Mahalakshmi Temple, Mumbai

Mumbai is the commercial capital of India. Quite appropriately, one of its most famous temples is dedicated to Mahalakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity.

The Mahalakshmi Temple is located on Bhulabhai Desai Road, close to Breach Candy in South Mumbai. It is one of the city's best-known places of worship and attracts a steady stream of devotees throughout the year.

But there is more to this temple than its popularity.

Its history is closely connected with the early development of Bombay itself.

The Three Goddesses

The main shrine has three Goddesses standing together.

Mahalakshmi occupies the centre, with Mahakali and Mahasaraswati on either side.

All three are richly decorated with ornaments and garments. Mahalakshmi, being the principal deity of the temple, naturally draws most of the attention.

There are also shrines for Ganesha and Hanuman within the temple complex.

The temple itself is not enormous. In fact, compared with some of India's great temple complexes, it is fairly compact.

Yet it remains one of Mumbai's most important sacred spaces.

A Temple Connected with the Making of Mumbai

There is an interesting tradition behind the origin of the temple.

During the British period, attempts were being made to reclaim the sea and connect the islands that eventually became modern Mumbai. One such project involved closing the stretch of sea known as the Great Breach between the islands.

The work repeatedly ran into difficulties.

According to temple tradition, Ramji Shivji Prabhu, who was involved in the project, had a dream in which Goddess Mahalakshmi appeared before him. He was told that murtis of Mahalakshmi, Mahakali and Mahasaraswati were lying beneath the sea.

A search was made.

The three murtis were reportedly recovered and installed on the nearby hillock.

The reclamation work was subsequently completed successfully.

Tradition places the presence of the three Goddesses here around 1784–85. The present Mahalakshmi Temple is generally dated to 1831.

It is an unusual connection.

A temple dedicated to the Goddess of prosperity became associated with one of the reclamation projects that helped shape the future commercial capital of India.

Perhaps that is one reason why Mahalakshmi and Mumbai seem so naturally connected today.

The city grew around her.

And the temple continues to draw devotees in the middle of one of India's busiest cities.

Happy travelling.

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