Yamai

Shree Yamai

Bronze statue of Shivaji Maharaj in the collection of the Shree Bhavani Museum of Aundh, Maharashtra.

Yamai devi (Pronounced: Yamaai) or Shree Yamai devi temple is situated in a hill complex in the town of Aundh, Satara district, Maharashtra. It is said that Goddess Mahalaxmi of Kolhapur and Sri Rama (Lord Vishnu) called her as "Ye Mai" (in Marathi) which means "Come mother" 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. The idol of Devi Mahishasur Mardini Yamai in black stone is almost 2 meters high. The temple is the family shrine (kula-daiwat) for a large number of Marathi families. The top of the temple is very beautiful and has images and idols of various Hindu Gods. The present head of the former ruling family, Gayatreedevi Pantpratinidhi , has installed a 7 Kg. 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 holds paintings by noted 19th and 20th century Indian artists such as M. V. Dhurandhar,^[1] Baburao Painter, Madhav Satwalekar^[2] and Raja Ravi Varma as well as the famous "Mother and Child" stone structure by the British artist, Henry Moore.^[3]

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