Yamai Devi Temple
At a distance of 44 km from Satara and 63 km from Panchgani, Yamai Devi Temple is an ancient temple situated on a hilltop at Aundh in the Satara district of Maharashtra. The temple is very much revered in Maharashtra and is also one of the top places to visit in Satara.
Yamai Devi is the family deity of many Maharashtrian families. The idol of Devi Mahishasur Mardini in black stone is almost 2 meters high in a cross-legged sitting position. The idol has four hands and is carrying Gada, arrow, Trishul, and paan Patra.
The town and the temple have been associated with the Pant family for many centuries. The present head of this former ruling family, Gayatridevi Pantpratinidhi, has installed a 7 kilograms (15 lb) solid gold Kalash or crown on the pinnacle of the Yamai temple on the hill. Another temple of Devi Yamai is located in the town; apart from the one on the hill.
History
The legend has it that the goddess Yamai got the name after Goddess Mahalaxmi of Kolhapur and Shri Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu addressed her as 'Ye Mai' in Marathi which translated into 'Come to Mother' when said in English. Therefore, the goddess of Aundh became famous as Yamai Devi.
Architecture
The temple complex also houses the Shri Bhavani Museum established from the private collection of the Maharajas of Aundh. The museum building is situated on the middle section of the temple hill.Visitors can reach the museum, both by steps and road. The museum holds paintings by noted 19th and 20th century Indian artists such as M. V. Dhurandhar, Baburao Painter, Madhav Satwalekar and Raja Ravi Varma as well as the famous Mother and Child stone structure by the British artist Henry Moore.
