The Mahalakshmi temple is among the most popular temples in Mumbai. It is dedicated to three powerful female deities; Shri Mahalakshmi, Shri Mahasaraswati, and Shri Mahakali. The temple was constructed in the 1700s and has become a heritage site due to its historical importance. Thousands of devotees come to seek blessings from the goddesses every day. If you are searching for a blissful place to include in your itinerary then this sacred gem is a must to visit. Let your soul and heart indulge in the spiritual aura and explore all the details regarding the temple in this guide.
7 Interesting Facts About Mahalakshmi Temple
To add an extra dose of charm to your blissful trip to Mahalakshmi Temple, here are some of the interesting facts that you must know. From location to its architecture, there are numerous secrets that are yet to be unfolded by your curious mind.
1. Location
The Mahalakshmi temple (or Maha Laxmi mandir) is in Mumbai, North of Malabar Hill, on the Bhulabhai Desai Road. The location comes under the Municipal ‘D’ ward. The surrounding area of the temple has the sea on the northern and western sides which makes up for a beautiful view as you get down the stairs and out of the temple. On the east and the south sides of the temple premises, you have the Bhulabhai Desai Road that connects you to the rest of Mumbai.
It is easy to reach the Shree Mahalakshmi temple as you have many options. You can take the bus such as a private Mumbai darshan bus or hire a taxi to take you straight to the temple. If you are travelling by train then get off at the Mahalakshmi railway station in Mumbai. The temple is just 1 km away from the railway station. If you are travelling by air then get off at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. The temple is 20 km away and you can easily hire a taxi from the airport.
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2. Timings Allow All Devotees To Seek Blessings
Here are some more facts about the rituals performed and Mahalakshmi temple timings.
- The naivedya is performed at noon every day.
- The daily pooja of Archana, maha pooja, and Abhishek is also performed every day. The cost of Abhishek is Rs. 20 and the cost of Archan is Rs. 10.
- A monthly havan is performed on behalf of devotees by the trust on asthami.
- Devotees need to pay Rs. 351 if they want Mahapooja to be conducted on a date of their liking.
- Devotees can opt for a special havan at the temple by donating Rs. 5,000.
- You can also opt for online pooja booking by contacting the temple trust or sending them an email.
The timings of the Maha Laxmi mandir are as follows.
Days open: Every day
Opening time: 6:00 am
Main arti timing in the morning: 7:00 am to 7:20 am
Dhoop aarti timing in the evening: 6:30 pm to 6:40 pm (Exact time depends on the sunset)
Main aarti timing in the evening: 7:30 pm to 7:50 pm
Shejarati aarti timing at night: 10:00 pm
3. Deities At The Mahalakshmi Temple
According to the Hindu philosophy, the universe was created by Prakruti and Purusha and it comprises three gunas; Sattvic, Rajasic, and Tamasic. The three deities in the Shree Mahalakshmi temple represent each guna. Shri Mahalakshmi represents the Rajas guna, Shri Mahakali depicts the Tamas guna, and Shri Saraswati depicts the Sattvic guna. The temple is dedicated to three deities; Shri Mahalakshmi, Shri Mahakali or Durga, and Shri Mahasaraswati. Shri Mahalakshmi is the goddess of wealth and prosperity, Shri Mahakali is the destroyer of evil, and Shri Mahasaraswati is the goddess of learning.
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4. The Intriguing Origins
It all started when some invaders tried to destroy the three Hindu idols of the goddesses Shri Mahalakshmi, Shri Mahasaraswati, and Shri Mahakali. To save their idols from damage, the Hindus decided to immerse them in the nearby sea close to Worli Creek. Then during the British rule, Lord Horneby wanted to have the two islands, Worli Creek and Malabar Hill Creek, to be connected in some way. He assigned the task to Shri Ramji Shivji Prabhu who was a government engineer. Despite his best efforts and those of his subordinates, he could not link the two creeks in any way.
After having nearly given up on the task, the engineer went to sleep. That is when he had a dream of Shri Mahalakshmi. She instructed him to remove the immersed idols from the sea and then place them on the hillock. The engineer followed her instructions and promised the goddess that he would do so. He instructed his team to remove the idols of the goddesses from the sea. They did so. Then he asked them to connect the Worli Creek with the Malabar Hill Creek. The work went on swiftly and they were able to complete the work of linking the two creeks.
The English ruler was pleasantly surprised with how quickly and smoothly the work completely. This is when he decided to gift the ground on the hillock to the engineer as a token of appreciation. The engineer was happy and decided to make a temple dedicated to the three goddesses as they had come to his rescue. The Mahalakshmi temple was constructed for Rs. 80,000 in Mumbai. According to the temple trust, the temple was believed to be constructed sometime between 1761 AD and 1771 AD.
5. Festivals Are Celebrated At The Mahalakshmi Temple
The Mahalakshmi temple celebrates two festivals with much fervour; Navaratri and Diwali.
- The Chaitra navaratra is celebrated at Shri Mahalakshmi temple between March and April (which is considered the month of Chaitra). Next, the Ashwin Navaratra is celebrated between September and October (which is considered the month of Ashwin). Diwali is celebrated during October and November. During the two festivals, the temple is adorned with ample flowers and lights to make it come to life. The whole place truly illuminates with the decoration giving it a spectacular sight to behold.
- During navaratra, the worship is divided equally among the goddesses at the Shri Mahalakshmi temple to ensure proper traditions are followed. Shri Mahakali is worshipped on the first three days of the Navaratri. Then Shri Mahalakshmi is worshipped from the fourth day to the sixth day of the navaratra. Shri Mahasaraswati is worshipped during the last three days of Navaratri. In this manner, each goddess is given equal importance and worshipped as per the Hindu rituals to appease each deity. Proper care is taken to ensure all arrangements are done well in advance.
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6. Events Organised
Mahalakshmi temple also celebrates Annakut after Diwali. This takes place on the Tripurari Purnima or Kartik Purnima. During this day, at least 56 sweets and food items are offered to the goddesses and Naivedya as prasad. The sweets and food items are then given to the devotees. Around 1500 devotees are present during the Annakut day at the Mahalakshmi temple. The Margashirsh month, which falls during December and January, sees more footfall like Navaratri. This is due to the auspicious nature of the month. Women are usually the ones who visit the temple during this time.
Another notable event that is celebrated is the Palkhi of Mataji. During Gudhi Padwa, the Palkhi procession takes place on 17th June every year. The reason this date is chosen is because it is when Dhwjasthambha was constructed near the Deepsthambha. Many devotees from all over the country come to participate in this procession and pray to the three goddesses. It is an event that you should not miss because of the power it holds to fulfil any wish of the true devotee.
7. Temple Architecture In All Its Glory
The site of the Mahalakshmi temple is a heritage precinct because of its architecture that dates to the 1760s to70s. Since a portion of the temple’s backdrop is the sea, it makes for a unique landscape marvel that other temples have not been able to emulate. The historical significance also speaks of the architecture. The temple’s construction including the shrines speaks of the historic aspect of that era which must be kept alive for the future.
The temple architecture is simply sophisticated even though it was built such a long time ago. You will find a Shri Ganapati idol on one side of the Gabhara and Vithal and Rukhamini on the other side. The Gabhara is the sanctum sanatorium and measures 11 meters by 11 meters. There is a laxmi yantra at the main gate. Upon entering the Gabhara, you will see the three deities perched on a throne that is intricately carved to perfection. You will also see Annapurna Devi on a Simhasana. The temple’s kalash is 15 meters high.
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These are all the facts you need to know about the Mahalakshmi temple so you can plan your trip to Mumbai better. Whether you want to spend a few hours at the temple or an entire day admiring its beauty, you will surely have an exhilarating experience. Make sure you are well prepared to beat the heat if you are planning a visit during summer for the mataji’s palkhi.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Mahalakshmi Temple
What makes the Mahalakshmi temple in Mumbai so famous?
The history behind the temple construction, the prime location, the majestic architecture, and the powerful deities that reside at the temple make it famous.
Why is Lakshmi called Mahalakshmi?
‘Maha’ means great in Sanskrit and all the deities of the Mahalakshmi temple have it attached as a prefix to their name to signify their greatness.
Which God is in the Mahalakshmi temple?
The temple is dedicated to three deities; Shri Mahalakshmi, Shri Mahakali, and Shri Mahasaraswati.
Is Mahalakshmi temple always crowded?
You will find a rush during the festival season and the weekend. Thousands of devotees come to the temple every day so it is best to visit it in the morning time to beat the afternoon rush. If you want to stay protected from the heat, the winter season is the best time to visit the temple but you can expect higher crowds.
How many people visit the temple?
The temple sees a footfall of thousands of people every single day. During the festivals, the number of visitors can easily increase to one lakh and above. This is particularly true during Diwali and Navaratra.
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