Temples in Mumbai (7)

1. Mahalaxmi Temple –

Located at the seashore on the northern side of Malabar hills, Mahalakshmi temple is one of the most sacred temples in Mumbai. The temple enshrines three dieties namely Lakshmi, Kali and Saraswati. However, the principal diety is goddess lakshmi and hence the name Mahalakshmi temple.

History
Built around 1785, the history of this temple is supposedly connected with the building of the Hornby Vellard. It is said that when Britishers failed in their repeated attempts to connect Mahalakshmi area to Worli by building Breach Candy on account of ferocious tides, they had almost surrendered. The problem was fixed only by divine intervention when the goddess Lakshmi appeared in the dream of chief engineer and asked him to remove the three statues from the sea bed and establish them in a proper shrine. A search operation was launched to recover the statues and a temple was built. After this, the work on the vellard could be completed without a hitch. .

Inside
The Temple contains images of Goddess Mahalakshmi, Mahakali and Mahasaraswathi. All three images are adorned with nose rings, gold bangles and pearl necklaces. The image of Mahalakshmi is shown riding a tiger and a demon (Mahishasur) in a tandem. Beyond the ornate gate is the shrine wherein resides the buxom goddess of Lucre — Laxmi. The compound of this temple is abuzz with stalls selling flower garlands and pious paraphernalia.

Navaratri Festival
During Navarathri celebrations, the temple gets special loolks. Devotees from distant places throng to temple to pay their obeisance. They have to stand for hours in long queues holding coconuts, flowers and sweets which they offer to the goddess.

2. Jain Temple –

The jain temple on Ridge Road (B C Kher Marg) on Malabar Hill is one of the most noteworthy of all jain temples in Mumbai. The opulent architecture reflects heights of artistic expression and large heartedness of enterprising Jain community who give hefty donations for religious purposes.But equally lamentable is the fact that the temple is poorly maintained.

The work on temple was completed in 1903 and it was thrown open for the use of Swetamber Jains. Over years the temple has gained much publicity and popularity and hence the temple witnesses a constant flow of devotees moving in & out throughout the year.

Inside
The temple is brightly decorated from inside and one can see intricate carvings and frescoes on the walls. These frescoes depict various events in the lives of the 24 Jain apostles or Tirthankaras. As one climbs stairs, one finds that a black marble shrine is beautifully decorated with celestial personifications of the planets, painted onto the ceiling. Jain stockbrokers walking barefoot to the temple every morning, and white-robed monks usually add to the morning hubbub at the temple complex.

3. ISKCON Temple –

 ISKCON, Mumbai is a part of the series of temples built across the world to propagate the message of Bhagwat Gita nad raise the consciousness about Lord Krishna. ISKCON temples are not mere places of worship or places of aesthetic and architectural beauty. These are symbol of intellectual development and mediums of movement on higher plane-spiritual plane.

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness(ISKCON) was initially raised as a spiritual society in New York to propagate the message of the Bhagwad Gita. It was founded by Swami Prabhupada. In India there are about 40 ISKCON temples. Contemplating the traditions of the ancient Vaishnava tradition, its philosophy and practice, these spiritual temples have left a mark on all mankind.

ISKCON temples are dedicated to Lord Krishna. Populary known as Hare Rama Hare Krishna Temple, ISKCON, Mumbai is situated at Juhu. At a stone’s throw away distance from Prithvi theatre, the temple is a connoisseurs delight. There are beautiful paintings inside and outside is just spell-binding. The architectural grandeur is just unmatched elsewhere. Jet-setting, orange- robed sadhus inside the premise add to the visual richness.

One can drop in for lunch at the ISKCON restaurant to taste the ancient curries and also take part in evening prayer and recital of Bhajans( devotional songs).

4. Mumbadevi Temple –

Although the Mumbadevi Temple is not as striking as others are in the city, its resident deity, Mumbadevi, is the city’s patron Goddess. The structure is about six centuries old, believed to be the handiwork of Mumbaraka, a sadistic giant who frequently plundered the city at the time. Terrorized by these unwelcome visits, the locals pleaded with Lord Brahma, Creator of all things to protect them. Brahma then “pulled out of his own body”, an eight armed goddess who vanquished the brute. Predictably brought to his knees, Mumbaraka implored Her Holiness to take his name and built a temple in her honour. She still stands there, an orange faced goddess on an altar strewn with marigolds: devotees believe that those who seek her divine favour are never disappointed.

5. Siddhivinayak Temple–

In India, faith is known to move mountains. Rich and poor, educated and unlettered, they Indians all converge at temples and churches and mosques to offer their destinies to the Divine. Nowhere is this more evident than at Siddhi Vinayak, a temple devoted to Ganesh, the elephant-headed God of Good Fortune. On auspicious Tuesdays, the serpentine queue of worshippers is over 2kms long. People stand for several hours with offerings of flowers and coconut, waiting patiently for a two minute “Darshan” or meeting with the Lord. The path to the divine is never easy, but it is said that those who tread it with true devotion will always have their wishes fulfilled.

6. Babulnath Temple –

Located in the very heart of Mumbai City, at nearly 1000 feet above sea level, over looking the Arabian Sea lies the majestic temple of Lord Babulnath [Lord Shiva]. Even in a city like Mumbai you’ll be surprised to feel peace and tranquility at Babulnath – a place where Almighty resides.

The granduer and magnificence of the temple is guaranteed to make you forget where you are,giving an illusion of Mount Kailas, the eternal abode of Lord Shiva .

Every year millions of devotees visit this magnificent temple. It was built nearly 200 years ago and is one of the most spacious temples in the city. The devotees are undoubtedly proud of its rich and varied heritage. Over the ages many saints across India have sung praises of Lord Shiva. Pushpadanta wrote the Shiva Mahimnah Stotram , as he was a great devotee of Lord Shiva . Even today devotees recite the same Stotram for Lord Shiva Pujan. This temple is located at the end of Marine Drive and south of Malabar Hill, which was built in 1780. Also In 1900, a tall spire was added to this auspicious, original temple of Lord Shiva. A stone Lingam of Lord Shiva is worshipped at Babulnath.

7. Walukeshwar Mandir –

Walukeshwar Mandir is situated at the end of the Malabar Hill, down to Back Bay. Walukeshwar, or ‘sand-Lord’ shrine is among the Mumbai’s ancient Hindu sites.

Legend
According to the great epic Ramayana, Rama paused here during his journey south to rescue Sita from the clutches of the evil Ravana and fashioned a lingam out of sand to worship Shiva. Folk etymology derives the name Walkeshwar from the Sanskrit name for an idol made of sand– Valuka Iswar. As there was no water to be found for drinking, Rama pierced his arrow into the earth down to the Patal and a spring of water shot out instantly and formed the lake. The lake is, since the, came to be known as Banaganga. The Banganga tank, unremarkable hemmed in by a towering wall of apartment blocks, is believed to have been created by an arrow fired from Rama’s own fabled bow.

The original Walkeshwar temple was built by the Silaharas around 1050 A.D. and is said to have contained both the lingam ferried from Benaras by Lakshman and the sand lingam crafted by Rama. Today’s temple, erected in 1715 after the original had been destroyed by the portuguese, in unremarkable and best bypassed in favour of the more impressive Banganga tank, below it. The spring that feeds the tank is believed to have been created by an arrow fired by from Rama’s own fabled bow.

The State Government, in recent years, has been organising Music Festival here regularly in every winter. The entire precinct is illuminated richly during his festival.

Nearby Attraction of Walukeshwar Mandir
Shri Kashi Math, Shri Kaivalya Math and Banganga Tank are the nearby attractions of the temple.