear. People worship snake in the this burrows on Nagpanchami every year.

Shree Mahalaxmi:
This deity is the second deity in the panchayatan and after taking darshan of Shri Nagareshwar, it is a customery to take darshan of Shri Mahalaxmi. Idol of Shri Mahalaxmi is west-facing and it is installed by Shrimad Adya Shankaracharya. He came to Adivare province in the eleventh century and established idol of Shri Mahalaxmi by denying Jain doctrines. And so the god of Jain – Jain Brahman is also on the right of Mahalaxmi Devi. The black stone idol of Mahalakshmi is 3 ft tall. A Shree Yantra is carved on one of the walls of the temple. The sanctum is designed in such a manner that once in a year, the setting rays of the sun falls on the face of Goddess Mahalakshmi for three days.

Shri Rawalnath:
This deity is the third deity in the panchayatan and Shri Rawalnath is the incarnation of Bhairava. The idol of Rawalnath is South-facing.

Shree Mahakali:
Shree Mahakali is the presiding deity of panchayatan and the temple is known by this deity. Since the idol of Shree Mahakali is south-facing, it is of special importance.

The story of the establishment Shree Devi Mahakali Temple as told by the locals is as follows:
It is mentioned that the idol of Shree Mahakali Devi has been found for about eight hundred years in the sea of Vetye village, which is about 5 km away from Adivare village. Vetye is the village situated near Arabian Sea. People from Bhandari community named as Jadhavs lived in this village. Once, when these Jadhavs went for fishing in Arabian Sea, their net got stucked in the sea. Despite putting lots of efforts, they were unable to get back this net. They prayed to the God of Sea to help them. That night Devi Mahakali appeared in dreams of one of the fishermen and said that she is Mahakali Devi & she's in that net. Next day the Jadhavs prayed to the Goddess and pulled the net out of the water. There they found a black stoned idol of Shree Mahakali Devi in the net. They installed this idol of Mahakali Devi in Adivare Wadapeth. As this Devi is found in Vetye village, it is referred as "Maher" of Devi.

The statue of Shree Mahakali Devi is made up of black stone and is known to be facing southwards. The Goddess wears a necklace and a crown, holds a Damaru, Trishul, Talwar and the Panchpatra in each hand. The tradition of bathing the idol of the Goddess in coconut milk and oil on every full moon and no moon day is followed religiously. 

Shree Yogeshwari:
It is said that, Like Mahalaxmi, Shrimad Adya Shankaracharya installed idol of this Shree Yogeshwari on the left side of Mahakali Devi. This deity is also known as Jugaidevi.

Shree Mahasaraswati:
This deity is the fifth deity in the panchayatan. Shree Mahasaraswati is installed in front of the Mahakali Devi.

Conventional order of taking darshan of Mahakali Panchayatan:
Shree Dev Nagareshwar
Shree Devi Mahalaxmi
Shree Dev Ravalnath
Shree Devi Mahakali and Shree Devi Yogeshwari
Shree Devi Mahasaraswati

Festivals:
Navratri festival and Shimgotsav are celebrated enthusiastically in Shree Mahakali Temple. The arrangement of festival is socially oriented and all devotees serve the deities as per tradition.

Navratri Festival:
Navratri festival is celebrated from Ashwin Shuddh Pratipada (Ghatsthapana) to Vijayadashami (Dassehra). Fair in Navarati Festival is considered as one of the big fair in Rajapur. During this festival, religious programs like Pravachan, Kirtan, Palkhi Pradakshina and various cultural and entertaintment programs are organized.

Shimagotsav (Holi):
Shimgotsava is celebrated from Falgun Shuddh Ekadashi to Falgun Pournima in the temple. On Falgun Vadya Pratipada (Dhulivandan), Holi or massive bonfire is lit.

It is a customary to take a response of devi to celebrate shimagotsav. If the response of devi is not affirmative, it is asked whether the goddess wish to go to any of her locations. As per response of devi, she is taken to the place she suggests. These locations are as follows:

Khambachi Baul – Vetye
Chandel – Mogare
Panereche Tale – Panere (Lake of Panere)
Chaturseema (the four bounderies)

Architecture Of The Temple:

While entering from open space to innermost part of temple (Gabhara), there are wooden gaurds on both sides. Idol of Ganesha is carved on pillar on right side in Gabhara. Mythical paintings in wooden plates are carved on roof of temple. Temple has large open space and the area of temple is clean and beautiful. The main entrance or Mahadwara of the temple faces towards west. Several deep-malas can be seen on either side. The Garuda Mandap has square pillars and foliated arches of wood which is a typical characteristic of temples in Konkan. An image of Garuda faces this sanctum. Another stone mandap, on a raised platform, has an idol of Lord Ganesh, which faces the sanctum. The main sanctum has three shrines facing west. The center houses an idol of Goddess Mahalakshmi which is flanked by the idols of Goddess Mahakali and Mahasaraswati. Above the main sanctum is a shrine which houses Shiva ling and a Nandi. The devakoshtas houses the images of Venkatesha, Katyayani, and Gowri Shankar - facing the north, east and the south, respectively. Several subsidiary shrines can be seen in the courtyard including Navagrahas, Surya, Mahishasuramardini, Vitthal-Rakhmai, Shiva, Vishnu, and Tulja Bhavani. Some of these idols date back to the 11th century, while some are recent. Also located in the courtyard is the temple tank Manikarnika Kund.