There are some sights you expect to see during Shravan: a Shivling covered in bilva leaves, streams of water being poured over Mahadev, devotees lining up with puja thalis. An 11-foot Shivling made entirely of Rudraksha beads is probably not one of them! That is what makes this Shravan installation in Mumbai stand out. The towering Shivling has been put up as a special devotional attraction for the holy month, with devotees able to not just see it but participate in rituals around it.
Mumbai Has An 11-Foot Shivling Made Of Rudraksha
The choice of Rudraksha is very meaningful. In Hindu tradition, Rudraksha is closely associated with Lord Shiva and is commonly linked to a beautiful legend about his meditation. It is believed that Shiva once sat in deep penance for an extended period. When he finally opened his eyes, tears fell from them. According to the legend, those tears touched the earth and gave rise to the Rudraksha tree. The name itself comes from Rudra, a name for Shiva, and aksha, meaning eye.
So, in a way, the sight here has its own poetic logic; an enormous form of Mahadev created from the beads believed to have come from Mahadev’s tears.
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Devotees Can Perform Jalabhishek Before 6 PM
The rituals make the visit even more special. If you reach before 6 PM, you can perform Jalabhishek, the traditional offering of water to the Shivling. During Shravan, offering water to Shiva is one of the most common forms of worship, particularly on Mondays.
At 7 pm, devotees can witness the Bhasm Aarti. Bhasm means ash, and the ritual involves offering sacred ash to Shiva. The symbolism runs deeper than the ritual itself; ash is a reminder of the temporary nature of the physical world, while Shiva is traditionally associated with destruction, transformation and the cycle of life and death.
And because Maharashtra follows the Amanta lunar calendar, Shravan this year runs into September, unlike the North Indian calendar, where Sawan ends earlier.
Where: Mumbai, Maharashtra
When: Till September 11 | Jalabhishek before 6 pm | Bhasm Aarti at 7 pm
Also Read: Shravan 2026: 5 Must-Have Foods For A Healthy And Satisfying Vrat
For anyone in Mumbai, then, this is one of those Shravan sights that is difficult to scroll past: 11 feet of Rudraksha, rituals through the evening and a Shivling that turns an old story about Shiva’s tears into something you can actually stand in front of.
Cover Image Courtesy: Internal
FAQs
Where Is The 11-Foot Rudraksha Shivling?
The 11-foot Shivling is a special Shravan devotional installation in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Why Is Rudraksha Associated With Lord Shiva?
According to Hindu tradition, Rudraksha is associated with a legend in which Shiva’s tears fell to the earth during his meditation and gave rise to the Rudraksha tree.
What Time Is The Bhasm Aarti?
The Bhasm Aarti takes place at 7 PM.