Built in 1940, the temple houses an ancient and marvellous idol of 12 deities carved out of a single stone.
An old Shiva temple in Parel, recognised by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as a monument of national importance, is lying in a dilapidated condition as the Centre, which is responsible for its upkeep, has said it does not have sufficient funds for its renovation. The trustees of the temple have now sought financial assistance from a builder in the area to save the structure.
Built in 1940, the temple houses an ancient and marvellous idol of 12 deities carved out of a single stone. But the vehicular congestion and construction activity in the area has caused substantial damage to the structure — the plaster on the ceiling is rooted out, and the iron rods are clearly visible. The walls of the temple have also become weak.
A trust, Chandika Sansthan, takes care of the temple, which is popularly known as Bara Deo Devalaya (temple of 12 deities). “We do not have enough funds to renovate the temple. We are now seeking help from a builder,” Manohar Patil, a trustee, said. The builder is a relative of Shiv Sena’s zonal chief Ajay Choudhary, a source said.
“The idol was found in 1931when labourers were digging in the area to lay a road from Parel to Sewree,” Patil said. “The locals then built a temple and placed the idol in it in 1940. Since then, puja is held at the temple everyday. The idol depicts Lord Shiva and his avatars.”
Sunanda Paralkar, 75, who resides near the temple, said, “I used to see a large crowd of devotees at the temple when I came to Parel after my marriage around 40 years ago. My in-laws would tell me that a fair was organised every year at the temple and devotees would come from afar. The fair was abandoned after the second world war in 1944.”
The temple has been declared a monument of national importance under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act. According to the Act, it is the ASI and the Union government’s responsibility to maintain it. “There are many issues, such as lack of funds and some stringent rules pertaining to religious structures imposed after the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition, which restrain us from maintaining the temple,” an ASI official said.
The temple is at a stone’s throw distance from Mayor Sharaddha Jadhav’s home. “We cannot help the temple as it is not an institution,” she said. Interestingly, it was Jadhav who had initiated a drive to get the temple declared a heritage structure in 1996 when she was a corporator.
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