Prabhadevi's Shakambari Devi temple, over 300 years old, carries a story of a hidden idol and a dream
The temple in central Mumbai is said to be more than 300 years old, with its re-consecration dated to 1715 and a legend of an idol found in a well.
Mention Mumbai and most people picture buildings, a hectic pace and modern living. But in the middle of the city stands a temple in Prabhadevi that holds hundreds of years of history. The Shakambari Devi temple in Prabhadevi is said to be more than 300 years old. Several well-known legends surround it. The temple is said to have been re-consecrated in 1715.
In the 12th century, the goddess was the kuldevi (family deity) of Bimbadev, the Yadav king of Devagiri, or King Bimb of Gujarat. At the time, the goddess was known as Shakambari. King Bimb established his kingdom in this area and brought the main deity here.
When Mughal invaders began attacking the region, the idol of the goddess was removed to keep it safe and protect it from desecration. It was first kept in Mahim Creek, and was then miraculously hidden in a well near the temple.
The legend goes on that Prabha Devi appeared in the dream of a devotee named Shyam Naik of the Pathare Prabhu community, original residents of Mumbai. The goddess told him to take her idol out of the well and have the temple rebuilt. In keeping with this instruction from the dream, the temple was re-consecrated in 1715. The locality of Prabhadevi takes its name from this temple, which is about 300 years old. According to some historical references, the idol in the temple is older than the temple's founding. Going by the available information, the present temple is considered to date from about 300 years ago.
Today, Prabhadevi looks like part of modern Mumbai, with tall buildings and roads. But a large part of Mumbai was once marshland, creeks and coconut groves. As the city expanded, land in many areas was developed through reclamation, and areas such as Dadar, Prabhadevi and Elphinstone later acquired their urban identity.
What sets Prabhadevi apart is that an old religious tradition and modern Mumbai sit side by side. On one side is the centuries-old tradition of the goddess, on the other the Siddhivinayak temple, which has two centuries of history, and all around them modern Mumbai that has grown up gradually. This has given Prabhadevi a distinct cultural significance.
