Mumba Devi Temple

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Mumba Devi Temple is a renowned holy place of Mumbai in Maharashtra. Located at Bhuleshwar, the temple is dedicated to the Goddess Mumba. Actually, the term 'Mumbai' for the city has been derived from 'Mumba Devi'. Mumba Devi is regarded as 'Shakti' and people worship her with full devotion. Initially, the temple was erected at Bori Bunder, which presently makes the site of Victoria Terminus.

Mumbadevi temple once stood on the site of the present Victoria Terminus in the central that was called Mumbai. It was built in honor of Mumbadevi, the patron deity of the Koli fishermen, the original inhabitants of Mumbai. The first Mumbadevi temple was built at Bori Bunder in 1737. It was later demolished and rebuilt at its present site at Bhuleshwar.

At the outset Mumbadevi temple does not look as striking as the rest of the temples in the city. However there is an intrinsic beauty attached to the temple that owes greatly to the faith and reverence of Mumbaikars over the Goddess Mumbadevi. According to mythology, the temple was the handiwork of Mumbarka, a sadistic giant whose favorite pastime was plundering the city. The residents of the city pleaded their case before Lord Brahma, the creator of Universe. Lord Brahma is believed to have conjured an eight-armed goddess who vanquished the demon for good. Thus defeated Mumbarka implored the goddess to have his name and later built a temple in her honor. She still stands there, an orange-faced goddess on an altar strewn with marigolds. Devotees believe that those who seek her divine favor are never disappointed.

On the left, one can see Goddess Annapurna mounted on a Peacock. In front of Mumba Devi, there is a tiger that makes the mount of the goddess. The Goddess is without mouth symbolizing the Mother Earth. Mumba Devi, in this form, is revered by the Dravidians of the western and the southern part of India. In the temple complex, there are other shrines that are dedicated to Lord Ganesh, Maruti, Mahadev, Indrayani, Murlidhar, Jagannath, Narsoba and Balaji respectively.

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This temple was built in honour of the Goddess Mumbai, from whose name it is said, that the English word 'Bombay' is derived. The Mumbadevi temple is six centuries old. The first Mumbadevi temple was situated at Bori Bunder, and is believed to have been destroyed between 1739 and 1770. After the destruction a new temple was erected at the same place at Bhuleshwar. The Goddess personifies Mother Earth and is still worshipped by the descendants of the Dravidian population of western and southern India.

The original temple built at the site where the Victoria Terminus station earlier was by Koli fishermen was demolished around 1737 and a new temple was erected in its place at Phansi Talao. The modern shrine contains an image of the Goddess Mumbadevi dressed in a robe with a silver crown, a nose stud and a golden necklace. To the left is a stone figure of Annapurna seated on a peacock. In front of the shrine is a tiger, the carrier of the Goddess.

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Nearest Visiting places:

• Victoria and Albert Museum

• Sewri Fort

• Boat Tours

• Horniman Circle Gardens

• Hang Gliding

• Azad Maidan

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