Temple of Maha Deo in 19th-Century Bombay, 1812 Print
This rare 1812 engraved print is of the Temple of Maha Deo pictured in the 19th-century in Bombay (Mumbai). It offers a fascinating glimpse into the city’s religious landscape nearly two centuries ago. Today known as the Bhavani Shankar Temple, the shrine is one of the surviving reminders of old Tardeo and is notable for its distinctive Deccan Maratha architectural style. The temple was also associated with Jagannath Shankarsheth, one of 19th-century Bombay’s most prominent and wealthy businessmen, it served as a family shrine. The detailed image captures the temple and its surroundings at a time when Bombay was still developing into the major metropolis it would later become.
The original sketch was made by Maria Graham, a British writer, traveller and accomplished illustrator who recorded scenes from India during the early 19th century. Remarkably, the temple later faced demolition by civic authorities because it was not included on the city’s heritage list. Its survival was attributed to the intervention of D. Sadashiv Gorakshikar, former director of the Prince of Wales Museum (now the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya). Published by A. Constable & Co., Edinburgh, on 1 July 1812, this historic engraving is therefore more than an early depiction of a Bombay temple, it is a rare visual record of the city’s architectural and cultural heritage.
Did you know – Tardeo where the Temple of Maha Deo is located is one of the richest localities in Mumbai today.
