Jyotiba temple Kolhapur is a beautiful temple near the village of Ratnagiri in Maharashtra. Jyotiba temple timings are from 4 AM to 11 PM. Here, we can learn about the history, festivals celebrated, accommodation and Jyotiba temple e-pass booking online the temple.
Jyotiba Temple
Contents
The temple was constantly filled with ‘Rang’, the colour used to play Holi. Because Gulal offers to Lord Jyotiba as a symbol of the sincerity of the pilgrims, the glorious temple Jyotiba had built for the Lord and, as its name suggests, is the embodiment of three different deities.
Pilgrims believe in visiting the temple after visiting the Mahalakshmi Temple. Situated at an elevation of 3124 ft above sea level, the view from the temple is breathtaking.
The serene atmosphere, along with the divinity of the structure, gives the pilgrims and visitors a feeling of peace and tranquillity.
The Jyotiba Temple was built in 1730 by Ranoji Shinde. This magnificent temple is believed to be about 55 feet long, 37 feet wide and 77 feet high.
The interior is elegant and straight, while the exterior has long stairs pilgrims must climb to reach the main temple. The climb is about 100 steps and is lined with some shops.
The shops vary from selling coconuts and flowers to CDs and shops selling images of Lord Jyotiba. The most famous festivals of this magnificent temple are Chaitra and Vaishakh, which are celebrated during the Hindu months.
They call Chaitra Purnima as they take place on the whole moon night of this month. It is an annual festival where all the devotees play with Gulal.
The entire hill of the Jyotiba Temple Kolhapur is covered with gulals, a beautiful sight and a great festival to experience.
Jyotiba Kolhapur Legend
Lord Jyotiba, as mentioned earlier, is famous for being the incarnation of the three deities.
It is believed that while the evil demon Ratnasura was terrorising the area, Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma decided to take the same form and kill the demon. Lord Jyotiba was born on the day of Chaitra Shukla to Vimalambuja, the wife of the sage Paugand.
He helped Goddess Mahalakshmi destroy Ratnasura and established his kingdom from this mountain. He is also believed to have destroyed a monster named Raktabhoj.
History and Architecture
The Jyotiba Temple was built in three different phases. Navaji Saya founded the original temple, and the present main temple was built on the original site by Ranoji Shinde in 1730.
It is 55 feet long, 37 feet wide and 77 feet high. The second part of the temple was built by Daulatrav Shinde in 1808 and is approximately 44 feet long, 22 feet wide, and 89 feet high.
The third temple was built in front of the second temple. The exact time and date are unknown, but it is around 1780.
Maljee Neelam Panhalkar built this part of the temple, which is 13 feet long, 13 feet wide and 40 feet high.
The whole temple has an ancient interior. Recently, some changes have made the temple more friendly and accessible for pilgrims.
The triangular domes of the temples had been painted yellow, while the main body and walls were still made of the same stone.
Festivals celebrated
During the holy months of Chaitra and Vaishakh, there is an annual fair at the Jyotiba Temple Kolhapur. Devotees and tourists from all over the country participate in this festival.
The month of Chaitra they had been marked as spring. Goddess Jyotiba celebrates during these months. Devotees play gulal on this fair day.
The temple is coated with the full colour and gives this beautiful pink colour, which can be seen from a great distance.
Devotees carry a stick called ‘Sasan’ around the temple. The stick is hefty and long, so 15-20 men volunteered to carry the stick.
Carrying the stick is believed to be a very sacred act, which, in a way, is a ritual of God.
Men who do not have the opportunity to carry a heavy stick carry their small one as a custom symbol. All the men attending the festival wear orange or yellow turbans.
Visually, it looks like an attractive contrast to the gulals they cover. The colour of the tiara worn by men is similar to that worn by the Jyotiba idol in the temple.
The annual festival of the Jyotiba Temple is one of India’s most culturally rich events and has been going on for centuries. Families attended it for generations.
The Maharashtra government has acknowledged the immensity of the festival. It has deployed Special Forces to manage and monitor the devotees, and millions of people from across the country flock to Kolhapur for the Jatara.
Tips for visiting Jyotiba Temple
- It is advisable not to visit this temple on full moon days and Sundays as visitors are crowded.
- Take water with you as you may have to stand in long queues for hours.
- Avoid wearing white or light-coloured clothes to the temple as devotees throw gulal.
- Try the delicious lassi at the Surya Lassi shop near the temple.
Jyotiba Temple e-Pass Booking for Darshan
Great news: Online booking for the Sri Jyotiba Darshan Pass is available now. The steps to apply online for Sri Jyotiba Online Darshan are given below.
- First, visit the official website of Jyotiba Temple.
- Click on the E Pass Darshan link at the top here.
- In the new tab, the E Pass Application Form will open.
- Enter all the details asked in the application form.
- Add a family member we visit with family.
- Click on Save.
Thus, apply online for Darshan for Jyotiba temple e-pass Booking.
Shree Jyotiba Temple Timings
Below are the Jyotiba temple timings:
| Event | Jyotiba Temple Timings |
| Temple opens | 4:00 AM |
| PADHYAPUJA & KAKADARATI | 5:00 AM |
| PANCHAMRUT ABHISHEKAM | 8:00 AM |
| KHADIPUJA or MAHAPUJA | 9:00 AM |
| DHUPARTI & MAHANAIVEDYAM | 9.30 AM |
| BATH, ABHISHEKAM & BAITHI PUJA | 3:00 PM |
| VIRAGI/SIMPLE PUJA, DHUPARATI & SHEJARATI | 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM |
| TEMPLE CLOSES | 11:00 PM |
Hotels to Stay
- Treebo Trend Shree Sai Suits, 0.3 km from Jyotiba Temple.
- Hotel Darshan, 0.5 km from Jyotiba Temple.
- The Pavillion Hotel is 0.5 km from Jyotiba Temple.
- Hotel Royal Treat Kolhapur, 0.3 km from Jyotiba Temple.
- Hotel Silver Oak, 0.6 km from Jyotiba Temple.
Address
Shree Jyotirling Devasthan Wadi Ratnagiri, Tahsil- Panhala, Dist- Kolhapur
Contact Details:
Shree Jyotirling Devasthan Office
Phone: 02328-239041
Paschim Maharashtra Devasthan Committee Head Office
Phone: 0231-2626147
Shri Deepak Mehta
Mobile: 9011247004
Shri Santosh kachare
Mobile: 9423145531
Email ID: dmckolhapur@gmail.com