Sri Walkeshwar Temple

Introduction to Walkeshwar Temple

Walkeshwar Temple is also known as the Lord of Sand Temple, Baan Ganga Temple, a popular pilgrimage spot in South Mumbai. This oldest holy temple lies near Malabar Hill. Devotees worship Walkeshwar, an incarnation of Shiva, in the Walkeshwar Temple as the presiding deity. The Mumbai Municipal Corporation maintains it.

Legend of the Walkeshwar Temple

The legend of the Walkeshwar Temple says that Rama was on his way to rescue his wife, Sita Devi. He was advised to worship the Shiva Lingam. So, he asked his brother Lakshman to bring it.

As Lakshman took too long to return with the Lingam, Rama made a Lingam out of sand and started worshipping it. This is how the temple received the name Walkeshwar Temple from the Sanskrit word 'Valuka Iswar,' which means 'Lord of Sand'.

According to folklore, when Rama was thirsty, he found no freshwater source around him except salty seawater. So, to quench his thirst, he shot an arrow and made a path to the River Ganga. 'Baan' is a Sanskrit word that means 'arrow'. Despite the closeness to the sea, sweet drinking water from the underground filled the Baan Ganga tank.

The Architecture of the Walkeshwar Temple

The Walkeshwar Temple features North Indian architectural style. It has a pyramidal roof above the sanctum sanctorum. The temple design follows a geometrical pattern called vastu-purusha-mandala. It reflects a simple symmetrical structure.

Lakshman Prabhu, a minister in the Shilahara dynasty, constructed Walkeshwar Temple in 1127. During their rule, the Portuguese dynasty destroyed the temple in the 16th century. It is said that the sand lingam was hidden in the sea to avoid destruction.

The Mumbai businessman and philanthropist Rama Kamath (a Saraswat Brahmin, called 'Kamati' in the British era) reconstructed the Walkeshwar Temple in 1715. The freshwater Baan Ganga Tank is situated in the southwestern corner of the temple, dating back to 1127. The sacred and oldest Baan Ganga water tank (temple pond) is enriched with water throughout the year. There are steps to get into the water tank and bathe. Many people stand on the stairs and feed fish that live in the water.

The temple's plastered tower contains carved images of musicians and sages. In front of the sanctorum, devotees can see a stone tortoise and Nandi. In the sanctum sanctorum, devotees can see a small black-stone lingam. A snake idol blesses the devotees next to the sanctum. Devotees perform Pooja to the snake idol in the presence of the temple priests. There are smaller shrines of Ganesha, Lakshmi, and Durga built around it.

The oldest structures of Venkateshwar Balaji Mandir, a Peshwa-era temple with a wooden canopy dating from 1789, are seen here. Rameshwar Mandir was built in 1825. All these need structural repairs and cleaning.

Even after the Portuguese destruction, Walkeshwar Temple was reconstructed beautifully and became Mumbai's most famous religious spot.

Festivals in the Walkeshwar Temple

The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) organizes a Hindustani classical music festival in the sacred Baan Ganga Tank, Walkeshwar Temple venue, every January. Devotees can enjoy performances from virtuosos to amateurs in the music field. Their live musical performance and concerts attract locals and tourists to the spot.

The Walkeshwar Temple is fully crowded on Full moon and No moon days.

Benefits of Worshipping at the Walkeshwar Temple

People believe bathing and walking around the tank barefoot can bring immense purification.