Shree Somaling Temple Madyal, Gadhinglaj, Kolhapur

Devotees believe that the Somling Temple of Madyal, which boasts a history of at least four to five hundred years, is a vibrant and wish-fulfilling sacred site. Madyal is a small village in the Gadhinglaj taluka, situated near the border of Karnataka. Consequently, thousands of devotees from both Maharashtra and Karnataka visit here to seek the blessings of Lord Somling Mahadev. It is said that this temple is also popular among the local politicians of the taluka. Before any election, big or small, candidates come here to seek the blessings of Lord Somling Mahadev.

The legend of the temple states that near the hill to the north of Madyal village, there is a place called Kodi Somappa. ‘Kodi’ is a Kannada word meaning ‘power’. At that location, there was an ancient temple along with the homes of some villagers. The area where the Somling Temple stands today was once a dense forest. The cattle belonging to the villagers of Kodi Somappa used to graze in this region. One cow would go to a specific spot every day and release its milk. When the villagers noticed this, they inspected the spot and discovered a Swayambhu (self-manifested) Shiva Linga. The villagers cleared the area around the Shiva Linga, built a small temple, and began performing worship. Along with this, a settlement grew in the temple premises, eventually becoming the village it is today.

This temple, located in the heart of the village, faces east. In the temple premises, there is a beautiful and ancient Deepmal (lamp pillar). This tall pillar, supported by elephant sculptures, stands out against the backdrop of the village’s traditional houses. Some letters are visible on this pillar, but they cannot be read clearly due to erosion. On one stone, there is an inscription that reads ‘Shaka १८३४’ (Year १९१२ CE). The temple is surrounded by a stone boundary wall, which has entrances on all four sides. It is mentioned that this wall was built in the year १९२४ CE. On the second floor of the sturdy stone main entrance gate within this boundary wall, there is a Nagarkhana (drum house). Above this Nagarkhana, there are three small domes. In the central dome, there is a large idol of Lord Ganesha.

Through this entrance, one enters the two-story Sabha Mandap (assembly hall). This open-style assembly hall is constructed entirely of wood. One can reach the second floor of this hall from near the main entrance. There is enough space here to accommodate ۴०० to ۵०० devotees during temple programs. Records indicate that this assembly hall was built in front of the main temple in the year ۱۸۰۰ CE. Adjoining the open assembly hall is the enclosed assembly hall and the stone construction of the sanctum sanctorum. On the steps of this assembly hall, there is an inscription in the Kannada language, and the pillars here feature intricate carvings. In this assembly hall, near the entrance of the sanctum, there is a beautiful idol of Nandi carved from a single stone.

On the front wall of the sanctum, in the niches, there are idols of Lord Ganesha on the left and Lord Vitthal-Rukmini on the right. The Vitthal idol, carved on stone slabs, has a mustache. Both the idols of Vitthal and Rukmini have their hands on their waists and wear crowns on their heads. The door frame of the sanctum is covered with brass plating. On both sides of this door frame are the gatekeepers Jai and Vijay, while the idol of Lord Ganesha is on the lintel. This small sanctum contains twelve stone pillars. In the center of the sanctum is the Swayambhu Shiva Linga. Apart from this, there is another Shiva Pindi here. Adjacent to the sanctum is the Shejghar (resting chamber) of Lord Somling Mahadev. It is opened every night. Villagers believe that the deity rests in this chamber.

The stone architecture of the temple is unique. Various animal faces are visible around the temple to drain away the water that collects on the temple’s spire and roof. The spire above the sanctum is ۴۰ feet high. In the niches on its lower side, there are idols of various deities. In the middle of the spire, there are replicas of many smaller spires. The main spire is topped with an Amalaka and a Kalash. In the temple courtyard, there are idols and images of local deities, including Mangalai and the Nagadevata.

The villagers of Madyal have immense faith in Lord Somling Mahadev. Whenever any sweet dish is prepared in their homes, a portion of it is offered to this Mahadev as Naivedya. This tradition has been followed here for hundreds of years. A grand fair is held here for five days starting from Chaitra Padwa. This fair is one of the largest in the Kolhapur district. During the fair, the palanquin of Lord Someshwar Mahadev is taken on a procession through the village with music. Activities like Panchang-vachan (reading of the almanac), Dandavat (prostration), and Mahaprasad are organized on this occasion. There is also a unique tradition of breaking coconuts. During the month of Shravan, an Abhisheka of Lord Somling Mahadev is performed daily, and special worship is conducted every Monday. Additionally, Sanai-Nagara (flute and drum) music is played here daily from ۵ to ۶ in the morning and ۶ to ۷ in the evening.

Sacred History & Spiritual Significance

This sacred temple stands as a testament to deep spiritual devotion, ancient architectural grandeur, and rich local cultural traditions.

Temple Sanctum & Architecture

The sanctum sanctorum houses the divine idol consecrated according to ancient Vedic traditions, surrounded by serene courtyards and traditional temple architecture.

Sacred Darshan Gallery