Mahalakshmi Temple Mumbai: Three Goddesses and a Sea-Born Legend
Mumbai, November 1
Many famous temples dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi draw devotees across the country throughout the year. Shri Mahalakshmi Temple in Mumbai stands out among them, not just for its spiritual importance but also for a legend that surrounds its beginnings.
The story holds that three goddesses worshipped at the temple were once concealed in the depths of the sea. A priest came to know about them through a dream, after which the idols were placed within the temple.
The most celebrated tale of the temple's founding goes back to the 18th century, when Mumbai was known as Bombay. During British rule, a major maritime initiative called Hornby Vellard was launched under Governor William Hornby. Its purpose was to link the seven islands of Bombay.
The task was not simple. Heavy sea waves repeatedly harmed the construction, leaving engineers and workers worried. In the midst of these difficulties, a local Hindu priest is said to have dreamt of the idol of Goddess Mahalakshmi beneath the sea. When a search was carried out in the water, idols of three goddesses were discovered. They were Goddess Mahalakshmi, Goddess Mahakali and Goddess Mahasaraswati.
A temple was then built so that these idols could be installed in accordance with proper rituals. The sea project, too, was completed successfully afterwards, which is why the temple is held in deep reverence.
The temple's history records that the original structure was built around 1761 by Ramji Shivji Prabhu, a Hindu businessman. In 1831, a wealthy trader named Dhakji Dadaji rebuilt and enlarged it. Gradually, the temple grew into a grand complex and became one of Mumbai's prominent religious landmarks.
What makes Shri Mahalakshmi Temple unique is the presence of three goddesses in its sanctum. Mahalakshmi, Mahakali and Mahasaraswati are enshrined together. Mahalakshmi is the goddess of wealth, glory and prosperity. Mahakali symbolises power and the destruction of evil, whereas Mahasaraswati presides over knowledge, intellect and creativity.
Believers hold that these three goddesses represent the energies of creation, maintenance and destruction. Visitors therefore ask for financial well-being along with strength, wisdom, peace and contentment.
Diwali is an especially significant occasion for darshan of Goddess Mahalakshmi. Special worship is organised at the temple, and many devotees arrive in large numbers. Navratri also brings a devotional mood to the temple, which is decorated with flowers and lights.