Our Sacred Heritage
The South Indian Bhajana Samaj (SIBS) was founded in May 1927 as a humble gathering for devotional singing — bhajana — by a small group of devout South Indian families residing in Matunga, Mumbai. What began as an intimate assembly of voices raised in praise of the Divine has grown into one of Mumbai's most revered and iconic Hindu temples.
In its earliest days, the Samaj had no permanent structure. Devotees would gather in homes and community spaces to sing traditional bhajans, keerthanas, and stotras in the Carnatic style. The very first portrait of Lord Rama was lovingly procured from the Tanjore district of Tamil Nadu, establishing a deep and abiding connection to the devotional traditions of South India that continues to this day.
"From a humble bhajana gathering in 1927 with a single portrait of Lord Rama from Tanjore, SIBS has blossomed into a magnificent South Indian temple — a beacon of spirituality in the heart of Mumbai."
Over the decades, as the South Indian community in Matunga grew, so did the Samaj. Through the generous contributions of countless devotees, the institution gradually transformed from a devotional gathering into a full-fledged temple. The original Tanjore portrait was later supplemented — and eventually replaced — with sacred stone murtis encased in gold, each consecrated through elaborate Vedic rituals.
Today, the Samaj houses magnificent shrines to Sri Sita Ramachandra, Sri Raja Rajeshwari Ambal, Sri Maha Ganapathy, Sri Anjaneya, and the Navagraha, drawing thousands of devotees seeking solace, blessings, and authentic South Indian temple worship.