https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Banganga_TankBanganga Tank - Revision history2026-07-31T11:10:15ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Banganga_Tank&diff=107396&oldid=prev>AnomieBOT at 11:10, 9 June 20212021-06-09T11:10:10Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|Ancient water tank in Mumbai}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}<br />
{{Redirect|Banganga}}<br />
{{unreliable sources|date=October 2012}}<br />
[[File:Bangangatank.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The Banganga Tank (December 2007 )]]<br />
The '''Banganga Tank''' is a [[temple tank]] which is part of the Hindu [[Walkeshwar Temple]] complex in the [[Malabar Hill]] area of the city of [[Mumbai]], [[India]].<br />
<br />
==History==<br />
{{see also|History of Mumbai}}<br />
The tank was built in AD 1127 by [[Lakshman Prabhu]], a minister in the court of [[Silhara dynasty|Silhara]] kings of [[Thane]].<ref>[http://www.gsbkonkani.net/TEMPLES/BANGANGA%20SHRI%20WALKESHWAR.htm Banganga, Walkeshwar history]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.explocity.com/Mumbai/News/detailednews.asp?newsfeatureid=3932&tc=MUM&city=MUM&types=Static&channelname= |title=Banganga |access-date=28 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081008150549/http://www.explocity.com/Mumbai/News/detailednews.asp?newsfeatureid=3932&tc=MUM&city=MUM&types=Static&channelname= |archive-date=8 October 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref><br />
<br />
It was rebuilt in 1715, funded by a donation from [[Rama Kamath]].<ref>[http://theory.tifr.res.in/bombay/architecture/building/walkeshwar.html Walkeshwar Temple History]</ref> The main temple has since been reconstructed and is now a reinforced concrete structure of recent construction.{{clear}}<br />
<br />
==Banganga in mythology==<br />
[[File:Banganga Tank and Walkeshwar Temple, Bombay, c. 1855.jpg|thumb|250px|Banganga Tank and Walkeshwar Temple c. 1855]]<br />
According to local legend, the temple sprang forth when [[Rama]], the exiled hero of the epic ''[[Ramayana]]'', stopped at the spot in search of his kidnapped wife, [[Sita]].<br />
<br />
As the legend goes, overcome with fatigue and thirst, Rama asked his brother [[Lakshmana]] to bring him some water. Lakshmana instantly shot an arrow into the ground, and water gushed forth from the ground, creating a tributary of the [[Ganges]], which flows over a thousand miles away – hence its name, ''Banganga'', ie the ''Ganga'' created by a ''baan'' (arrow).<ref>[http://www.frommers.com/destinations/mumbai/A21959.html Destinations in Mumbai]</ref><br />
<br />
The Banganga also houses the Shri Kashi Math and Shri Kaivalya/Kavale Math of the [[Goud Saraswat Brahmin]]s on its banks, including ''[[Samadhi (shrine)|samadhi]]s'' of the ''[[Matha|maths]]''’ past heads.<ref>[http://www.gsbkonkani.net/TEMPLES/BANGANGA%20SHRI%20WALKESHWAR.htm Gowd Saraswat Brahmin Math at Banganga]</ref><br />
<br />
The area also has a Hindu cremation ground<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lifepositive.com/Spirit/Nisargadatta_Maharaj/Of_Death_and_the_Deathless102006.asp |title=Banganga cremation grounds |access-date=2 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071019152345/http://www.lifepositive.com/Spirit/Nisargadatta_Maharaj/Of_Death_and_the_Deathless102006.asp |archive-date=19 October 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> which after 2003 received a makeover to house a gas crematorium.<ref>[http://www.taph.com/restoration/banganga-to-undergo-makeover.html Banganga Crematorium Makeover]</ref><br />
<br />
The area still has an old Hindu cemetery consisting of ''samadhi'' shrines of various [[advaita|advaitin]] gurus, such as [[Siddharameshwar Maharaj]] (1888–1936) and his disciple, Ranjit Maharaj (1913–2000).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nisargadatta.in/WebCMS/CMSPage.aspx?PageID=2 |title=Meet the Sage |access-date=2 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303131404/http://www.nisargadatta.in/WebCMS/CMSPage.aspx?PageID=2 |archive-date=3 March 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[https://www.straight.com/article/gurtu-takes-a-musical-trip?# Journey to Banganga, Trilok Gurtu]</ref><br />
<br />
==Present day==<br />
[[File:Banganga temple shikhara.jpg|250px|thumb|''[[Shikhara]]'' of the Shri Kashi Math, as seen from Banganga Tank]]<br />
The tank today is a rectangular pool structure surrounded by steps on all four sides. At the entrance are two pillars in which ''diyas'' (oil lamps) were lit in ancient times.<br />
<br />
The tank, as well as the main Walkeshwar Temple and the Parshuram Temple, belong to the Goud Saraswat Temple Trust, which once owned most of the property in the complex. Many Goud Saraswat Brahmin families (Rege, Anaokar, Mulgaonkar, Kenkre, Sakhardande, Sukthankar, Keni, Marudkar, Naik, Wartikar, Warerkar, Bidikar, Bhende, Prabhawalkar, Pagnis) still reside in the Temple Trust buildings in the complex.<br />
<br />
The tank is spring-fed; thus its water remains sweet, despite being located only a few dozen meters away from the sea.<br />
<br />
Apart from being a cultural hub, the place over the years has provided inspiration to many artists, be it on film or on canvas.{{cn|date=June 2021}}<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
* [http://www.sacred-destinations.com/india/mumbai-banganga-tank.htm Banganga Tank history]<br />
* [http://worldofstock.com/search_pages/banganga.php Images of Banganga]<br />
<br />
{{Mumbai topics}}<br />
{{Tourist attractions in Mumbai}}<br />
<br />
{{coord|18|56|48.78|N|72|47|36.93|E|region:IN|display=title}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Religious buildings and structures in Mumbai]]<br />
[[Category:History of Mumbai]]<br />
[[Category:Temple tanks in India]]</div>>AnomieBOT