Raja Bhimdev
Encyclopedia
Bhimdev II or Raja Bhimdev also known as Raja Bimba was a 11th century king who had his capital in Mahikawati, the present-day Mahim
, in Mumbai
, India
.
The credit of foundation of Bombay goes to Raja Bhimdeva, who belonged to Solanki
alias Chalukya clan. He came from Gujarat region along-with his followers and laid the foundation of city of Mahim
then known as Mahikavati. He reigned from 1022 AD to 1064. He was a powerful king, who also conquered Northern Konkan
coast from Naik
s and established his kingdom as great maritime power.
He may have come from Anahilwada-Patan, Gujarat
. While others suggest that he may have come from from the dynasty of Seuna Yadavas of Devagiri and also known by name of Raja Bimba and established in his kingdom in 13th Century AD.
When he established his kingdom around Mumbai, the aboriginals living here were Kolis and only two temples existed one of Walkeshwar Temple
and another of Mumba Devi Temple
Bhimdeva was worshiper of Shiva
of Somnath
from where he came and as such he built Babulnath
temple. The deity in this temple is named after the Babul
trees which were the main components of a forest covering the low-lying areas of this island. He is said to have built a palace and a court of justice and temple of Prabhadevi
.
During his reign he brought his followers, who settled in and around Mumbai are now known as Pathare Prabhus
, Palshi
, Pachkalshi, Bhandari
s, Vadval, Bhoi
s, Agris
and Brahmin
s to these islands. The Bhandari
s were originally toddy trappers; the Vadvals were gardeners. He introduced many fruit-bearing trees, including coconut palms to the island.
Mahim
Mahim is a neighbourhood in Mumbai. It is also the name of a railway station in Mahim area, on the Mumbai suburban railway on the Western Railway railway line. In ancient times, the area was known as Maijim, Mejambu, Mahikawati....
, in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
The credit of foundation of Bombay goes to Raja Bhimdeva, who belonged to Solanki
Solanki
The Solanki was a royal Hindu Indian dynasty that ruled parts of western and central India between the 10th to 13th centuries. A number of scholars including V. A. Smith assign them Gurjar origin....
alias Chalukya clan. He came from Gujarat region along-with his followers and laid the foundation of city of Mahim
Mahim
Mahim is a neighbourhood in Mumbai. It is also the name of a railway station in Mahim area, on the Mumbai suburban railway on the Western Railway railway line. In ancient times, the area was known as Maijim, Mejambu, Mahikawati....
then known as Mahikavati. He reigned from 1022 AD to 1064. He was a powerful king, who also conquered Northern Konkan
Konkan
The Konkan also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from Raigad to Mangalore...
coast from Naik
Naik
Naik is an administrative title and surname derived from the Sanskrit word "vash" means to control. Naik is a surname attributed to the Anavil Brahmin caste.Naik may refer to:...
s and established his kingdom as great maritime power.
He may have come from Anahilwada-Patan, Gujarat
Patan, Gujarat
Patan was a capital of Gujarat in medieval times. It is the administrative seat of Patan District in the Indian state of Gujarat and administered by municipality. The city contains many Hindu and Jain temples as well as few mosques, dargahs and rojas...
. While others suggest that he may have come from from the dynasty of Seuna Yadavas of Devagiri and also known by name of Raja Bimba and established in his kingdom in 13th Century AD.
When he established his kingdom around Mumbai, the aboriginals living here were Kolis and only two temples existed one of Walkeshwar Temple
Walkeshwar Temple
Walkeshwar Temple , also known as the Baan Ganga Temple, is a temple dedicated to the Hindu god, Shiva located in Walkeshwar, near Malabar Hill neighborhood, in South Mumbai precinct of the city of Mumbai, India...
and another of Mumba Devi Temple
Mumba Devi Temple
Mumba Devi Mandir, or Mumba Devi Temple , is an old Hindu temple in the city of Mumbai, dedicated to the goddess , the local incarnation of the Devi...
Bhimdeva was worshiper of Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
of Somnath
Somnath
The Somnath Temple located in the Prabhas Kshetra near Veraval in Saurashtra, on the western coast of Gujarat, India, is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of the God Shiva. Somnath means "The Protector of Moon God". The Somnath Temple is known as "the Shrine Eternal", having been destroyed...
from where he came and as such he built Babulnath
Babulnath
Babulnath is an ancient Shiva temple in Mumbai, India. Shiva in the form of the Lord of the Babul tree is the main deity in this temple. The faithful climb up to the temple and obtain Darshan of the shivling and obtain blessings of the Lord. It is also possible to take an elevator up to the temple...
temple. The deity in this temple is named after the Babul
Babul
Babul or is a 1950 Bollywood film directed by S.U. Sunny produced and with music direction by Naushad. The film stars Dilip Kumar, Munawar Sultana and Nargis. A box-office success, the film became the second highest earning film of 1950, earning an approximate gross of Rs. 1,25,00,000 and a nett...
trees which were the main components of a forest covering the low-lying areas of this island. He is said to have built a palace and a court of justice and temple of Prabhadevi
Prabhadevi
Prabhadevi is a small up-scale district neighbourhood of Mumbai city, situated between the Shivaji Park Residential Zone to the north and Worli to the south and the Arabian Sea to the west...
.
During his reign he brought his followers, who settled in and around Mumbai are now known as Pathare Prabhus
Pathare prabhu
Pathare Prabhu is one of the Hindu communities in the city of Mumbai . These people are among earliest settlers in the city. They are known to have one of the oldest academic traditions amongst Hindus on par with Brahmins. They were amongst the first of the Hindus to adopt to British educational...
, Palshi
Palshi
The Palshis are an ethnic community native to Mumbai. They are the priests of Prabhus, who had migrated to Mumbai during the 13th century during the reign of Raja Bhimdev.- References :* http://books.google.co.in/books?id=miD5YO05jpUC&pg=PA42&dq=palshis...
, Pachkalshi, Bhandari
Bhandari
For other uses, see Bhandari .Bhandari caste is among the sea-faring warrior castes of ancient and medieval India. They migrated southward from Rajputana in early 1100 and subsequently spread over different parts of India...
s, Vadval, Bhoi
Bhoi
The Bhois are an ethnic community native to Maharashtra, Gujarat,Western Orissa and Andhra Pradesh states in India. In Maharashtra, the Bhois originally lived in Mumbai, Nashik, Dhulia, Jalgaon, Ahmednagar, Pune, Aurangabad, Kolhapur, Ratnagiri and Sholapur districts of Maharshtra. Presently, the...
s, Agris
Agri (Maharashtra)
The Agris are an ethnic community native to Mumbai. They had migrated to Mumbai during the 13th century during the reign of Raja Bhimdev....
and Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
s to these islands. The Bhandari
Bhandari
For other uses, see Bhandari .Bhandari caste is among the sea-faring warrior castes of ancient and medieval India. They migrated southward from Rajputana in early 1100 and subsequently spread over different parts of India...
s were originally toddy trappers; the Vadvals were gardeners. He introduced many fruit-bearing trees, including coconut palms to the island.