Banganga, Walkeshwar, Mumbai, Maharashtra Banganga, Walkeshwar, Mumbai, Maharashtra The Tank was built in the 1127 AD, by Lakshman Prabhu, a minister in the court of Silhara dynasty kings of Thane. It was rebuilt in 1715 AD, out of a donation for the Walkeshwar Temple by Rama Kamath.

The main temple, has been reconstructed since then and is at present a reinforced concrete structure of recent construction. According to local legend, it sprang forth when the Lord Ram, the exiled hero of the epic Ramayana, stopped at the spot in search of his kidnapped wife Sita.

As the legend goes, overcome with fatigue and thirst, Rama asked his brother Lakshmana to bring him some water. Laxman instantly shot an arrow into the ground, and water gushed forth from the ground, creating a tributary of the Ganges, which flows over a thousand miles away, hence its name, Banganga, the Ganga created on a baan (arrow).

Legend relates Lord Rama and Lakshmana to the origin of Walkeshwar temple too. It is said that the Shiva Linga here was installed by Lord Rama after waiting too long for his brother Lakshmana who went to Benares to bring a Shiva Linga. It is believed that the original Shiva Linga was made by sand and the name Walkeshwar corresponds to that-Valuka Ishwar (idol made of sand).

The Banganga also houses the 'Shri Kashi Math' and 'Shri Kaivalya or Kavale Math' of the Goud Saraswat Brahmins at its banks and samadhis of their various past heads of the Math.

The area also has a Hindu cremation ground which after 2003, received a makeover to house a Gas crematorium. The area still has an old Hindu cemetery consisting of samadhi shrines of various Advaita gurus, such as Sri Siddharameshwar Maharaj (1888–1936) and his disciple, Sri Ranjit Maharaj (1913–2000)

The tank today is a rectangular pool structure surrounded by steps on all four sides. At the entrance are two pillars in which oil lamps called diyas were lit in ancient times.

The tank, as well as the main Walkeshwar Temple and the Parshuram Temple belong to the Goud Saraswat Temple Trust, which once owned most of the property in the complex. Many Goud Saraswat Brahmin families (Rege, Anaokar, Mulgaonkar, Kenkre, Sakhardande, Sukthankar, Keni, Marudkar, Naik, Wartikar, Warerkar, Bidikar, Bhende, Prabhavalkar, Pagnis) used to reside / still reside in the Temple Trust buildings in the complex.

The tank is spring fed and so its water remains sweet, despite being located only a few dozen meters away from the sea. Apart from being a cultural hub, the place over the years has provided inspiration to many artists, be it on film or on canvas.

This structure is one of the holiest sites in Mumbai and one among the few surviving historical spots in the otherwise concrete jungle. As the water in the tank is regarded as the subsidiary of Holy Ganges, it is considered scared and is trusted to have healing powers. However, despite being located 1.5 kilometres from the city, it is overlooked by many tourists.

Photos by Viswas Menon (c) Viswas Menon Write up compiled by Viswas Menon