Located in the very heart of Mumbai City, at nearly 1000 feet above sea level, over looking the Arabian Sea lies the majestic temple of Lord Babulnath [Lord Shiva].

Even in a city like Mumbai you'll be surprised to feel peace and tranquility at Babulnath - a place where Almighty resides. The granduer and magnificence of the temple is guaranteed to make you forget where you are, giving an illusion of Mount Kailas, the eternal abode of Lord Shiva.

Every year millions of devotees visit this magnificent temple. It was built nearly 200 years ago and is one of the most spacious temples in the city. The devotees are undoubtedly proud of its rich and varied heritage.

Over the ages many saints across India have sung praises of Lord Shiva. Pushpadanta wrote the Shiva Mahimnah Stotram , as he was a great devotee of Lord Shiva . Even today devotees recite the same Stotram for Lord Shiva Pujan.

History of Babulnath Mandir

Legend has it that about two centuries ago, the southeast portion of the hilly terrain known as the Malabar Hill, where Lord Babulnath's ancient temple is situated, belonged to one Pandurang, a rich goldsmith. His cattle were grazing around. Being grazing land, there was nothing to be taken care of by Babul, the caretaker of Pandurang's cattle stock.

Once it was noticed that a cow Kapila stopped giving milk. On enquiry, Babul reported that the very cow, before coming home reaches a point and suo-moto puts out all her milk. Babul could not explain the logic behind this, but had made Pandurang inquisitive.

The very next day, Panduranga saw the scene again and he was overwhelmed when the said cow, Kapila was repeating her usual act. On reaching there a huge Shivaling was found. It is the very place where the temple has been built.

Shivstuti and Meaning

Click To Enlarge for pronunciation

I bow down to Lord Shiva who is fair like the camphor, wears a garland of king of serpents, is an incarnate form of compassion, an essence of all material being, who always resides in the lotus-like heart (of his devotee) and who is accompanied by Goddess  Bhawani.

Shiv Mahimnah Stotra

The Shiva Mahimnah Stotra is very popular among the devotees of Lord Shiva and is considered one of the best among all Stotras (or Stutis) offered to Lord Shiva. The legend about the circumstances leading to the composition of this Stotra is as follows:

A king named Chitraratha had constructed a nice garden. There were beautiful flowers in this garden. These flowers were used every day by the king in worshipping Lord Shiva. One day a Gandharva (Singer in the court of Indra, the Lord of the Heaven) named Pushhpadanta being fascinated by the beautiful flowers, began to steal them, as a consequence of which king Chitraratha could not offer owers to Lord Shiva. He tried very hard to capture the thief, but in vain, because the Gandharvas have divine power to remain invisible. Finally the king spread the Shiva Nirmaalya in his garden. Shiva Nirmaalya consists of the Bilva leaves, flowers, etc. which have been used in worshipping Lord Shiva. The Shiva Nirmaalya is considered holy. The thief Pushhpadanta, not knowing this, walked on the Shiva Nirmaalya, and by that he incurred the wrath of Lord Shiva and lost the divine power of invisibility. He then designed a prayer to Lord Shiva for forgiveness. In this prayer he sung the greatness of the Lord. This very prayer became well known as the `Shiva Mahimnah Stotra'. Lord Shiva became pleased by this Stotram, and returned Pushhpadanta's divine powers. The recital of this stotra is very beneficial, and Shri Ramakrishna, one of the famous saints of the nineteenth century, went into samadhi just by reciting a few verses from this hymn.

Location

This temple is located at the end of Marine Drive and south of Malabar Hill, which was built in 1780. Also In 1900, a tall spire was added to this auspicious, original temple of Lord Shiva. A stone Lingam of Lord Shiva is worshipped at Babulnath. The main worship day is Monday. Closest railway to reach temple is Marine Lines (Western Railway).