Mahalaxmi Temple

The Mahalaxmi Temple sits atop a long flight of steps on the edge of the Arabian Sea. It is devoted to Laxmi, the Goddess of Wealth, and Lady Lucre to millions of adoring Indians. Way back before the British era, there were three temples dedicated to Laxmi, Saraswati and Kali Maa north of Malabar hill which was totally destroyed by the invaders. Later the British chose to connect Malabar hill to worli via breach candy, but the tides swept in and destroyed several such attempts. At this time Goddess Laxmi appeared in Ramji Shivji’s dream who was the contractor and told him to remove the three statues from the seabed and establish them in a shrine.

Sprawling along Mumbai’s posh locale of Breach Candy northern foot of the malabar hills, Mahalaxmi temple was constructed on a creek to the North that separated the island of Mumbai from the Koli island of Worli. The creek was filled after the completion of the Hornby Vellard in 1784. And, the modern temple of Mahalaxmi came up at the site. Beyond the ornate gate is the shrine, which houses the goddess of Lucre – Laxmi.

Mahalaxmi temple is the sacred seat of three beautiful idols of Hindu goddesses, Mahalaksmi, Mahasaraswati and Mahakali, each molded in gold. All three images are adorned with nose rings, gold bangles and pearl neclaces and the image of Mahalaxmi is shown riding a tiger and a demon (Mahishasur) in tandem.

Navaratri is the festival when Mahalaxmi temple is extravagantly decorated and the devotees from across Maharashtra converge in great numbers, offering coconut, flowers and sweets to the goddesses. On the weekends too the queue to the temple grows exceptionally long.

How to reach Mahalaxmi temple?

Get off at Mahalaxmi station (western line) and take a taxi to the temple. There are many buses that ply from the station to the temple.

What is famous next to Mahalaxmi temple?

You can visit Heera Panna shopping centre, or Haji Ali darga. Atria Mall is about 5 mins away but worth a visit.