According to ancient stone inscriptions (shilasasanas) that have been found in the adjoining Powai lake, there had existed an ancient temple dating back to the 10th century AD. It was dedicated to Lord Siva, who was named Nagajesvara Svami (Lord of Himalayas). This inscription was discovered in the year 1925, when one Shri S.N. Paranjape was walking along the dry bed of the Powai lake. He found stones covered with moss lying around. He cleaned them and found that one of them had an image of Shivalinga and a devotee carrying milk in buckets over his shoulder for doing the Pooja. It also had an inscription of six lines written in Sanskrit and another line at the bottom which was in the Marathi language. Experts deciphered the lines and ascertained that the stone inscription referred to the old Shiva temple. In the year 1965 another stone inscription was found which refers to Simhappa, a Mahasamant or an important minister under the Silhara kings, who gave a donation of agricultural land ... More

According to ancient stone inscriptions (shilasasanas) that have been found in the adjoining Powai lake, there had existed an ancient temple dating back to the 10th century AD. It was dedicated to Lord Siva, who was named Nagajesvara Svami (Lord of Himalayas). This inscription was discovered in the year 1925, when one Shri S.N. Paranjape was walking along the dry bed of the Powai lake. He found stones covered with moss lying around. He cleaned them and found that one of them had an image of Shivalinga and a devotee carrying milk in buckets over his shoulder for doing the Pooja. It also had an inscription of six lines written in Sanskrit and another line at the bottom which was in the Marathi language. Experts deciphered the lines and ascertained that the stone inscription referred to the old Shiva temple. In the year 1965 another stone inscription was found which refers to Simhappa, a Mahasamant or an important minister under the Silhara kings, who gave a donation of agricultural land (the present IIT campus) to the Temple for its upkeep. It is said that it was Chhatrapati Shivaji, who installed Goddess Padmavati's idol in this temple and since then the temple became famous after Her name. The stone inscription has been handed over to the Archaeological Department.