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Goa Pilgrimage
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The main pilgrimage places in Goa are the mosques, temples and churches.

Mosques in Goa

Safa Masjid
One of the only two sixteenth-century Islamic monuments which managed to survive the excesses of the Inquisition, the Safa Masjid lies 2 km west of the centre of the town of Ponda, in Shahpur district. The elegant structure was built in 1560 by Ibrahim Adil Shah, the Sultan of Bijapur. The mosque was the focus of attention in a fairly extensive complex of gardens and fountains which lies in ruins today. The rectangular prayer hall of the mosque rests above a high base and is capped with a pointed terracotta tile roof. There are elegant Islamic arches decorating the walls. Remnants of octagonal pillars can be seen all around the mosque, perhaps these supported a covered courtyard to provide shade to worshippers. There is a well-constructed water tank with small chambers with 'meharab' designs nearby which is located to the south of the prayer hall unlike most mosques where it is located outside the main

Safa Masjid Goa

entrance. This has led to speculation that the tank may have been part of another religious structure which once stood there. Local legend also has it that there are hidden tunnels in the walls of the tank which connect it to a nearby water reservoir. This mosque is a venue of celebration during festivals of Id-Ul-Fitr and Id-Ul-Zuha, by the local Muslim community. There are rickshaws available at the main Ponda bus stand which can take you to the site of the Safa Masjid.

Namazgah
A further 2 or 3 km. from the Safa Masjid, the road going through the countryside, comes to suddenly upon the bare mountainside where the mining activity is vast and somewhat overwhelming.

This is one of the areas of great natural wealth. Ore-barges, seen chugging down river on their way to Vasco, are filled with ore from here. From the heights, Bicholim is spread out below and in the distance are the Shivalik mountains with the mines to the left, and behind. A short distance to the right there is a small structure set on the crest of the bleak hillside. This is Namazgah mosque, a tiny remnant of Muslim history of Goa. This mosque was built by Prince Akbar, to commemorate a battle which he and the Marathas, led by Sambhaji, fought against the Portuguese in 1683. It was an unlikely alliance which came about after Prince Akbar had rebelled against his father the Emperor. High above Bicholim on this bare hillside with extensive views to the east, the mosque is of most unusual design and interesting layout.

Temples in Goa

Devaki Krishna Temple
The unique feature of the Devaki Krishna Temple is that this is the only temple in India where Lord Krishna is worshipped alongside mother Devaki as Devaki Krishna. The main Deities Devakikrishna and affiliate deities of Bhumika Devi, Laxmi Ravalnath, Mallinath, Katyayani, Chodaneshwar and Dhada Shankar were originally located at Choodamani island (Chorao island). To avoid persecution during the Portuguese Inquisition they were taken to Mayem in Bicholim and from there shifted to the present location at Marcel. The Garbha Griha (inner sanctum) of the temple has the beautiful idol of Devaki and Lord Krishna. The idol of Devaki is in standing posture with a child Krishna, between her legs. This particular pose is considered to be unique. The idols are beautifully carved in black

Devki Krishna Temple Goa

stone. The major festival is Malni Purnima from Paush Vadya which is celebrated over here with great fervour and excitement.

Mahalaxmi Temple, Bandivade
The village of Bandode or Bandivade is the location of a number of temples among which is the large and beautiful temple of Goddess Mahalaxmi. Bandode is approximately 22 kms from the capital city of Panaji, off the main road to Ponda, at Farmagudi. The temple has been in existence since at least the year 1413, when information about the rituals of the temple is found on stone plaques carved during the reign of Nanjan Gosavi Pratihast over Goa. However, there was another temple of Mahalaxmi in the fifteenth century in the town of Colva in Salcette. As is the case with most Hindu deities in Goa, the idol of Mahalaxmi from this temple was also smuggled away in the middle of the night to avoid persecution during the Portuguese Inquisition era of the sixteenth century. The two devotees Safto and Fato, who took away the idol in a trunk and first took her to the town of Talauli near Ponda. Till today, the people of this village worship the sign of the feet of the goddess. The idol brought from Colva was then taken to Bandode and installed along with the existing idol. So today there are two idols of Mahalaxmi in the temple premises, along with other deities such as Shri Ravalnath, Shri Baleshwar, Shri Narayan Purush and interestingly also idols of the two devotees i.e. Safto and Fato who managed to save the Goddess from Colva. The second Goddess Mahalaxmi from Colva is taken out in a procession only once a year on the auspicious day of Ramnavmi when she is taken around in a palakhi (palanquin) and a chariot. On the second day of this festival, both the idols are taken out in one chariot to be paraded in a huge procession. The main idol of the Goddess Mahalaxmi is also taken out during the festival of Mahashivratri, on a chariot carried on the shoulders of devotees.

Mahalaxmi Temple, Panaji
One of the capital city's most discerning asset is the Mahalaxmi Temple. Located on the Dada Vaidya road, the Mahalaxmi deity is the chief object of veneration for all Goans, irrespective of caste, class, sex or creed. This 182 year old temple has a fascinating history. On 10 July 1818, the deity was consecrated there and the foundation stone of the Mahalaxmi temple was laid. The pious devotees led by the late Shri Narayan Kumar Mhamai, Mr. Sinari and others consecrated the Mahalaxmi deity in the backyard of Panjim city on 10 July 1818. By 1819, the temple was completed. The original deity today lies in a small box in the rear wall of the temple which faces the present main idol of Goddess Mahalaxmi. The magnificent subhamandap of the temple has been added later and today the recently completed new building of the temple stands proudly as a superb addition to the landmarks of Panjim city.

Mahalsa Temple
The temple of Mahalsa Narayani is located at the small village of Mardol, 22 kms from Panaji, the capital city. Originally, the deity was housed in a temple at an ancient shrine in village of Verna which is now the site of an industrial estate. Along with other Goan temples, this temple was also destructed by the Portuguese around 1543. However, before the actual demolition could take place the idol of the deity was smuggled away across the river by faithful devotees, to Mardol, where it is located today.

Mahalsa Temple Goa

The Goddess Mahalsa is supposed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, hence the name Mahalsa Narayani (Narayan being another name for Vishnu). There are a number of legends associated with the deity  and how she came into being. In ancient times, a beautiful goddess appeared on the Sonsada plateau at Verna. She was first seen by a shepherd named Sahastrapal, who was taking his master's cattle for grazing to a nearby spring. The goddess asked the shepherd to bring his master to the location. When the shepherd appeared reluctant saying that the cattle were thirsty, the goddess created a spring by hitting the ground with her nupur. The small Nupur Lake which was thus created, can still be seen today. The shepherd went to get his master, but could only get his son-in-law name Mhal Pai who was asked by the goddess to build a temple in that location where she would reside as Mahalsa Narayani. The temple has huge wooden pillars and a silver framed doorway. In the courtyard, there is a magnificent brass samai (ornamental lamp pillar) which is 40 feet in height and has 21 rings of a hundred fifty small lamps. When it is lit up with oil wicks on the annual festival day or Jatra. Besides the Jatra, there are two other special festivals held at the temple – the Jaiyanchi Puja around the month of August and the Kojagiri Pornima just after the monsoons on full moon day.

Anant Temple
The small village of Savoi-Verem in Ponda taluka is the site of the only temple dedicated to Lord Anant in the state of Goa. The temple is about 45 kms away from the capital city of Panaji. This temple has only a tiled pyramid as roof and no domes. The walls too, are only plain with plastering. But the insides are in stark contrast to the outside. There is a presence of all the seven colors of the rainbow in all the intricate wooden carvings. The Ananta temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, appearing here in his incarnation as Ananta, the serpent. Although no definite date is available for its original construction, the temple appears to be quite ancient. The current building has pillars with intricate wooden carvings and plated with silver. The idol of the deity is carved in black stone and Lord Vishnu is shown here in his Anantashayya (a sleeping position where the Lord rests on the multi-headed snake king Seshnaga, whose heads shelter the head of the Lord like an umbrella). This is the only temple in Goa showing Lord Vishnu in this special posture. The sprawling temple complex also consists of temples of other deities - Shantadurga, Kamini, Narayan and Grampurush. A number of festivals are celebrated at the temple including Shibikotsav in which the palaki (palanquin) of Lord Ananta is carried by devotees on their shoulders around the temple complex.

Mangueshi Temple
The Mangueshi temple or the Manguesh Devasthan is perhaps the most famous of all Goan temples. It is located at Priol in Ponda taluka, about 21 kms from the capital city of Panaji. The surrounding area is known as Mangueshi. In ancient times the temple was located at Kushasthali (present day Cortalim). During the Portuguese Inquisition, a number of Hindu temples were destroyed in Goa. To avoid a similar fate, the devotees of God Manguesh removed the linga (symbol of Lord

Mangueshi Temple Goa

Shiva) from the original temple and transferred it in the middle of the night to the present location at Priol which was under the control of Adil Shah. The shifting of the deity took place in the year 1560. Since the time of of the shifting, the temple has been rebuilt and renovated twice during the reign of the Marathas and again in the year 1890. The final renovation occurred in the year 1973 when a golden kalash (holy vessel) was fitted atop the tall dome of the temple. There is a fascinating legend attached to the name of the Lord Manguesh, who is an incarnation of Lord Shiva. The ancient legend states that Lord Shiva once lost everything he had in a game of dice with his wife Parvati. He decided to go into self-imposed exile and arrived in Goa. Parvati, unable to stay without Lord Shiva for long, came looking for him in the jungles of Goa. Lord Shiva decided to play a prank to frighten her and disguised himself as a tiger which attacked her. Parvati cried out for help in terror, 'Trahi Mam Girisha' (O Lord of Mountains Save Me). Lord Shiva immediately turned himself back into his normal form and the two were united. But the cry for help, and the words 'mam girisha' became associated with Lord Shiva. In the course of time the words abbreviated to Manguirisha or Manguesh by which name he is known today. A linga which was left to mark the place where the legend occurred, was discovered by a local shepherd and eventually a temple was built to house Lord Manguesh. The temple architecture is a mix of Hindu, Christian and Muslim influences and is lit up in magnificent lights during the annual Jatra which is held in January.

Naguesh Temple
Around 25 kms from Panaji, in the village of Bandode, lies the temple of Lord Naguesh. The area surrounding the temple is known as Nagueshi and lies just 800 metres from Farmagudi on the way to Ponda. There is a stone plaque near the temple, dating back to 1413, which describes the donation of surrounding lands to the temple by a local family. This was in the reign of Veer Pratap Devraya of the Vijayanagar kingdom. There are stone idols of Shiv-Paravati and Ganesh inside the temple which actually date back to the seventh and eight century which has led to the conjecture of the temple being in existence since that time. Thus, unlike most temples in the area, the Naguesh Temple has been in existence in its original location for centuries. However, the present day building is a recent construction having been renovated and patched up around the year 1880.

The temple is dedicated to Lord Naguesh, who was known as Nagnath in ancient times. Lord Naguesh is another incarnation of Lord Shiva. Worth noting at the temple, are the colourful images of gods and goddesses around the base of the deepstambha (lamp tower). The temple has a magnificent ancient tali (water reservoir) surrounded by palms. The reservoir is built in such a way that standing at a certain location around the tali, a person can view the reflection of the idol of Lord Naguesh and the lighted lamps in the inner sanctum. The deity is taken out in a palanquin and paraded in huge chariots during the festival which is attended by thousands of devotees.

Ramnath Temple, Bandivade
The second temple in the small village of Bandode or Bandivade as it is also known, is that of Lord Ramnath. Located about 22 kms from the capital city of Panaji, the temple is just a few minutes away from Farmagudi, off the main road to Ponda. Legend has it that the name of Lord Ramnath comes from the place Rameshwar. It is said that Lord Rama, after slaying Ravana in the battle was filled with remorse at the killing. In order to seek redemption 

Ramnath Temple Goa

for his act, he installed a shivalinga (symbol of Lord Shiva), on the shores and hence came to be known as Rameshwar or Ramnath. The idol of Lord Ramnath was initially housed in a temple at Loutolim which was set up by Gaud Saraswat Brahmins who had migrated from Rameshwar on the southern shores of India. The idol of the Lord Ramnath was removed from the original temple at Loutolim and smuggled away to its present abode of Bandivade, to avoid persecution by the Portuguese rule. The temple also houses other deities like Shri LaxmiNarayan, Shri Kamakshi, Shri Santeri and Shri Sidhanath. The sabhamandap (grand hall) of the temple has no pillars and yet has a special gallery for the ladies. There is a five-storied deepstambha (lamp tower) in the courtyard with images of Hindu saints carved on its base. The door to the inner sanctum has some exceptionally beautiful scenes depicted on it in silver metal. Once scene depicts devotees worshipping a linga, and the other shows Lord Vishnu with his consort Lakshmi sitting on his couch of a coiled snake. The annual festival or Jatra of the temple is celebrated by the devotees with the traditional palaki (palanquin) parading around the temple carrying the idol of the deity.

Mallikarjun Temple
The ancient temple of Shri Mallikarjun is located near the small village of Sristhal, in the southernmost taluka of Canacona. Sristhal is about 5 km drive away from the taluka headquarters of Chaudi which is about 75 kms from Panaji. The temple lies in an enchanting location in a valley, completely surrounded by blue mountains and greenery. The temple itself is at least 200 years old. The temple is believed to have been constructed during the Middle of the 16th century by ancestors of the Kshatriya Samaj. It was renovated in the year 1778. There are some extremely beautiful carved wooden pillars inside the temple building. The carving has been done by skilled craftsmen who were brought here from the south India. The six pillars in the mandap (hall) have scenes from the Puranas and Mahabharat carved on them. There are beautifully carved profiles of dwarpal (doorkeeper) on either side of the door leading to the inner sanctum. The temple is dedicated to Shri Mallikarjun who is yet another incarnation of Lord Shiva and he is also known as Adavat Sinhasanadhishwar Mahapati Canacona among the locals. According to legend, the location of the temple is supposed to be the place where Lord Shiva met his consort Parvati after a long separation. The annual festival or Jatra held at the temple is quite unique among the temple festivals of Goa. Early morning on the day of the festival, the idol of the deity is taken out in a procession which travels for almost 2-3 hours to reach the nearby Kindlebag beach. A number of rituals including a special bath for the deity are held at the beach, after which the deity returns to the temple. Hundreds of devotees have a holy bath at the same time on the seashore. Besides the annual Jatra, the temple is also famous for some unique occasions on which some special rituals are held.

Tambdi Surla Temple
The most ancient temple in the whole of Goa is located at a place called Tambi Surla which is approximately 65 kms from the capital city of Panaji. The temple is built in Jain style in the twelfth century. The size of the temple is quite small and the top part of the temple has never been completed. The small, beautifully carved and perfectly proportioned black basalt temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple has survived Muslim invasions and Portuguese

Tambdi Surla Temple Goa

persecution, in its almost perfect condition mainly due to its remote location in the forest at the foot of the Western Ghats. The temple is located at the foot of the Anmod Ghat, which connects Goa to the state of Karnataka. It is considered to be the only specimen of Kadamba-Yadava architecture in basalt stone preserved and available in Goa. The Kadamba dynasty ruled Goa between the tenth and fourteenth centuries and built the temple from the finest weather-resistant grey-black basalt, carried across the mountains from the Deccan plateau and lavishly carved in situ by accomplished craftsmen. The intricate carvings created by these craftsmen adorn the interior and the sides of the building. The temple faces east so that the rays of the rising sun fall on the deity at the crack of dawn. There is a small mandap (pillared hall) and the inner sanctum is surmounted by a three-tired tower which is incomplete or which has been dismantled sometime in the distant past. Bas-relief figures of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma, with their respective consorts appear on panels at the sides of the temple. The mandap is covered with a roof of plain grey sloping slabs. There is a headless Nandi (bull, Shiva's vehicle) in the centre of the mandap, surrounded by four matching columns. The symbol of the Kadamba kingdom, an elephant trampling a horse is carved on the base of one of the columns. There is a linga (symbol of Lord Shiva) mounted on a pedestal inside the inner sanctum and local legend has it that a huge King Cobra is in permanent residence in the dimly lit interior. The festival of Mahashivratri is celebrated at the temple.

Saptakoteshwar Temple
The Saptakoteshwar temple at Narve is considered to be one of the six great sites of temples of Lord Shiva in the Konkan area. The village of Narve is located about 35 kms from Panaji. This is also an ancient temple, having the deity of the Kings of the Kadamba dynasty around the twelfth century. The stone plaque mentioning this order can still be seen near the temple entrance today. The legend behind the name Saptakoteshwar is also quite interesting. According to the legend, seven holy sages once set out to pray to Lord Shiva near the place where five holy rivers met the sea. They prayed for seven crore years at the end of which, Lord Shiva appeared to grant their wishes and agreed to stay at the place in one of his incarnations. This incarnation is known as Saptakoteshwar (sapt means seven and koteshwar means lord of crores). The most important festival celebrated at the temple, is Gokulashtami which is considered to be the day on which Lord Shiva appeared in this incarnation to grant the wishes of the seven holy sages.


 
 
 
 

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