Walkeshwar Temple
{{Short description|Ancient Hindu temple in Mumbai, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Walkeshwar Temple
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| image = Weeks Edwin The Temple And Tank Of Walkeshwar At Bombay.jpg
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| caption = The Temple and Tank of Walkeshwar at Bombay by Edwin Lord Weeks
| map_type = India Mumbai#India Maharashtra#India3
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| map_caption = Walkeshwar temple in Mumbai
| coordinates = {{coord|18.945|N|72.794|E|display=inline|region:IN_type:landmark}}
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| religious_affiliation = Hinduism
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| location = Malabar Hill, Mumbai
| deity = Shiva
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| state = Maharashtra
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| country = India
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| funded_by = Lakshman Prabhu
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| year_completed = 1127
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File:Banganga Tank and Walkeshwar Temple, Bombay, c. 1855.jpg and Walkeshwar Temple, Bombay, c. 1855.]]
File:Temple of shree Walkeshwar.JPG
File:Interiors of Shree Kashi Math Walkeshwar.JPG
Walkeshwar Temple, also known as the (Baan Ganga Temple), is an Ancient Hindu temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Walkeshwar, near Malabar Hill neighbourhood, in South Mumbai precinct of the city of Mumbai, India. It is situated at the highest point of the city,[http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/v/019pho000000937u00009000.html Walkeshwar village] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112533/http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/v/019pho000000937u00009000.html |date=4 March 2016 }} British Library. and close to the temple lies the Banganga Tank.
Legend
Legend has it that Hindu god, Rama paused at that spot on his way from Ayodhya to Lanka in pursuit of the demon king, Ravana who had kidnapped his wife, Sita. Then Lord Rama was advised to worship Shiva lingam and he is said to have constructed the original linga of sand, after getting tired of waiting for his brother, Lakshman to bring an idol. The name is etymologically derived from the Sanskrit word for an idol made of sand -- Valuka Iswar, an Avatar of Shiva.
As the story progresses, when Rama was thirsty, as there was no fresh water readily available (only sea water), he shot an arrow and brought Ganges over here. Hence Bana (arrow in Sanskrit) and Ganges in combination called Banganga. The water that feeds the tank stems from an underground spring at that spot, despite its proximity to the sea.
History
The temple and the attached fresh water Banganga Tank were built in 1127 AD by Lakshman Prabhu, a Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu minister{{Cite book|last=Shamrao Moroji Nayak|url=https://archive.org/details/ahistorypattana00morogoog|title=A History of the Pattana Prabhus|date=1877|publisher=Family printing press , Fanaswadi|others=Oxford University|language=English}}{{Cite web|last=Mule|first=S.M.|title=Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu - Wikipedia {{!}} S.Muley,M.A.,PhD (1972). Studies in the Historical and cultural geography and ethnography of the Deccan. Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute, University of Poona. pp. 301, 303, 304. " pg 301: (section)Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu...From our epigraphical evidences, many Prabhus seem to have held high posts in the Silahara kingdom, and controlled the civil and military administration. The Chaul inscription of AD.1088 mentions Veliga Prabhu. Ananta Prabhu and Lakshamana Prabhu appear in a number of records. The former was a MahaPradhana, Kosadhikari, MahasandhiVigrahika and the latter was a MahaPradhana and Mahadandanayaka. Table on Pg 303,304: minister: pradhana, head of treasury: kosadhikari, foreign department charge: Mahasandhivigrahika, head of military: MahaDandanayaka|url=https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandraseniya_Kayastha_Prabhu#cite_ref-37|access-date=2021-09-01|website=en.m.wikipedia.org|language=en}}{{Cite journal|last=Mulay|first=Sumati|date=1954|title=Studies in the historical and cultural geography and ethnography of the Deccan|url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in:8080/jspui/handle/10603/241323|journal=University|language=English}} in the court of Silhara dynasty Kings who ruled Thane, and the islands of Mumbai during 810 to 1240 AD. The temple was destroyed by the Portuguese during their reign over Mumbai in the 16th century. It was rebuilt due to the generosity of Mumbai businessman and philanthropist, Rama Kamat, a Gaud Saraswat Brahmin (known in British records as 'Kamati') in 1715. The main temple has been substantially reconstructed and many smaller temples have come up around the Banganga Tank. By 1860, the temple started attracting greater crowds and 10 to 20 other temples had come up around it and 50 dharamshalas.{{Cite web |url=http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/m/019pho0000960s1u00004000.html |title=Malabar Hill - Image, 1850 |access-date=10 December 2008 |archive-date=26 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926130021/https://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/m/019pho0000960s1u00004000.html |url-status=dead }}
Worship
The temple is generally busy every month only during the full moon, and at Amavasya (new moon). In the past, it was a favorite of the Malabar pirates who used to frequent the islands during the 16th and 17th centuries.
It is currently the site of an annual Hindustani classical music festival, which in 2005 featured musicians like classical singers Rajan and Sajan Mishra, and Santoor maestro Shivkumar Sharma. Branches of Shri Kavle Math and Shri Kashi Math, famous religious seats of Gaud Saraswat Brahmins, are located on the northern and western banks of the tank, respectively.
Gallery
File:View of the ghat and ruined temple of Walkeshwar, 1850.jpg|View of the ghat and ruined temple of Walkeshwar, 1850.
File:Ancient Statues Walkeshwar.JPG|Ancient statues around Banganga Tank, Walkeshwar
File:Walukeshwara History Inscription - 1.jpg|Walukeshwara History Inscription - 1
File:Walukeshwara Temple History - 2.jpg|Walukeshwara History Inscription - 2
References
{{Reflist}}
- Mallya, K.G. The Merchant Of Bombay, Mumbai:Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (1997). {{ISBN|8172760949}}—An historical novel of the life of Rama Kamati.
External links
{{commons category}}
- [http://www.gsbkerala.com/gsbmutt.htm Temples Of Saraswat Brahmins]
- [http://tildekarthik.blogspot.com/2011/02/photo-walk-in-walkeshwar-walkeshwar.html Walkeshwar Banganga Tank and Temple]
{{Tourist attractions in Mumbai}}
{{coord|18.945|N|72.794|E|display=title|region:IN_type:landmark}}