Mahim

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

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Mahim (महिम) is a neighbourhood in Mumbai, India. The Mahim railway station is in the Mahim area, on the Mumbai suburban railway on the Western Railway line. Mahim is often considered as the heart of Mumbai.

Variants

• Mahim (महिम) (AS, p.727)
• Mahikavati महीकवती (AS, p.727)
• Mahimawati
• Maijim
• Mejambu

History

The name Mahim is derived from the ancient Mahikavati meaning "miraculous" in Sanskrit. Other historical names for the area include Mahimawati, Maijim, and Mejambu.

Mahim was one of the seven islands that originally made up Mumbai. Mahim, or Mahikawati as it was known, was the capital of Raja Bhimdev, who reigned over the region in the 13th century. He built a palace and a court of justice in Prabhadevi, as well as the first Babulnath temple.

In 1343, this island was possessed by the Sultanate of Gujarat. It was in their reign that the old Mahim mosque was built. A dargah of Makhtum Fakir Ali Paru was built here in 1431.

In 1543, the Portuguese captured the islands of Mumbai. In 1662, these islands were given to the English King, King Charles II, as a part of the wedding dowry for the Portuguese princess, Catherine of Braganza. After British acquired Mumbai, they built the Mahim Fort here to protect themselves from the Portuguese. The fort today stands in ruins.

The causeway connecting Mahim and Bandra (corrupted from "Bunder" meaning port in Persian) was completed in 1845 at a cost of Rs. 1,57,000 donated entirely by Lady Avabai Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy, wife of the first baronet Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy with a stipulation that no toll would be charged to citizens for its use by the government.

In 1847, a small group of Scottish missionaries decided to start a new school, now one of the most high-profile schools in Mumbai — the Bombay Scottish School.

महीकवती

विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर ने लेख किया है ... महीकवती (AS, p.727): मुंबई के उपनगर महिम का प्राचीन नाम. गुर्जर नरेश भीमदेव ने 15 वीं सदी में इस स्थान पर अपनी राजसभा की थी.