About
Presiding Deity: Shri Venkatraman and the other deity: Shri Krishna Shyamalialaji.
Consecration: Punar Pratishtha by H.H.Shrimat Sudhindra Tirth Swamiji of Shri Kashi Math Samsthan on Thursday the 31st May, 2001 of the black granite idol of about 4 ft height of Lord Venkatraman gifted by the
History: This temple was constructed by the famous Rama Kamati, a great GSB leader of Mumbai who had lived in Mumbai from around 1650 AD to around 1728 AD. Mumbai called Bombay (of course so, till recently) those days was a group of seven islands from Colaba to Mahim and the city of Mumbai was covering the present day Fort area. The Government was run by the East India Company who had taken Mumbai on a lease rent of 10 pounds a year from the British Crown, who in turn got Mumbai from the Portuguese as a dowry. At that time there were quite a few GSB families in Mumbai. One among them was Shri Narayan Shenoy, a good diplomat who secured the friendship of the Marathas for the English. He had also attended Shivaji’s coronation accompanying the envoy of the English. The other person was Shri Rama Kamati who was a merchant, a farmer, a warrior and a great donor. He occupied the position of the Commander of the native forces in the English army and was close to the seat of power. The English gave the entire Malabar Hill to him at an annual rent of Rs.15/-.
He reconstructed Shri Walkeshwar Temple in ruins(supposed to have been destroyed by the people of other religious faith) constructed in 1127AD by Shri Laxman Prabhu, a powerful Minister in the Court of Shilahar Kings, ruling over Konkan with Thane as their capital.
The English undertook an expedition against Kanoji Angrey, the Maratha Admiral, and miserably failed. People who were jealous of Rama Kamati alleged that he had passed on the military secrets to Angrey. Without proper verification the Government confiscated all his property and he was imprisoned for life. Around 1728AD he died in the prison, unwept, unsung and unnoticed. However, in 1743, the case was reopened at the instance of Chief Justice of Mumbai and it was proved that he was totally innocent and with this he was acquitted of all the charges but no wealth was restored to his legal heirs except a payment of Rs.4,000/- and a monthly pension of Rs.30/-. Subsequently in the absence of legal heirs, the temple fell into the hands of others and only a few years ago it was reclaimed by the GSBs under the leadership of Late Shri A.M.Kamath (popularly known as Macsonmam)
The Temple is managed by a Trust now. This is a GSB Heritage Temple in Mumbai just about two minutes walk from Mumbai CST Station.
SOurce : http://www.gsbkonkani.net/TEMPLES/FORT_TEMPLE.htm
Contact
Address: 31, Manohardas Street (Bazaar Gate)Mumbai—400001
