Aundh Yamai Devi Temple

History

The Yamai Devi Temple is situated in a hill complex in the town of Aundh, Satara district, Maharashtra, India.

It is said that Goddess Mahalaxmi of Kolhapur and Sri Rama (Lord Vishnu) called her as “Ye Mai” (in Marathi) which means “Mother, pls. come” in English. Hence, she is known as Yamai Devi. The top of the hill can either be reached using steps that start at the bottom of the hill or by car using a rather perilous road. Now the vehicles can reach till top as the road conditions have improved. There is a parking available at the top. The idol of Devi Mahishasur Mardini Yamai in black stone is almost 2 meters high and is in a cross-legged sitting position. The temple is the family shrine (kula-daiwat) for a large number of Marathi families. The top of the temple has images and idols of various Hindu deities. The town and the temple has been associated with the Pant family for many centuries. The present head of this former ruling family, Gayatreedevi 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.

The temple complex also houses the Shri Bhavani Museum established from the private collection of the Maharajas of Aundh. The museum as around half way of the hill where the tourist can reach 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.