Agla station, history lesson
It all began with a dream. Three centuries ago, Shyam Nayak, a man from the city’s rich Pathare Prabhu community, claimed he’d been visited by goddess Shakhambari while asleep. The goddess, often called Prabhavati, and a symbol of strength, spoke of an idolofherselfthathadbeenlyingina nearby well.
Nayak woke up, began searching and found an ancient stone likeness of the goddess. The statue, legends say, belonged to a 12th century king, and was hidden in the well to
protect it from vandals, and
CHURCHGATE lay forgotten. In 1715, Nayak built a temple in her honour right across from the well, and there she stands today, flanked by Shakti’s other manifestations, Kalikadevi and Chandikadevi. Except, you now know her by a different name, one you’ll be using a lot if you use the local trains: Prabhadevi. Prabhadevi joins other deities whose names have been used for Mumbai railway stations. Other stops are named for the oddest reasons, says Deepak Rao, one-time policeman, part-time author and long-time local-history buff. Take a look.
Which church? St Thomas Cathedral, which lies east of the station, right next to Horniman Circle. Gate to what? The walled Bombay Fort. The gate stood on the path leading to the church, which gave the road the name Churchgate Street, now Veer Nariman Road. Three gates allowed access to the fort – the Church Gate was one of them.
MARINE LINES From the Marine battalions or military units that were spread all along where Metro Cinema, Cross Maidan and Azad Maidan now lie. The officers had bungalows along Queen’s Road.