Who is Mumba Devi
In the Bhuleshwar area of central Mumbai stands the temple of Mumba Devi, worshipped in a distinctive form, a stone face without a nose, following an old tradition of Devi murtis found in parts of the region.
She is regarded by devotees as the original guardian goddess of the fishing villages that, over centuries, grew into the city of Mumbai, and remains especially beloved among the city's Koli community and traders.
History and the Katha
Tradition holds that the goddess's original shrine stood nearer the old docks of the city, later shifted inland to its present location as Mumbai grew around it over the generations.
Devotees believe her presence protected the local fisherfolk in times of difficulty, and her worship as protector and mother is remembered in the very name of the city, Mumbai, said to derive from Mumba and Aai, meaning Mother Mumba.
Significance and What Devotees Pray For
Devotees pray to Mumba Devi for:
- Protection of family and livelihood
- Safe sea voyages for fishing families
- Prosperity in trade and business
- Her continued blessing over the city she is named for
Her temple, amid Mumbai's busy old market district, remains a quiet anchor of faith for a fast-moving city.
Darshan Guide: Timings and Festivals
The temple observes a daily pattern of aarti in the morning and evening, with darshan open through the day amid the bustle of the surrounding market.
Navratri brings elaborate decoration and large crowds, and the temple's festivities are closely woven into Mumbai's wider Koli and Gudi Padwa celebrations.
How to Reach Mumba Devi Temple
The temple is located in Bhuleshwar, near the Crawford Market area of South Mumbai.
- Nearest railway station: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus or Marine Lines
- Nearest airport: Mumbai
- By road: well connected within the city, reachable by taxi, bus or the Mumbai Metro.
Mantra to Chant and the Takeaway
Devotees chant Om Mumbadevyai Namah (I bow to Goddess Mumba) at her shrine.
That a whole metropolis carries the name of its guardian mother is, for devotees, a daily reminder of gratitude. Worship here is an act of faith and love, not a transaction.
What People Ask Most
Why is Mumbai named after Mumba Devi?+
Tradition holds that the city's name derives from Mumba and Aai, meaning Mother Mumba, the guardian goddess worshipped by the region's original Koli fisherfolk.
Where is Mumba Devi Temple located?+
The temple stands in the Bhuleshwar area of South Mumbai, near Crawford Market, having shifted here from its original site near the old docks.
What is special about the Mumba Devi murti?+
She is worshipped in a distinctive stone form without a nose, following an old regional tradition of Devi murtis, and is especially revered by the Koli community.
About the author
Pandit Ravindra Sharma · Vedic Rituals & Bhakti, 22+ years
Pandit Ravindra is the Vandnaa editorial team's resident specialist on aarti, chalisa, and daily devotion. He has performed home and temple pujas across Varanasi and Delhi for over two decades and contributes the bhakti-focused articles on this site.
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