Aundh Yamai Devi Temple- Maharashtra

Address

Aundh Yamai Devi Temple- Aundh, Satara District Maharashtra 415510

Diety

Durga

Introduction

Yamai Temple in Aundh, Satara District, Maharashtra, India. Yamai Temple, dedicated to Goddess Durga, appears to be an important religious site in the region. Temples like this often hold a special place in the hearts of devotees and contribute to the cultural heritage of the area.

Puranic Significance

The ebony statue of Devi Mahishasur Mardini stands at nearly 2 meters tall, seated in a cross-legged posture. This idol possesses four arms, bearing a mace, arrow, trident, and a betel leaf holder. The town and the temple have a long-standing connection with the Pant family, extending over numerous centuries. The current leader of this historical ruling family, Gayatridevi Pantpratinidhi, has placed a solid gold kalash or crown, weighing 7 kilograms (15 lbs), atop the pinnacle of the Yamai temple situated on the hill. In addition to the hilltop temple, there is another shrine dedicated to Devi Yamai within the town. Yamai Devi is regarded as the sister of Lord Jyotiba, and the term “Ye Mai” in Marathi translates to “Come mother.”

According to local belief, when a child is born in the village, Yamai Devi inscribes the child’s destiny within the first five days of life. One legend recounts the troubling actions of the demon Aundhsur, who tormented the local inhabitants and sages. In their distress, they implored Goddess Amba, who vanquished the demon, leading to the town being named Aundh.

Another tale connects this place to Lord Ram. When Sita Devi was abducted by the demon king Ravana, Lord Ram, accompanied by his brother Laxman, tirelessly searched for her. Observing Lord Ram’s anguish, Goddess Parvati began to doubt whether he was truly an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Despite Lord Shiva’s attempts to convince her otherwise, Goddess Parvati decided to test Lord Ram. She assumed the form of Sita Devi and appeared before him. Recognizing her as his mother due to his incarnation as Lord Vishnu, Lord Ram immediately addressed her as such. Realizing her mistake, Goddess Parvati blessed Lord Ram.