Mandir Darshan

For whom the bells toll

Sunday MID DAY does a temple tour with Namaste City Tour to rediscover how Gods live in Mumbai.

Pictures by Mandar Deodhar. Text by Komal Sharma.

Mumba Devi, Bhuleshwar

(above) The temple of the mother goddess throngs with people. The goddess of the Kolis originally rested where the VT station now stands. Demolished around 1737, a new temple was erected in its place at Phansi Talao. The shrine is a sindoorsmeared goddess and her carrier, the tiger, is in front of her. The entire neighborhood rings with the sounds of bells during aarti time.

Jain Temple, Walkeshwar

(top right and middle) Nearly 103 years old, this Jain temple is dedicated to the first tirthankara, Aadinatha. This Swetambara temple is a two-storeyed, richly decorated building. As lunch is served to worshippers in the side hall, holy songs are recited in the main temple hall.

Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Madhavbaug. (right) 130 year old Lakshmi Narayan temple looks modern with its marble flooring and idols. But the old gate and the carvings ion the balcony give away its beginnings. As the gods have a.. devotees sit around the expansive courtyard and chat. pathshala on one side of the courtyard has daily Gita pravachan.

Buddhist Temple

The temple of the Nipponzan Myohoji, a Japanese Buddhist order, has nestled in Worli since the last five decades. Fuji Guruji brought the Japanese order to India in 1931 and the temple complex comprises two structures, one erected pre-independence and the second in 1956. It retains its original simplicity. The older, smaller structure was converted into a dharamsala and school for poor kids from the vicinity. The temple is spacious, calm with paintings depicting the life of the Buddha on the walls, along with a marble Buddha statue in perpetual meditation in the middle.

Tirupati Temple / Fanaswadi

Wooden wheels sit right outside the temple. The idol was brought from South India. Behind the massive red gate, lies the courtyard marked with pillars; the deity sits in the center and the 700 shlokas of the Bhagwad Gita are inscribed around the walls.

Afghan Church, Colaba

Built in the memory of the soldiers who died during the two Afghan wars (AD 1838-1843), Afghan Church also known as Church of St John the Evangelist stands in Navy Nagar, Colaba. Towering Gtohic architecture with massive columns, ribbed vaulting on the ceiling, pointed arches, stained glass windows, Afghan Church was built over a long period of time, as and when the British coutd arrange for funds. The spire cost a sum of Rs. 5,65,000 and was finished in 1865. Much of the cost of this was paid by Sir…

Jain Temple, Bora Bazaar

Built in 1865, it is one of the earliest Jain temples in Mumbai. stone building on the outside, but rich in marble and silver inside, the 150-year-old idol of a tirthankara (apostle) sits on the first floor. The ground floor is a later edition. Pujaries clad in white go about performing their rituals in this Swetamabara temple. (Digambaras are supposed to be sky-clad, Ambar meaning sky.) large congregation hall is also a part of the temple, where prayer meetings and religious functions are held.

Hanuman Temple, Pickket Road. sandoor smeared Hanuman idol sits in the center of this 150-year-old temple. Parlty covered with varak (silver) the idol is placed under an exquisite silver mandap. The smell

Guruvayoor Temple, Matunga (above) In traditional sarees and lungis and melodies of Carnatic music, accompanied by the deep sounds of mrindangrams, Guruvayoor temple takes you to the South. Located in Mumbai’s South Indian-flavored Matunga, the temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, also called Kocchuguruvayoor. The idol was brought in from Guruvayoor in Kerala. swarna mandapam (throne of gold) was installed for the idol, to mark its golden anniversary this year. Apart from Ram, the temple also includes separate shrines to Krishna, Kartikeya, Hanuman, Ayyappa and the Navgraha.

Banganga Walkeshwar

(left and above) Legend is that when Rama was walking past this area, he needed fresh water for his morning prayers, so he shot an arrow and a spring erupted. With 14 big and small temples dotting the area, Banganga is like a small temple town dotting the city. In a Rameshwar temple, built in 1842, apart from the characteristic Nandi placed beside a shivaling, a stone tortoise is also part of the temple. The short-tempered Lord Shiva apparently got angry one day andhis third eye was about to open. The people of the world feared destruction, when a tortoise walked up to him and danced, jotting his head in and out of his shell. The lord was amused and started laughing. Shiva forgot his anger and the world was saved. Do a temples tour with Namaste City Tour. Also available, half day or full day city tours, that include Elephanta Caves, Kanheri Caves, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Gateway of India, Prince of Wales Museum, Jehangir Art Gallery, Philips Antiques, etc. an air-conditioned car and lunch included. Well-informed guides also available. We thank Mrs. Lakshmi Pai for guiding us through the tour. Contact Naini Mehta or Kunal Vahalia. Tel: (022) – 23888711 / 9323652111, e-mail: visitus@namastecitytour.com or visit www.namastecitytour.com.