Venkatesh Rangan
Venkatesh Rangan

@Venkat_author

8 Tweets 122 reads Sep 30, 2023
Maharaja Bhimdev: The true founder of Mumbai ?
We are often told that the importance of Mumbai as a commercial & fin centre is because of British. But 700 years ago; Mumbai was a sprawling capital & urban centre stretching frm present day Chowpatty to Naigaon. Thread (1/6)
Medieval marathi & farsi accounts tell us that a King called Bhima or Bhimdev or Bimbadev made Mumbai region his capital. Most probably belonged to Sevuna (Yadav) dynasty of Devgiri in Maharashtra. The following areas of the present Mumbai Metropolitan reg re associated with him:
Reference: Naravane.M.S.(1998): "Sea & Hill forts of Western India"
Bhimdev us associated with 4 areas if Mumbai:
1. He set up town of Mahikavati or modern Mahim area of Mumbai as port. Pic on reference & modern Mahim
2. His royal court was at Naigaon; a suburb of Mumbai (2/6)
3. Matunga - yes Matunga was the place of his elephant stables!!!
4. Bhimdev's name was associated also with expanding/establishing/restoring/patronizing temples of Babulnath (near Girgaon Chowpatty) & Prabhadevi as per temple traditions
5. All this in c 1295 CE
Now imagine.. (3/
What Mumbai would have looked like in 1295 CE.
- Centuries old Sacred Walkeshwar sanctified by Prabhu Sri Ram in Malabar Hill
- 1400 yr old divine cave shrines of Gharapuri dedicated to Maheshwara off southern tip
- The 2000 yr old Buddhist sanctuary of Krishnagiri in north (4/
- a busy port and financial entreport of Mahikavati at Mahim
- Military encampment and royal stables in Sion-Matunga-Dadar
- The Royal Court of Raja Bhimdev in Naigaon
- The temples of Babulnath; Prabhadevi; Jogeshwari; etc
Whole of present day Mumbai north to south (5/6)
A political; financial centre sanctified by divine faith & sacredness. A unique group of 7 scenic islands with small coves & beaches. If not for the invasions of sultanates & europeans; this was what modern Mumbai wd hve evolved frm- sans the ecological disaster of colonial(contd
Colonial era "reclamations" & "causeways".
Not sure if there is any statue if Maharaja Bhimdev in Mumbai. If there is; plz let me know. If not; shouldn't we have one dedicated to the "true founder" of Mumbai??

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