The architecture of the Devi temple is simple.
Mandap - There is a covered area outside the main shrine for the devotees. It has a hemispherical roof but no walls.
The Temple Door – The sanctum can be entered through a door which has beautiful and colourful carvings. There are two step made of green marble to enter inside. Just next to the steps, on both sides, there are two lion faces. There are two pillars which have been engraved on the wall on both sides of the door. On the pillars there are the figures of two doorkeepers (dwarapala) on each side. At the top of the engraved pillars are the figures of two pots or Kalashas. On top of the door there is the figure of Lord Ganesh, along with his two wives, Riddhi and Siddhi on the two sides. There are two screen windows on the two sides of the door. All the figures on the door are painted in bright colours. There is a bell which hangs in ...
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The architecture of the Devi temple is simple.
Mandap - There is a covered area outside the main shrine for the devotees. It has a hemispherical roof but no walls.
The Temple Door – The sanctum can be entered through a door which has beautiful and colourful carvings. There are two step made of green marble to enter inside. Just next to the steps, on both sides, there are two lion faces. There are two pillars which have been engraved on the wall on both sides of the door. On the pillars there are the figures of two doorkeepers (dwarapala) on each side. At the top of the engraved pillars are the figures of two pots or Kalashas. On top of the door there is the figure of Lord Ganesh, along with his two wives, Riddhi and Siddhi on the two sides. There are two screen windows on the two sides of the door. All the figures on the door are painted in bright colours. There is a bell which hangs in the middle of the door.
Main Shrine - The main temple consists of a hall. The inside walls of this hall are plain . On the outside, there is a large lotus flower carved on each of the side walls. The roof of the sanctum is hemispherical on the front half of the hall. In the second half, just above the idol, there is tower or the shikhara of the temple. This has discs, a kalash and a flag at the top.
Other Shrines - Adjoining the Devi Padmavati temple are two smaller temples. One of them is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is worshipped here in the form of a Shivalinga. There is a statue of Nandi bull outside this temple which directly faces the Shivalinga. In front of the Nandi is a figure of a tortoise. Both Nandi and the tortoise figures are considered sacred. The other small temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesha and has a marble statue of the God.
In front of the two smaller temples is a paved and covered area which is used for special functions.
The temple lies on the west bank of Powai lake. It is said that on two days in a year when the doors of the temple open, the early morning rays of the sun beam down on the feet of the statue of the Goddess. There is a fence between the temple and the lake to avoid water pollution. There are special bins in the temple to dispose the temple waste and no one is allowed to throw or immerse anything in the waters of the lake.
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