Time erodes everything. Re-search is a continuous process and aims at re-finding and preserving items and ideas which need to be passed on for times to come.
People in Mumbai who have looked up the history of Walkeshwar/Walukeshwara, would probably be aware of a few things and few people, especially Shri. Rama Kamath, who re-built the temple which is called Walkeshwar today.
The objective of this research is to exhume some forgotten details of importance about the episode of Walukeshwara in the history of Mumbai. archive.org and a couple of other sources have helped trace the missing links and build a fair picture of what will be seen in this article.
Walkeshwar - The present temple
I was curious about Shri. Rama Kamath - what was his Gotra, his Kuladevata etc. as any grounded fellow Saraswat would be. A visit to the temple, close to Shri. Walkeshwar Kashi Math, made me discover these inscriptions, which are not too old, but have crucial pointers.
Translation - During the period of the Shilahara rule in the 12th Century C.E. , a Shiva temple was constructed by a leader of Gomantaka Dwijas (Dwijas from modern Goa), named LakshmaNa (Prabhu), hence the temple was known as LakshmaNeshwara. Eventually the temple was attributed to the son of Sumitra i.e., LakshmaNa.
With the passage of time and arrival of the cruel firangis (Portuguese) in Mumba Island (Mumbai), it was destroyed and reduced to a pile of stones.
Eventually, Mumbai was passed on to the East India Company (referred as the English Trade Group). A pious, good natured person named Shri. Rama Kamath, from Saraswata kula and Gaargya Gotra; a great businessman and the Treasurer, Commander of the Army of the East India Company; who consecrated the temple of Samaliyalal (Krishna in Gujarati) and Venkatesha in Fort.
Three years after the Vikrama Varsha named Nanda, he performed the Jeernoddhaara (re-consecration) of this Shiva Temple (in 1715 C.E.), which is has attained pious fame today as the Walukeshwara.
In front of whom the whole World appears as a speck of sand, my humble prostration to Walukeshwara (The Lord made of sand), who is the ocean of kindness and peace.
Notes -
1712 C.E was Nanda naam samvatsara, 3 years post that is 1715 C.E.
The spot where the temple currently stands was Lakshmaneshwara and not Walukeshwara. But it has gained that name over time.
Original Walukeshwara temple was present in the spot where current Raj Bhavan stands. The ruins were moved to museums in London, before constructing a house, by the East India Company. This is currently the residence of the Governor.
Samaliyalal is one of the old Gujarati names for Krishna, which is associated with his complexion - Shyam. Saanvariya is the equivalent which we all are aware of.
The Samaliyalal temple is a separate temple which was a community one, supported by members of GSB and Gujarati community. Venkatesh temple was basically the family shrine of Shri. Rama Kamat. With time, his estate was eventually dissolved and the family deities came to stay along with Samaliyalal. Kalikaala was prabala and the temple premises were appropriated by a Gujarati Pandit. This was eventually reclaimed and given back to GSB samaj due to efforts by the community, spearheaded by my grandfather, Shri. Hariappa Shenoy.
Today its a small temple, which needs urgent repairs.
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