The
visit to Shri Mahalakshmi Temple of Mumbai was part of “Rock Cut Cave Temples
of Maharashtra Visit”, from 28th February to 3rd March 2026. Shri
Mahalakshmi Temple is located on the Bhulabhai Desai Road in Breach Candy,
Mumbai.
PC - Temple's website
The
presiding deities:
Mahakali/ Durga, Mahalakshmi, Saraswati and Annapoorani
Some
of the salient features of this temple are…
The
temple faces east at an elevated level. A flight of steps are constructed to
climb up the temple. Dwajasthamba, measuring 10.6 meters tall, is in front of the
temple. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum.
Even though this temple is called the Shri Mahalakshmi Temple, Mahakali / Durga and
Saraswati are on both sides. Hence called Tridevi. Shri Mahalakshmi, at the
centre, is the principal deity of this temple. All three are with 4 hands,
in abhaya hastam. Annapoorna is at the top of the presiding deity.
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, with Vimana, Shikara and Kalash, Sabha
Mandapa/dancing hall (100 sq. m), ardha Mandapa, and open mukha mandapa. The
pillars of the mandapa are adorned with intricate carvings that depict scenes from
Hindu mythology and sacred motifs. The craftsmanship reflects the artistic
traditions of Western India's temple-building heritage.
The
Shikhara (tower) follows traditional Hindu temple architecture, rising in a
graduated pyramidal form. 27 decorative spires adorn the roof, each intricately
crafted and adding to the temple's majestic profile.
The
temple's golden Kalash (pinnacle) stands proudly at 15 meters, gleaming against
the Mumbai skyline and serving as a beacon for devotees from afar. The Kalash
is considered the crown of the temple and symbolises the connection between the
earthly and the divine.
Dravidian
Influence
The
temple exhibits characteristics of the Dravidian style commonly found in South
Indian temples, including the pyramidal tower structure (Vimana) and the
elaborate gateway design. This influence reflects the cultural exchanges along
India's western coast.
Nagara
Influence
The
Nagara style, prevalent in North India, is evident in the curvilinear Shikhara (Bhumija
style) and the overall vertical thrust of the temple's silhouette. The fusion
of these two traditions creates the distinctive Dravidian-Nagara hybrid
architecture style common in Western Indian temples.
Built
primarily with stone and featuring intricate carvings, the Shri Mahalakshmi
Temple follows the traditional Dravidian-Nagara hybrid architecture style
common in Western Indian temples. This unique blend reflects the cultural
confluence of North and South Indian temple-building traditions that flourished
along the Konkan coast during the early 19th century.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
The
original temple at this sacred site is believed to have been first constructed
around 1761 by Ramji Shivji Prabhu, a devout Hindu merchant, establishing it as
one of the earliest places of worship dedicated to Goddess Mahalakshmi in the
island city of Bombay.
In
1831, the wealthy Hindu merchant Dhakji Dadaji rebuilt and expanded the temple
into the grand structure that forms the foundation of the temple we see today.
His generous patronage transformed it into a major pilgrimage site in Mumbai.
The dwajassthamba was contributed by the Kanchipuram Sankara Mutt
LEGENDS
The
most celebrated legend of the temple is intricately connected to the
construction of the Hornby Vellard — an ambitious sea reclamation project
undertaken by the British colonial government under Governor William Hornby in
the late 18th century. The project aimed to link the seven islands of Bombay by
constructing a massive causeway, but the relentless sea kept destroying the
construction work time and again.
Frustrated
engineers and workers were losing hope, until a local Hindu priest dreamt that
an idol of Goddess Mahalakshmi lay hidden beneath the waves. Upon searching,
workers miraculously discovered three idol heads in the Arabian Sea — those of
Goddess Mahalakshmi, Goddess Mahakali, and Goddess Mahasaraswati. A temple was
promptly built to enshrine these sacred idols, and remarkably, the sea
construction succeeded thereafter without further destruction.
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Diwali, Sharad Navratri and
Vasanth Navratri days, Akshata Tritiya day, 10 days Ganesh Chatruthi
celebration, Fridays, Full Moon days, Amavasya Days, daily in Sharavan
Month.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The
temple is open daily from 6:00 hrs to 22:00 hrs. Temple remains closed for
darshan during Aarti (06.45 hrs to 07.30 hrs, 18.15 hrs to 18.40 hrs and 19.20
hrs to 19.45 hrs) and naivedya timings (11.45 hrs to 12.20 hrs).
CONTACT
DETAILS
Website:
https://mahalakshmi-temple.com/
The
landline number +91222351 3831 may be contacted for further details
HOW
TO REACH
The
address of the temple is…
Shri
Mahalakshmi Temple, Bhulabhai Desai Road, Breach Candy, Mumbai - 400026,
Maharashtra, India.
The
nearest Railway Station is Mahalakshmi Railway Station, which is about 5 km.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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