Origin
Known since 1700 AD,
Matunga
Matunga (Marathi pronunciation: aːʈuŋɡaː is a locality in the heart of Mumbai City towards downtown Mumbai. It is serviced by the Matunga Road station on the Western line, Matunga station on the Central Line and King's Circle station on ...
was a cluster of villages, which later on were brought under a single governing umbrella by the ruling British. The area was called Marubai Tekdi Gaon, which is said was shortened to MaTunGa (Matunga).
Marubai is the traditional
Gaondevi (village Goddess) of Matunga whose small temple existed under a
peepal tree at King's Circle.
The then British Government planned to develop
Bombay
Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second- ...
(
Mumbai
Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second- ...
). Under the provisions of the City of Bombay Improvement Act, 1898, certain lands situated within the
Island of Bombay were required for public purpose namely the Matunga Road Scheme, now the road is known as Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Road. So the authorities then decided to shift the Marubai temple from the Kings Circle peepal tree to a different location as it came in the way of the
road building
A road is a linear way for the conveyance of traffic that mostly has an improved surface for use by vehicles (motorized and non-motorized) and pedestrians. Unlike streets, the main function of roads is transportation.
There are many types of ...
plan. However, they had to face tremendous opposition from the residents who feared they would invite the
wrath of the Goddess if they shifted Her from Her original location.
The residents of the village then once again managed the new temple. In 1952 the Marubai Trust was formed under the
Bombay Public Trust Act with Registration Number as “A2222(Mumbai)” .
Trustees
The trustees managing the temple are descendants of those families who are managing the temple for last centuries. The First Trustee Shri. Kashinath Bhikaji Gavand was appointed in the same year. He was the father of present Managing Trustee Shri. Anil Gavand. After death of Shri. Kashinath Gavand, Shri. Anil Gavand was appointed the Managing Trustee in 1987.
External links
The official websiteMumbai's Marubai - A DNA Report
{{DEFAULTSORT:Marubai Temple Matunga
Hindu temples in Maharashtra