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Bhakta Sangham was formed in the year 1972, in Mulund West a quiet and green town in the Suburbs of Mumbai and which is in the North East end of Mumbai, by a few likeminded South Indians, all of whom were employed in Mumbai and working in various Corporates for their living. As the name goes, Bhakta Sangham…. This group of devoted togetherness started their association by conducting Namasankeertanam or Bhajans regularly on all Saturdays, without fail. These weekly bhajans were by the members who played the role of singing, together with Mridangam, Kanjira and Cymbals to make the bhajan interesting and relishing. This weekly activity gave them an essence of spirituality in life along with other activities of routine. These bhajans were conducted in and around Mulund – in various residences who opted for the same and there was advance booking for the same. All the members will look forward for the weekend to arrive to sing songs in praise of all the Lords in general and Guruvayoorappan OR Sri Krishna in particular. Within a year and above, the group felt the need of registering themselves as a Religious Trust, under the Bombay Public Trust Act, in October,1973.

Slowly, the members started having bhajans of longer duration, during the month of September -October, before the Navratri function, wherein it was a procedure to have Dolotsavam on the four Saturdays, falling between mid-September to mid-October. Then they further ventured into conducting Divya Namasankeertanam on one of the four Saturdays. Slowly they moved into forming a group for the Annual Sabarimala Trip, which begins from mid-November to January 14th, where the Makara vilakku falls. Around 40-50 devotees used to go annually by arranging a bus from Mulund to Sabarimala and back, thereby visiting various temples, beginning from Kolhapur Mahalxmi, Kollur Mookambika, Udipi Sri Krishna, Gokarn, Tirupati, Kalahasti, Palani, and most of the well-known Kerala temples like Vadakunnathan, Parmekkavu Kodungallor in Trichur dist., Guruvayoor, Triprayar, Chottanikkara, Ernakulattappan, Vaikkom, Ettumanoor, Kaduthuruthy in Ernakulam district. Prior to undertaking this trip, in middle of December, they started conducting Mandala Pooja for about 15 days, which initially was with a discourse on various Hindu Puranas, which was orated by artists from South who had the in depth knowledge of the Hindu Relegious scripts like, Ramayana, Mahabharatha, Srimad Bhagwatham etc. These will be conducted in the evenings from 830 pm to 1030 pm in the available Hall – which was and is still known as “Saraswat Wadi” in Zaver Road, Mulund West – but South Indians used to call it Bhramapuri Hall. After couple of years, the Bhakta Sangham introduced the concept of Sapthaham – which is rendering of Narayaneeyam – charitram of Sri Krishna, written by the poet Sri Bhattadiripad. This would happen during the day time, from morning 6 30 am till evening 6 30 am by various scholars from Kerala, who were the exponents of the same with a professional touch. The below shown Mandapam was used for all the poojas of the Sangham and was stationed at the office of the Sangham – which was at the Terrace Flat, Laxmi Swami Niwas, Valji Ladha Road, Mulund West, Mumbai- 400080.

When Sangham started conducting its own program at a hired venue, the below Mandapam was used as the Sanctum Sanctorum to conduct the Poojas during the festival times. However, we are continuing to use the same Mandapam as a mark of our old times so that we remember from where we started. Besides temple has got time limitations. This Mandapam is kept in the Ground Floor Hall so that discourses, Bhajans etc., can continue beyond temple hours as well. Down further you can see the sanctum of the four deities, we have built and as per Kerala tradition, we are not supposed to click the diety picture – so the closed temples snap is given.

Years passed by and so the thinking of the cohesive group also improved. They were dreaming of having a Temple and a community Hall of their own so that convenience of conducting the programs that are being conducted can be done conveniently and to the satisfaction of the community. Further, the South Indian Community had various religious functions conducted like, Baby Shower of the child to be born – known as Seemantham, first birthday of the child known as Aandinaravu, Thread ceremony of the male child – known as Upanayanam, Marriage of youngsters, Sixtieth birthday of Individuals -known as Shastiabdapoorthy, Eightieth birthday of Senior citizens – known as Sadabishekam, etc.
Members started hunting for place in the developing suburb of Mulund, which was buzzing with South Indians, Gujaratis, Maharashtrians, Bengalis, Sardarjis, Punjabis – et al.
By the year 1979, they could find a land which will be not so far away from the Mulund Station and not so far away from the expected new station between Bhandup and Mulund i.e. Nahur. By the time formalities were completed and the transfer of property happened, it was 1980. Around the first quarter of 1980, the Shankaracharya of Dwarka Mutt was invited to lay the foundation stone for the temple cum community complex. The function, even though was brief, went of well to the satisfaction of the members, whose first phase of the ambition was accomplished. This could be achieved only through the financial support of the members of the Sangham as well as the Mulund public and various large hearted well wishers in Mumbai, who contributed their might during the programs conducted. Few members were so enthusiastic that they had canvassed a lot to get advertisements in the annual Souvenir, which was released during the Mandala Pooja celebration, which contributed to the Kitty of the Sangham and these contributions by public and many of the prestigious institutions, uplifted the finances of the Sangham, which lead to the purchase of the Land for the Temple cum Community Hall Complex.

Then members started looking out for ideal learned persons, who could guide them to the construction of the temple in the phase I. Well know astrologers were contacted and they made a deep study and the dream of having a temple which looks like the Guruvayoor Sri Krishna temple was conceived – meaning the positioning of the deities, would be like that of Guruvayoor temple…. As we don’t have the vast area like that of Guruvayoor temple. Through guidance of experts from Guruvayoor temple, the ideal artisans were contacted to construct the temple and to buy the materials required for the temples construction. The idols of Sri Ganapathy, Sri Parashakti and Sri Krishna was carved out of rock. Whereas Ayyappan’s idol was chosen to be made of panchaloha – a mixture of five metals.

Members started canvassing for Donations for the construction of the temple amongst their friends and relatives and the campaign was successful, with funds flowing to the Lords feet for establishing him in the suburb of Mulund. Construction work also started in full swing for the temples and the ground floor of the Community Hall so that any function can be conduction in front of the Lord.

Ultimately in the mid of May 1986, the Kumbabishekam of the temple with presence of four deities – viz. Sri Ganapathy, Sri Parashakti, Sri Guruvayoorappan and Sri Ayyappan was done. The devotees of Mulund and the nearby suburbs of Mumbai and all religious minded people from far and wide came to witness the new abode of the Lord. The Sangham members had a sense of satisfaction that their ambition was fulfilled by the large-hearted public and well-wishers who contributed generously for the establishment of the temple. The first program conducted was the Narayaneeyam Sapthaham of Late Sri. Aanjam Namboothiri of Guruvayoor…. Who was the then famous exponent of Narayaneeyam. That was one of the dreams of the most enthusiastic and energetic founder member.

Such started the journey of Bhakta Sangham’s temple cum Community complex. Poojas are conducted under the Tantric system by the Namboothiris of Kerala and the system continues. We are blessed to have a dedicated and devout team of Namboothiris who perform the daily pooja of all deities piously. Devotees of suburbs near Mulund – like Bhandup, Thane and Kanjur Marg, started conducting their functions in our Hall as the same is conducted in front of the sanctum sanctorum of the Lord Guruvayoorappan.

In another five years, the first floor of the Hall was given shape and in couple of more years, the second floor was put up with roof top facility which has been used for cooking and dining purpose during the functions which were conducted in IInd floor – where the function will be held in First Floor.

Then on the following functions were conducted during the year:
 Makara Vilakku – which falls on 14th/15th January every year – Sampoorna Abhishekam for Lord Sri Ayyappan in the morning. Panaka pooja and Ayyappan bhajan rendering in the evening.
 Prathishta day celebrations of the Temple during mid February every year.
 Shiva Ratri – with Rudrabishekam and Kramarchana
 Pankuni Uthram – Mid March every year with Lagunyasam and Sahasranamarchana culminated with Subramanya Laksharchana and prasadam for devotees
 Rama Navami – March/April every year - For 9 days after Rama Navami day, with religious discourse in the evening from 7pm to 9 pm for 7 days and 2 days will be Ashtapathi Bhajan with Dolotsavam and Divyanamam and culminating with Seetha Rama Kalyanam & Anjaneya Utsavam
 Special Saptaham/Navaham – during May/June every year
 Samashti Upanayanam for not so well to do Brahmins in the community
 Kataka Masa Bhagavati Seva and Ganapathy Homam – July 16th to August 15th every year. Devotees book for Ganapathy Homam and Bhagavathy seva on their preferred Star day to conduct the Pooja
 Purattasi Saturday Bhajan – Mid-September to Mid-October every year on Saturdays – which will be Dolotsavam Bhajan by well known artists of Mumbai as well as other states
 Navratri – October- November every year. 9 days Golu with idols kept on steps. Daily Pooja and neivedyam and Devi Laksharchana on the Sunday of the 9 days with Prasadam for devotees
 Mandala Pooja celebrations – 16th November to 26th December every year – having variety of programs like : Narayaneeya Sapthaham/ Devi Navaham, Radha Kalyanam, Religious discourse on various topics, Rudrabishekam and Kramarchan, Laksharchana & Shasta Preethi, culminating with Mandalam last day Bhajan and Anjaneya Utsavam
 Sampoorna Narayaneeyam on all Ekadasi days post Amavasya every month rendered by Devotees

 Besides the above programs we also have the following programs conducted on behalf of devotee request.
 Sponsored Narayaneeyam – by devotees wanting to do so by bearing the full cost
 Veda Parayanam – once in a month under the guidance of Sangham’ Purohit Sri Balu Vadyar & Raja Vadhyar.
 Navagam Abhishekam on Makeeram days every month
 Udayasthamana Pooja for Guruvayoorappan with no prefix and suffix days and non-Thursdays
 Kalababishekam for all deities
 Gold Kavacham/Silver Kavacham for Guruvayoorappan
 Chuttu vilakku for single diety or all deities with Nirmalyam



During its existence the Sangham had conducted couple of Maharudram, Chandika Homam etc inviting various Vedic Pandits and general public who are vell versed with rendering of Vedic chants.