Mahamaya Temple

Mahamaya Temple
Name
Proper name	Mahamaya Temple
Geography
Country	India
State	Chhattisgarh
District	Bilaspur
Location	Ratanpur
Culture
Primary deity	Mahaymaya (Lakshmi and Saraswati)
Architecture
Architectural styles	Hindu temple architecture (Nagara Style)
History and governance
Date built	12-13th century, renovated by Archaeological Survey of India
Creator	Kalachuri King Ratnadeva
Website	http://mahamayaratanpur.com/

Mahamaya Temple is temple dedicated to dual Goddess Lakshmi & Saraswati, located in Ratanpur and is one of the 52 Shakti Peethas, shrines of Shakti, the divine feminine, spread across India. Ratanpur is a small city, full of temples and ponds, situated around 25 km from district Bilaspur of chhattisgarh.Goddess Mahamaya is also known as Kosaleswari,presiding deity of old Daksin Kosal region(modern Chhattisgarh state).

Built in the 12–13th century, the temple is dedicated to the Goddess Mahamaya. It was built during the reign of Kalachuris of Ratnapura. It is said to be located at the spot where king Ratnadeva had a darshan of goddess Kali.

Originally the temple was for three goddesses viz Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswati. Later, Maha Kali left the old temple. Still later, a new (current) temple was built by king Bahar Sai which was for goddess Maha Lakshmi and goddess Maha Saraswati. This temple was built in vikram samvat 1552 (1492 AD). There are ponds near the temple. There are also temples of Shiva and Hanuman within the campus. Traditionally Mahamaya is the Kuldevi of Ratanpur state. The temple has been renovated by the architecture department. Mahamaya temple is situated at Ratanpur, 25 km from district headquarters Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh.

The Mahamaya temple is built in Nagara style of architecture facing north beside a huge water tank. One can see the scores of ancillary temples, domes, palaces and forts now, which once housed the temple and the royal house of Ratanpur Kingdom.

Within the complex, there is also temple of Kantideval, which is oldest of the cluster and is said to have been built by a built by ascetic named Santosh Giri in 1039, later expanded by Kalchuri King Prithivideva II in the 15th century. It is having four gates and beautiful carvings. It has also been restored by Archaeological Survey of India. The sanctum and the mandapa are fortified with a fascinated courtyard, which was built in Maratha period in the late 18th century.

...
Wikipedia