Holy Pilgrimage – Goa Sate –( Mahadev temple, Mahasala temple, Mahamaya Kalika temple, Mandodari temple, Mangueshi temple, Nagueshi, Shanta Durga temple, Ramnathi and Ravalnath) -1 at 11:55 PM

Holy Pilgrimage – Temples in Goa State

Temples in Goa State

 

Goa

Goa / is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its western coast. Goa is India's richest state with a GDP per capita two and a half times that of the country as a whole.^[4] It was ranked the best placed state by the Eleventh Finance Commission for its infrastructure and ranked on top for the best quality of life in India by the National Commission on Population based on the 12 Indicators.^[4]
Panaji is the state's capital, while Vasco da Gama is the largest city. The historic city of Margao still exhibits the cultural influence of the Portuguese, who first landed in the early 16th century as merchants and conquered it soon thereafter. Goa is a former Portuguese colony, the Portuguese overseas territory of Portuguese India existed for about 450 years until it was annexed by India in 1961.
Renowned for its beaches, places of worship and world heritage architecture, Goa is visited by large numbers of international and domestic tourists each year. It also has rich flora and fauna, owing to its location on the Western Ghats range, which is classified as a biodiversity hotspot

 

Etymology

In ancient literature, Goa was known by many names such as Gomanta, Gomanchala, Gopakapattam, Gopakapuri, Govapuri, Govem, and Gomantak.^[7] The Indian epic Mahabharata refers to the area now known as Goa, as Goparashtra or Govarashtra which means a nation of cowherds. Gopakapuri or Gopakapattanam were used in some ancient Sanskrit texts, and these names were also mentioned in other sacred Hindu texts such as the Harivansa and the Skanda Purana. In the third century BCE, Goa was known as Aparantha, and is mentioned by the Greek geographer Ptolemy. The Greeks referred to Goa as Nelkinda in the 13th century. Some other historical names for Goa are Sindapur, Sandabur, and Mahassapatam.^[8]

History

Goa's history goes back to 20,000–30,000 years. The rock art engravings exhibit earliest traces of human life in India.^[9]:p.254Upper Paleolithic or Mesolithic rock art engravings have been found on the bank of river Kushavati at Usgalimal.^[10] Petroglyphs, cones, stone-axe, and choppers dating back 10,000 years back have been found in many places in Goa like Kazur, Mauxim, and the Mandovi-Zuari basin.^[11] Palaeolithic cave existence is seen at Dabolim, Adkon, Shigao, Fatorpa, Arli, Maulinguinim, Diwar, Sanguem, Pilerne, and Aquem-Margaon etc. Difficulty in carbon dating the laterite rock compounds poses problems in determination of exact time period.^[12] These discoveries have shed light on Goa's prehistory.

 

The Sumerians inhabited Goa around 2200 BC^] which was followed by several waves of Indo-Aryan people and the Dravidians from the Deccan. The early Goan society underwent radical changes when aboriginal locals and the migrants amalgamated, forming the base of early Goan culture.^[13]
In 3rd century BC, it formed part of the Mauryan Empire, ruled by the Buddhist emperor, Ashoka of Magadha. Buddhist monks laid the foundation of Buddhism in Goa. Between the 2nd century BCE and the 6th century CE, Goa was ruled by the Chutus of Karwar as feudatories of the Satavahanas of Kolhapur (2nd century BCE to the 2nd century CE), Western Kshatrapas (around 150 CE), the Abhiras of Western Maharashtra, Bhojas of the Yadav clans of Gujarat, and the Konkan Mauryas as feudatories of the Kalachuris.^[14] The rule later passed on to the Chalukyas of Badami, who controlled it between 578 to 753, and later the Rashtrakutas of Malkhed from 753 to 963. However from 765 to 1015, the Southern Silharas of Konkan ruled Goa as the feudatories of the Chalukyas and the Rashtrakutas.^[15] Over the next few centuries, Goa was successively ruled by the Kadambas as the feudatories of the Chalukyas of Kalyani. They patronised Jainism in Goa.^[16]
In 1312, Goa came under the governance of the Delhi Sultanate. However, the kingdom's grip on the region was weak, and by 1370 they were forced to surrender it to Harihara I of the Vijayanagara empire. The Vijayanagara monarchs held on to the territory until 1469, when it was appropriated by the Bahmani sultans of Gulbarga. After that dynasty crumbled, the area fell to the hands of the Adil Shahis of Bijapur who established as their auxiliary capital the city known under the Portuguese as Velha Goa

 

In 1510, the Portuguese defeated the ruling Bijapur kings with the help of a local ally, Timayya, leading to the establishment of a permanent settlement in Velha Goa (or Old Goa).
In 1843 the capital was moved to Panjim from Velha Goa. By the mid-18th century the area under occupation had expanded to most of Goa's present day state limits. Simultaneously the Portuguese lost other possessions in India until their borders stabilised and formed the Estado da India Portuguesa, of which Goa was the largest territory.
After India gained independence from the British in 1947, Portugal refused to negotiate with India on the transfer of sovereignty of their Indian enclaves. On 19 December 1961, the Indian Army commenced with Operation Vijay resulting in the annexation of Goa, Daman and Diu into the Indian union. Goa, along with Daman and Diu was made into a centrally administered Union Territory of India. On 30 May 1987, the Union Territory was split, and Goa was made India's twenty-fifth state, with Daman and Diu remaining a Union Territory

 

Climate

Goa features a tropical monsoon climate under the Köppen climate classification. Goa, being in the tropical zone and near the Arabian Sea, has a hot and humid climate for most of the year. The month of May is the hottest, seeing day temperatures of over 35 °C (95 °F) coupled with high humidity. The monsoon rains arrive by early June and provide a much needed respite from the heat. Most of Goa's annual rainfall is received through the monsoons which last till late September.
Goa has a short winter season between mid-December and February. These months are marked by nights of around 21 °C (68 °F) and days of around 28 °C (84 °F) with moderate amounts of humidity. Further inland, due to altitudinal gradation, the nights are a few degrees cooler. During March 2008 Goa was lashed with heavy rain and strong winds. This was the first time in 29 years that Goa had seen rain during March.

Subdivisions

 

The state is divided into two districts: North Goa and South Goa. Each district is governed by a district collector, an administrator appointed by the Indian government.
North Goa District: Panaji is the headquarters of the North Goa district.
The North Goa District is further divided into four subdivisions – Mapusa, Bicholim, Panaji, and Ponda; and six taluks, Pernem, Bardez (Mapusa), Bicholim, Sattari (Valpoy), Tiswadi (Panaji) and Ponda.
South Goa District: Margao is the headquarters of the South Goa district.
The South Goa District is further divided into three subdivisions – Margao, Mormugao (Vasco), and Quepem; and six taluks, Mormugao, Salcete (Margao), Quepem, Canacona (Chaudi), Sanguem, and Dharbandora.

 

Equatorial forest cover in Goa stands at 1,424 km² (549.81 sq mi),^[7] most of which is owned by the government. Government owned forest is estimated at 1,224.38 km² (472.74 sq mi) whilst private is given as 200 km² (77.22 sq mi). Most of the forests in the state are located in the interior eastern regions of the state. The Western Ghats, which form most of eastern Goa, have been internationally recognised as one of the biodiversity hotspots of the world. In the February 1999 issue of National Geographic Magazine, Goa was compared with the Amazon and Congo basins for its rich tropical biodiversity

 

Transport

Air

Goa's sole airport, Dabolim Airport, is a military and civilian airport located centrally within the state. The airport caters to domestic and international airlines. The airport also handles a large number of chartered flights during the 'winter season', typically between November and May. Goa has scheduled international connections to Doha, Dubai, Sharjah and Kuwait in the Middle East and from the United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands and Russia during the charter flight tourist season. Dabolim Airport is serviced by the following carriers: Air Arabia, Air India, Kingfisher Airlines, GoAir, SpiceJet, Jet Airways, JetKonnect and Qatar Airways. Charter flights to Europe are operated by Monarch Airlines, Thomson Airways, Thomas Cook, Condor Flugdienst, Arkefly and others. Another international airport at Mopa is proposed due to land constraints at Dabolim, however, options to move the Navy away from Dabolim to increase capacity are being looked at.

Road

Goa's public transport largely consists of privately operated buses linking the major towns to rural areas. Government-run buses, maintained by the Kadamba Transport Corporation, link major routes (like the Panjim–Margao route) and some remote parts of the state. In large towns such as Panjim and Margao, intra-city buses operate. However, public transport in Goa is less developed, and residents depend heavily on their own transportation, usually motorised two-wheelers and small family cars

Goa has four National Highways passing through it. NH-66 (ex NH-17) runs along India's west coast and links Goa to Mumbai in the north and Mangalore to the south. NH-4A running across the state connects the capital Panjim to Belgaum in east, linking Goa to cities in the Deccan. The NH-366 (ex NH-17A) connects NH-66 to Mormugao Port from Cortalim. The new NH-566 (ex NH-17B) is a four-lane highway connecting Mormugao Port to NH-66 at Verna, via Dabolim Airport, primarily built to ease pressure on the NH-366 for traffic to Dabolim Airport and Vasco da Gama. NH-768 (ex NH-4A) links Panajim and Ponda to Belgaum and NH-4. Goa has a total of 224 km (139 mi) of national highways, 232 km (144 mi) of state highway and 815 km of district highway.
Hired forms of transport include unmetered taxis and, in urban areas, auto rickshaws. Another form of transportation in Goa is the motorcycle taxi, operated by drivers who are locally called "pilots". These vehicles transport a single pillion rider, at fares that are usually negotiated. Other than buses, "pilots" tend to be the cheapest mode of transport.^[24] River crossings in Goa are serviced by flat-bottomed ferry boats, operated by the river navigation department

 

Rail

Goa has two rail lines — one run by the South Western Railway and the other by the Konkan Railway. The line run by the South Western Railway was built during the colonial era linking the port town of Vasco da Gama, Goa with Belgaum, Hubli, Karnataka via Margao. The Konkan Railway line, which was built during the 1990s, runs parallel to the coast connecting major cities on the western coast.

Sea

The Mormugao harbour near the city of Vasco handles mineral ore, petroleum, coal, and international containers. Much of the shipments consist of minerals and ores from Goa's hinterland. Panjim, which is on the banks of the Mandovi, has a minor port, which used to handle passenger steamers between Goa and Mumbai till the late 1980s. There was also a short-lived catamaran service linking Mumbai and Panaji operated by Damania Shipping in the 1990s

Museums and science centre

Goa also has a few museums, the two important ones being Goa State Museum and the Naval Aviation Museum. The Aviation museum is one among three of its kind in the India, the other two being in Delhi and Bengaluru. Also, a place not well known to tourists is the Goa Science Centre, which is located in Panjim.^[39] The National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) is also located in Goa at Dona Paula.

 

Hindu Temples

1. Mahadev Temple, Tambdi Surla

 

Mahadev Temple, Tambdi Surla is a 12th century Shaivite temple of the Lord Mahadeva and an active place of Hindu worship. It is notable as the oldest temple in Goa, India.

History

The temple was built by Hemadri, the minister of the Yadava King Ramachandra. The Jain style construction has led to debates about the origins of the temple, since the Kadamba Dynasty ruled Goa between the tenth and fourteenth centuries. The temple is built in the Hemadpanthi style from basalt, carried across the mountains from the Deccan plateau and carved craftsmen. It is considered to be the only specimen of Kadamba-Yadava architecture in basalt stone preserved and available in Goa. The temple survived invasions and the Goa Inquisition due to its remote location in a clearing deep in the forest at the foot of the Western Ghats which surround the site.

Religious significance and decoration

The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is reminiscent of the temples at Aihole in neighbouring Karnataka. 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 temple consists of garbhagriha, antarala and a pillared Nandi mandapa built of basalt. The four pillars, embellished with intricate carvings of elephants and chains support a stone ceiling decorated with finely carved Ashtoken lotus flowers.^[1][2]
The intricate carvings created by skilled craftsmen adorn the interior and the sides of the building. Bas-relief figures of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma, with their respective consorts appear on panels at the sides of the temple. Unusually, the mandap (pillared hall) is covered with a roof of plain grey sloping slabs. The temple faces east so that the first rays of the rising sun shine on the deity. There is a small mandap and the inner sanctum is surmounted by a three-tired tower whose top is incomplete or has been dismantled sometime in the distant past.
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. The river Surla flows nearby and is reachable for ritual bathing by a flight of stone steps.
The festival of Mahashivratri is celebrated with pomp and gaiety at the temple by local people residing in surrounding villages. The temple is built in a place which is quite inaccessible and away from the main settlements of the time. The temple is small compared to the average Goan temple.

Location

The temple is at 15°26′20″N 74°15′8″E near a small village called Tambdi Surla located 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) east of Bolcornem village, in the north east region of the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park.
Mahadev Temple is approximately 65 kilometres (40 mi) from the capital city of Panaji. It is accessible from the north via minor roads 22 kilometres (14 mi) south from the main town of Valpoi in Sattari Taluka. The temple is at the foot of the Anmod Ghat, which connects Goa to the state of Karnataka

Basalt

Basalt  is a common extrusive igneous (volcanic) rock formed from the rapid cooling of basaltic lava exposed at or very near the surface of a planet or moon. By definition, basalt must be an aphanitic igneous rock with less than 20% quartz and less than 10% feldspathoid by volume, and where at least 65% of the feldspar is in the form of plagioclase. (In comparison, granite has more than 20% quartz by volume.) Basalt is usually grey to black in colour, but rapidly weathers to brown or rust-red due to oxidation of its mafic (iron-rich) minerals into rust. It almost always has a fine-grained mineral texture due to the molten rock cooling too quickly for large mineral crystals to grow, although it can sometimes be porphyritic, containing the larger crystals formed prior to the extrusion that brought the lava to the surface, embedded in a finer-grained matrix. Basalt with a vesicular or frothy texture is called scoria, and forms when dissolved gases are forced out of solution and form vesicles as the lava decompresses as it reaches the surface.
On Earth, most basalt magmas have formed by decompression melting of the mantle. Basalt commonly erupts on Io, the third largest moon of Jupiter, and has also formed on Earth's Moon, Mars, Venus, and even on the asteroid Vesta. Source rocks for the partial melts probably include both peridotite and pyroxenite (e.g., Sobolev et al., 2007). The crustal portions of oceanic tectonic plates are composed predominantly of basalt, produced from upwelling mantle below ocean ridges.
The term basalt is at times applied to shallow intrusive rocks with a composition typical of basalt, but rocks of this composition with a phaneritic (coarse) groundmass are generally referred to as diabase (also called dolerite) or gabbro

Uses

Basalt is used in construction (e.g. as building blocks or in the groundwork), making cobblestones (from columnar basalt) and in making statues. Heating and extruding basalt yields stone wool, an excellent thermal insulator.

 

1.    Mahalasa Temple

Mahalasa is the Mohini avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. She is also known as Mhalshi and Mahalasa. In Goa and elsewhere, Mahalasa is considered as the Mohini form of Lord Vishnu and hence she is referred to as "Mahalasa Narayani". The deity, it may particularly be noted, also wears the holy thread, which is its unique feature. This holy thread is only worn by Brahmin men and also the male gods. No other goddess in the Hindu Pantheon wears this kind of thread except goddess Mahalasa and goddess Parvati. Mahalasa is the Kuldevi (family goddess) of some 96K Khatriyas(Dessai's) and many Konkani Saraswat Brahmins, Karhade Brahmins, Daivajna Brahmins , Bhandari According another tradition, Mahalsa is believed to be a combined avatara of Mohini and Parvati and the first wife of Khandoba(A warrior god in Maharashtra and believed to be an Avatar of Shiva). She is worshipped with Khandoba in all centres of his worship, including Jejuri.
The temple of Mahalsa lies in Mardol, Ponda, Goa, India. It was shifted here from the Velha conquistas (Saxty/salcette), Goa to avoid destruction during the forcible Christianization of Salcette, Goa, India

Legend

When the Amrut was obtained by churning of the ocean by the Devas and Danavas, a fight broke between them to claim it. In order to help the gods, Lord Vishnu took the form of Mohini Avatar (form of an enchantress). As a beautiful Damsel, Lord Vishnu took hold of the Jar of Amrut and served it to the devas and by changing the jar at the right time she gave normal water to the Danavas. This Mohini form of Lord Vishnu is worshipped by the Hindus as the Goddess Mahalasa Narayani.
According to another legend linking her to Khandoba, Mahalasa is believed to be a combined avatara of Mohini and Parvati. Mahalasa was born as the daughter of a rich merchant in Newase called Timshet. On the dinine orders of Khandoba in a dream to Timshet, she was married to Khandoba on Pausha Pournima (the full moon day of Hindu calendar month of Paush) in Pali (Pembar). Two shivlingas appeared on this occasion. An annual festival marking this event is celebrated in Pali every Paush Pournima.

Mahalasa Temple at Mardol

Some believe that the main temple of Goddess was originally located in Nepal during the Kaliyuga. She was moved to Aurangabad in Maharashtra. During the Mughal domination, Aurangabad fell under the Muslim rule and the idol was moved to a secret location in Goa. Later, a small temple was built at Verna. Roughly, a few hundred years later, the Portuguese conquered Goa, and the temple was moved to Mardol.
The Mardol temple complex also has smaller temples of Santeri and Laxmi-Narayan who are worshipped daily with Mahalasa. The five main ganas of the Goddess namely Grampurush, Bhagwati, Dadh, Simha Purush and Mhal Purush are also located within the same temple premises and daily worship of all these deities is carried out before worshipping the main goddess.

The temple has cantten which is run by the workers.After the morning and evening aarti the Prasad- the holy meal is served here.

The temple is famous in Goa for its huge brass bell. The bell does not have a ringer. The ringer was attached only when somebody wanted to testify. It was believed that the goddess will punish the person by killing the person in three days who lied while ringing the bell. The belief was so strong that during the Portuguese rule the testimony in the temple was considered acceptable in the court of law. It is also famous for its Brass Divli/Samai (oil lamp).
The temple has recently banned entry of foreigners into the temple citing objectionable dressing and conduct as the reason.^[1]

Rituals and festivals

Sunday holds a special significance for the temple and the goddess. On this day Palakhi Seva is performed in addition to other rituals. The goddess is taken out for a ride around the temple in a palenquin. The palenquin is decked up with flowers and traditional colourful decorations. A large crowd gathers to participate in the event and the devotees sing her praises.
The Magha Jatra (festival) at the temple and Navaratri are the days of importance in the yearly calendar.

Other temples dedicated to Mahalasa

main temple of mahalsa at newasa dist ahamadnagar in maharastra In recent years, due to the increased popularity of the goddess, new temples have been established in Verna, Kumta, Mudgeri, Kundapura, Basruru, Shirva, Mangalore, harikhandige, [binaga] and other areas mostly along coastal Karnataka. The temple is also located in Madangeri a small place near to Gokarna.

 

 

4. Mahamaya Kalika Devasthan Kasarpal

Mahamaya Kalika Saunsthan  is a temple located in Kansarpal village in Bicholim taluka in Goa, India.^[1] The presiding deity of the temple is Kali worshipped in the form of Mahamaya, normally Kali is worshipped in a very fierce form, but it is believed that after killing the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha, the deity's anger was soothed and the Shanta, Soumya form of fierce Devi is worshipped in Goa.

 

History

The temple is more than 800 years old, and was renovated by Kadamba kings, as mentioned in the copper inscriptions Bhoja king Devaraja of Gomin donated the temple and the land to a coppersmith named Nagadeva. It seems that the temple was later acquired by the wealthy Daivajnas or the Shettis of Goa who were more financially and politically influential than Nagadeva's kinsmen and descendants, in the 13th century. Later in the 16th century by a Daivajna Mantri in Bhonsale King's royal court in Sawantwadi.

Iconography

The main idol in the sanctum sanctorum is more than 800 years old and is a masterpiece of Kadamba sculptures. The deity is four armed, shows each hand carrying variously a Khadga ( sword ), a trishul ( trident ), a Khetaka ( Shield ) and a bowl Kapala to drink Soma rasa.

Other affiliated deities

The temple Panchishta includes the following deities:

1. Devi Panchayatana (worshiped in the main sanctum sanctorum, includes Shivalinga, Shaligrama etc.)
2. Ravalnath
3. Hedgeshwar
4. Shetyeshwar
5. Palnath
6. Bhumika Devi
7. Kshetrapal

The temple architecture

The temple is a masterpiece of Goan temple architecture, with a huge Sabhamantapa,Antarala,Chowk,Sarwali and Garbhakud, with a huge golden Kalasha. Temple is surrounded by Agrashalas, two beautiful Praveshdwaras and a magnificent Deepastambha is eye-catching.

The devotees and patrons of the temple

The deity is believed to be patron deity of Gomantak Daivadnya Brahmin community spread all over India. The patrons of the temples or the Mahajans are divided into four groups:

• Sashtikar
• Bardeskar
• Tiswadkar
• Antrujkar

Festivals

• The main festival of the temple is called as Shishirotsav or popularly known as Shigmo in Goa. Its a 10-day-long celebration, includes procession of deities in different Vahanas, other rituals like Ganga Pujan, Homa, Dhwajarohana, Gulalotsava, Rathotsava etc.
• Navaratri
• Vasant Puja
• Akshay Tritiya
• Dasara
• Avali Bhojan

Museum

It is the first temple in Goa to have a private museum on its own, titled as Kaalamba Sangrahaalaya.It has objects of ancient, medieval and the modern period. The museum has around 10 small galleries housing rare antiquities including stone sculptures, brass lamps, wooden and silver artifacts etc.

 

 

5.  Mandodari Temple, Betki  

 

The Shri Mandodari temple is in the village of Betaki, about 5 km from Marcel, Ponda, India. The temple is located at 15d 30'20, 82d N and 73d59'23d E at 81 ft elevation.

Deity

This is a temple for the "gramdevata" or the village deity of Betaki. It is not a temple for Ravana's wife Mandodari.
The word mandodari is from mand (water) with udar (stomach). It means someone who is born in the water. This temple was built to worship the great human beings whose children were sacrificed in the past to ensure that this village had a flowing stream of water^]. This is how the village started worshiping this deity.
There is no well water in Betki village. The main source of water in this area is streams.

 

 

Mandodari

Mandodari (Sanskrit: मंदोदरी Mandodarī, lit. "soft-bellied";^[2] Tamil: Montotari; Indonesian, Javanese and Sundanese: Banondari; Khmer: Mandogiri; Malay: Mandudaki; Thai: Montho Thewi) is the Queen Consort of Ravana, the demon king of Lanka, according to the Hindu epic Ramayana. The Ramayana describes Mandodari as beautiful, pious, and righteous. She is extolled as one of the panchakanya ("five virgins"), the recital of whose names is believed to dispel sin.
Mandodari is the daughter of Mayasura, the King of the Asuras (demons), and the apsara Hema. Mandodari bears three sons: Meghanada (Indrajit), Atikaya, and Akshayakumara. According to some Ramayana adaptations, Mandodari is also the mother of Rama's wife Sita, who is infamously kidnapped by Ravana. Despite her husband's faults, Mandodari loves him and advises him to follow the path of righteousness. Mandodari repeatedly advises Ravana to return Sita to Rama, but her advice falls on deaf ears. Her love and loyalty to Ravana are praised in the Ramayana.
Different versions of the Ramayana record her ill-treatment at the hands of Rama's monkey generals. Some versions say they disturb a sacrifice by Ravana, and some that they destroy her chastity, which protects Ravana's life. Hanuman tricks her into disclosing the location of a magical arrow which Ramaa uses to kill Ravana. After Ravana's death, Vibhishana—Ravana's younger brother who joins forces with Rama and is responsible for Ravana's death—marries Mandodari on the advice of Rama

Birth

The Uttara Ramayana narrates a story about the birth of Mandodari. Mayasura (Maya), the son of sage Kashyapa is married to the apsara (heavenly nymph) Hema. They have two sons, Mayavi and Dundubhi, but long for a daughter, so they start performing penances to seek the favour of the god Shiva.^[3]
Meanwhile, an apsara named Madhura arrives at Mount Kailash, the abode of Shiva, to pay her respects. In absence of his wife Parvati, Madhura has clandestine coitus with Shiva. When Parvati returns, she finds traces of ashes from Shiva’s body on the breasts of Madhura. Agitated, Parvati curses Madhura and sends her to live in a well as a frog for twelve years. Shiva consoles Madhura and says she will become a beautiful woman and be married to a great valorous man. After twelve years, Madhura becomes a beautiful maiden again and cries out loudly from the well. Mayasura and Hema, who are performing penance nearby, answer her call and adopt her as their daughter. They bring her up as Mandodari.

Marriage and later life

Ravana comes to the house of Mayasura and falls in love with Mandodari. Mandodari and Ravana are soon married with Vedic rites. Mandodari bears Ravana three sons: Meghanada, Atikaya, and Akshayakumara.^[3]
Despite Ravana's faults, Mandodari loves him and is proud of his strength. She is aware of Ravana's weakness towards women.^[4][1] A righteous woman, Mandodari tries to lead Ravana to righteousness, but Ravana always ignores her advice. She advises him to not to subdue the Navagraha, the nine celestial beings that govern one's destiny, and not to seduce Vedavati, who would be reborn as Sita and cause the destruction of Ravana.^[1]
Ravana kidnaps Sita, the wife of Rama, the exiled prince of Ayodhya, who is an incarnation of the god Vishnu. Mandodari advises Ravana to return Sita to Rama, but to no avail. Mandodari knows this lust will bring the downfall of Ravana.^[4][1]
Mandodari is described as a beautiful woman in Valmiki's Ramayana. When Hanuman, the monkey messenger of Rama, comes to Lanka in search of Sita, he is stupefied by Mandodari's beauty when he enters Ravana's bed chambers and mistakes Mandodari for Sita.^[3] When Hanuman finally finds Sita, he finds Ravana threatening to kill Sita unless she marries him. Ravana raises his sword to behead Sita when she refuses. Mandodari saves Sita by holding Ravana's hand. Mandodari says that the murder of a woman is a heinous sin and thus Ravana should not kill Sita. She asks Ravana to entertain himself with his other wives and give up the idea of having Sita as his wife. Ravana spares Sita's life, but does not give up his wish to marry Sita.^[5] Though Mandodari considers Sita inferior to her in beauty and ancestry, Mandodari acknowledges Sita's devotion to Rama and compares her to goddesses like Sachi and Rohini.^[4]
When all attempts for a peaceful return of Sita fail, Rama declares war on Ravana's Lanka. Before the final battle against Rama, Mandodari makes a last attempt to dissuade Ravana, but to no avail.^[6] Finally, Mandodari stands by her husband in the final battle like an obedient and faithful wife,^[4] though she also advises her son Meghanada, alias Indrajit ("One who had conquered Indra; the god-king of heaven"), to not to fight Rama.^[7]
The Valmiki Ramayana narrates: When all of Ravana's sons and warriors die, Ravana organizes a yajna ("fire sacrifice") to assure his victory. Rama sends a troop of monkeys headed by Hanuman and the monkey prince Angada to destroy this yajna. The monkeys create havoc in Ravana's palace, but Ravana continues the yajna. Angada drags Mandodari by her hair in front of Ravana. Mandodari pleads to her husband to save her and reminds him what Rama is doing for his wife. The enraged Ravana abandons the yajna and strikes Angada with his sword. With the yajna disturbed, Angada's purpose is served and he leaves Mandodari and escapes. Mandodari again implores Ravana to surrender Sita to Rama, but he refuses.^[8] Other Ramayana adaptations present more gruesome descriptions of the incident. The Krittivasi Ramayan narrates that the monkeys dragged Mandodari and tore off her clothes. In Bicitra Ramayana, it is Hanuman who humiliates Mandodari. The Thai adaptation Ramakien narrates a symbolic rape of Mandodari. Hanuman sleeps with her in the form of Ravana and destroys her chastity, which protects Ravana's life

 

Ravana fights the final duel with Rama. Rama fails to kill Ravana with his ordinary arrows, but finally kills with a magical arrow. While Valmiki's Ramayana narrates that the magical arrow was given to Rama by Indra, in other versions the magical arrow is hidden in Mandodari's bed chambers or under her bed. While Mandodari is engrossed in worshipping the goddess Parvati for Ravana's wellbeing, Hanuman comes to her disguised as a Brahmin. After winning her confidence, he tricks her into revealing the secret location of the arrow. Hanuman seizes the arrow and gives it to Rama, leading to Ravana's end.^[10] Mandodari appears at the death scene of Ravana in a disarrayed state and laments his death.^[4][11] In this battle, Mandodari loses her husband, her sons, and her kinsmen.^[12]
After the death of Ravana, Rama advises Vibhishana to take Mandodari as his wife, even though he already has a wife. A theory suggests that Ravana's race may have had matrilineal families and thus, to restore order in the kingdom after Ravana's death, it was necessary for Vibhishana to marry the reigning queen to get the right to rule.^[13] Another theory suggests it may be a non-Aryan custom to marry the reigning queen.^[12] The marriage between Mandodari and Vibhishana is purely an "act of statesmanship", rather than a marriage based on their "mutual sexual interference".^[13] Mandodari may have agreed to marry Vibhishana, her younger brother-in-law, as this would lead the kingdom to prosperity and stability as allies of Rama's Ayodhya, and she would continue to have a say in governance.^[12] Another reason for the marriage is as an alternative to suicide for the widowed Mandodari, which is averted by Rama.^[13]

Mother of Sita?

Though Valmiki's Ramayana does not record Mandodari as being the mother of Sita, some later adaptations of the Ramayana depict Mandodari as the mother of Sita or at least the cause of the latter's birth.
The Adbhuta Ramayana narrates: Ravana used to store the blood of sages he killed in a large pot. The sage Gritsamada was practicing penance to acquire the goddess Lakshmi as his daughter. He stored milk from Darbha grass and purified it with mantras in a pot so that Lakshmi would inhabit it. Ravana poured the milk from this pot into his blood pot. Mandodari is frustrated seeing the evil deeds of Ravana, so she decides to commit suicide by drinking the contents of the blood-pot, which is described to be more poisonous than poison. Instead of dying, Mandodari gets pregnant with the incarnation of Lakshmi due to the power of Gritsamada's milk. Mandodari buries the foetus in Kurukshetra, where it is discovered by Janaka, who named her Sita.^[14][15]
The Devi Bhagavata Purana says: When Ravana wants to marry Mandodari, Maya warns him that her horoscope indicated her first-born would destroy her clan and should be killed. Ignoring Maya's advice, Ravana buries his first child by Mandodari in a casket in Janaka’s city, where it is discovered and grew up as Sita.^[14] Jain adaptations of the Ramayana like Vasudevahindi, Uttara-purana, and others also state that Sita is the daughter of Ravana and Mandodari, and is abandoned when she is prophesied to be the cause of the end of Ravana and his family.^[16]
In the Indonesian-Malay Seri Rama and the Indonesian-Javanese Rama Keling, Ravana wants to possess Mandodari, the mother of Rama, but instead marries a pseudo-Mandodari, who looks like the real one. Rama's father has a union with this pseudo-Mandodari, resulting in the birth of Sita, who is nominally Ravana's daughter.^[17]
According to the Ananda Ramayana, king Padmaksha had a daughter named Padma - an incarnate of the goddess Lakshmi. When her marriage is organized, Rakshasas (demons) kill the king. The grief-stricken Padma jumps into fire. Ravana discovers her body, which had turned into five jewels, in the fire and takes it to Lanka sealed in a box. Mandodari opens the box and finds Padma inside it. She advises Ravana to cast off the box containing the ill-fated Padma, who led to the doom of her father. When the lid of the box is closed, Padma curses Ravana that she will return to Lanka and cause his doom. Ravana buries the box in the city of Janaka, who discovers Padma and brings her up as Sita.^[14]

Assessment

Ahalyā draupadi kuntī tārā mandodari tathā
pañcakanyā smarenityaṃ mahapātaka nāśanaṃ

Remembering ever the virgins five -Ahalya, Draupadi, Kunti, Tara and Mandodari
Destroys the greatest of sins.^[18]
Hindus remember the panchakanya - the five virgins or maidens in this daily prayer because they were perfect wives.They are ideal woman who could be emulated.^[19][20] Mandodari, with Ahalya and Tara, belong to the Ramayana, while the rest are from the Mahabharata.^[12] Among the five elements, Mandodari is equated to water, "turbulent on the surface and deep in her spiritual quest".^[1] The writer Dhanalakshmi Ayyer says:^[1]
Her story is a reminder that the universal denigration of a group, based on the behaviour of a few, cannot cloud the greatness of the individual. Mandodari defies the stereotype of this racism. She is simple, unswerving, and self-effacing, driven by the light of knowledge which gives meaning to solid materialism in an age that is shrouded by impulse, passion, and desire. She is the instrument that awakens the mind and counsels reason when irrationality becomes the core being. That she goes unheard and unheeded does not change her path. To her, the dharmic part is inward-looking, while the role of the dutiful wife is the external self. Mandodari thought that her duty to her husband on issues of morals and values ended with her telling him what she thought of his actions. She neither put up any brave fight to stop him nor considered it her duty to do so.
Mandodari's role is short in the Ramayana but very important. She is described as a pious and righteous royal lady. Compared to the rest of the panchakanya, Mukherjee considers Mandodari's life as "less colourful and eventful". He adds: "Mandodari seldom got prominence ... Her image lacks substance and fades quickly",^[4] though he stresses on her love and loyalty towards her husband.^[20] Pradip Bhattacharya, author of the book Panchkanya: Women of Substance notes that "there is hardly anything special that Valmiki (Ramayana) has written about her (Mandodari) except that she warns her husband to return Sita and has enough influence to prevent his raping her

 

6. Mangueshi Temple

 

Shri Mangeshi temple (Devanagari) is located at Mangeshim in Priol, Ponda taluk, 1 kilometer from Mardol close to Nagueshi, 22 km from Panaji the capital of Goa and 26 km from Margao

 

This temple is one of the largest, most enchanting, serene and most frequently visited temples in Goa. The temple has recently banned entry of foreigners into the temple citing objectionable dressing and conduct as the reason.

Deity

The temple is dedicated to Lord Mangueshi, an incarnation of Shiva. He is a kuldevta of many Hindus in Goa specially of Saraswat Brahmins. He is also referred to as Saib (The Lord of Goa) by Hindus.
The Mangesh Linga is said to have been consecrated on the mountain of Mangireesh (Mongir) on the banks of river Bhagirathi by Lord Brahma, from where the Saraswat Brahmins brought it to Trihotrapuri in Bihar. They carried the linga to Gomantaka and settled at Kushasthali, the present-day Cortalim, establishing their most sacred and ancient temple of Mangesh on the banks of the river Gomati or Zuari as it is called today. Lord Mangesh is worshipped here in the shape of a Shiva linga. According to the legends Lord Shiva had manifested in to a tiger to scare Parvati. Paravati who was paranoid at the sight of the tiger went in search of Lord Shiva. Parvati was supposed to say "Trahi maam Gireesh" but instead out of nervousness she said: "Trahimangeesh".
Shri Mangueshi is the Kuldevta (family deity) of many Konkani Saraswat Bramhins

 

History

This temple actually had its origins in Kushasthali Cortalim, a village in Saxty (Salcette) which fell to the invading Portuguese in 1543.In the year 1560, the Portuguese started Christian conversions in Salsette taluka, the Saraswats of Vatsa Gotra felt insecure and shifted the Mangesh Linga from the original site at the Kushasthali or Cortalim on the banks of river Aghanashini (Zuari) to its present location at Mangeshi in Priol village of Atrunja Taluka, on May 1, 1560 A.D. (according to Hindu calendar - 1482 sakha) then ruled by the Hindu kings of Sonde of Antruz mahal (Ponda), to prevent certain destruction. After remaining in the house of a temple priest for sometime, Sri Mangesh deity was finally installed in its present site at Priol. The original site was a very simple structure, and the current structure was only built under Maratha rule, some 150 years after it had been moved. The Peshwas donated the village of Mangeshi to the temple in 1739 on the suggestion of their Sardar, Shri Ramchandra Malhar Sukhtankar, who was a staunt follower of Shri Mangesh. Ironically, just a few years after it was built, this area too fell into Portuguese hand in 1764, but by now, the Portuguese had lost their initial religious zeal and had become quite tolerant of other religions, and so, this structure remained untouched.

 

The 400-year-old Shri Mangesh temple dedicated to Shiva stands out with its simple and yet exquisitely elegant structure. The temple is noted for the pillars which are considered to be the most beautiful among the temples in Goa. There is a prominent Nandi Bull which is considered to be the Vahana (Vehicle) of Shiva. A beautiful seven-storeyed deepstambha (lamp tower), stands at the gates in the temple complex. The temple also has a magnificent water tank, which is believe to be the oldest part of the temple.
The Sabha Griha is a spacious hall which accommodates over 500. The decor includes the chandeliers of the nineteenth century. The central part of the Sabha Griha leads to the Garbha Griha where image of Mangesh resides. The temple has shrines of Parvati and Ganesha. The other deities in the temple are Nandikeshvar, Gajana, Bhagavati and the Gramapurusha Deva Sharma of the Kaudanya gotra. Other features to see here are the ancient stone devatas housed in the subsidiary shrines to the rear of the main building are Mulakeshwsar, Virabhadra,Saanteri, Lakshminarayana,Suryanarayan,Garud and Kala Bhairav.

Daily Routine

Like most temples in Goa, Mangueshi Temple too has a large number of pujas being performed daily. Every dai in the morning Shodshopchar pujas, namely Abhishek, Laghurudra and Maharudra are performed. This is followed by Maha-Aarti at noon and Panchopchar pooja at night.

Monday is the weekly festival and on this day idol of the deity is taken out for a preocession in Palakhi accompanied by music before the night Aarti.

Festivals

The annual festivals include Ramanavami, Akshaya Tritiya, Anant Vritotsava, Navaratri, Dussera, Diwali, Magha Poornima Festival (Jatrotsav) and Mahashivratri. Magha Poornima Festival begins on Magha Shukla Saptami and ends on Magha Poornima

 

 

7. Nagueshi

 

Nagueshi or Nagesh is a form of Lord Shiva worshipped by Hindu Goans in India. The temple lies in verdant surroundings in the Ponda district of Goa. Unlike many other Hindu temples of Goa which were shifted out of the Velha Conquistas the Nagueshi Temple is at its original place. It has, however, been renovated a number of times. It is located in Bandode village, Ponda, North Goa district. The temple has recently banned entry of foreigners into the temple citing objectionable dressing and conduct as the reason.
A 1413 AD stone inscription in the Nagueshi Temple in Ponda speaks of Purush Shennvi's son Maee Shennvi of Kullalogram (cuncolim/Kuncoliem) being granted the village of Bandode (Bandivade) to carry out the rituals of Shri Naguesh and Shree Mahalakshmi temples.
Within the temple precincts is a magnificent tali or water reservoir surrounded by palms. The reservoir is built so 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.

 

 

8. Shanta Durga Temple, Goa

 

Shantadurga Temple is a large temple complex 33 km (21 mi) from Panaji at the foothill of Kavalem village in Ponda Taluka, Goa, India. A small laterite mud shrine was built and the deity was installed here. The mud-shrine was converted into a beautiful temple whose foundation stone was laid in 1730 and the temple was completed in 1738 and renovated in 1966.

 

Deity

The temple is dedicated to Shantadurga, the goddess who mediates between Vishnu and Shiva. The deity is also called 'Santeri' colloquially. This avatar of Shree Jagdamba Devi which had come to make peace (Shanti) between Shree Vishnu and Shree Shiva, came to be known as Shree Shantadurga Devi.
Local legends tell of a battle between Shiva and Vishnu The battle was so fierce that Lord Brahma prayed to Parvati to intervene, which she did in the form of Shantadurga. Shantadurga placed Vishnu on her right hand and Shiva on her left hand and settled the fight.
The deity of Shantadurga is shown as holding two serpents, one in each hand, representing Vishnu and Shiva. Apart from this battle, local legends often say that Shantadurga of Keloshi had gone to Sankhwal, a village in Salcette Taluka to kill a demon named Kalantak that was harassing the Brahmins. As a reward, she was given the name of Vijaya. Shri Vijayadurga shrine was located in Sankhwal along with Shri Shantadurga and Shri LakshmiNarsimha but was later shifted to a place called Kerim in Ponda Taluka during the Portuguese invasions.^[1]
Shantadurga is the Kuldevi (family deity) of many Konkani Saraswats, Karhade Brahmins, Maharishi saraswatis (Mahe Gotra) and Vishyawani from (Kokan region of Maharastra and Goa) Bhandaris.

Temple complex at Kavalem

The original temple at Cavellossim (Quelshim) in Salsette was destroyed by the Portuguese in 1564. The devi was shifted to Kavalem and worship was continued there. The site on which the original temple of Shree Shantadurga stood at Cavellossim is known as "Deoolbhata" and it is in the possession of the temple trust.^{[citation needed]}
The current temple was constructed during the reign of Maratha ruler Chatrapati Shahu Raje of Satara about 1738 A.D. Shri Naroram Mantri (Naroram Shenvi Rege) originally from Kochar village in the Vengurla region was a Mantri (minister) in the Chatrapati Shahu's Court around 1723 A.D. He obtained finances to construct the new temple for the Devi from the Chatrapati. The temple construction started around 1730 A.D. and, with the help from other mahajans, the present beautiful temple was completed. Due to his efforts the village Kavalem was bequeathed to the temple authorities by Shahu Maharaja in 1739 A.D.^{[citation needed]}
The temple complex is on the slope of the foothills of a mountain chain, surrounded by lush vegetation. There is a main temple and three smaller temples of other deities which have been built on three sides of the temple. The temple consists of a collection of pyramidal roofs with an interesting dome. The pillars and floors are made of Kashmir stone. The temple has a huge tank, a Dipa Stambha and agrashalas (guest houses).
Many renovations have been completed over the years to the main temple and the temples of the other deities as well as to the agrashala. The temple has recently banned entry of foreigners into the temple citing objectionable dressing and conduct as the reason.

 

 

Shantadurga

 

Shantadurga also known as Shanteri/Santeri is the form of the Goddess Durga, commonly worshipped in Goa, India. She is also called Saibini in Konkani as a mark of reverence. Legend tells of a celestial battle between Shiva and Vishnu and Shanta ("Peacemaker") acting as the mediator and solving the problem. The Goddess' temples in Goa were traditionally built over anthills. While most villages in Goa had a Shantadurga temple or at a least a shrine dedicated to Shanteri, a famous Shanta Durga temple was present at Quellossim in Salsette. This was destroyed by the Portuguese and Jesuit missionaries and the idol was shifted to Kavalem in Ponda across the Zuari river. The Goddess is typically depicted as holding a snake in each hand, each metaphors for demoniac tendencies which are kept in check by her. She also has fish on her crown, as she is the patron Goddess of fisherfolk. Shree Shantadurga is the kuldevta of many Konkani Saraswats, Karhade Brahmins, Daivadnya Brahmins, Bhandaris and Marathas. Many Goan Catholic families also continue to partake of worship in this temple due to their familial links with the temple and the Goddess.

Shantadurga temples in Goa

• Shanta Durga temple at Kavalem (Mahapeeth of the Goddess)
• Shantadurga Kunkalikarin at Fatorpa
• Shantadurga Fatarpekarin at Fatorpa
• Shantadurga Chamundeshwari Kudtari Mahamaya at Avedem, Quepem
• Shantadurna Kunkaliekarin at Kunkolie Ponda
• Shatadurga Kumbharjuvekarin at Marcela, Ponda
• Shantadurga Verlekarin at Marcela Ponda
• Shantadurga Talaulikarin at Marcela
• Shantadurga Mhapsekarin at Dhargal
• Shantadurga Sangodkarin at Sangolda
• Shantadurga at Veroda
• Shantadurga Shankhavaleshvari at Veling, Gothan
• Shantadurga Ballikarin at Balli
• Shantadurga Kalangutkarin Temple-[at Nanora,near Asnora]
• Shantadurga at Shirali, Karnataka ( Maha Ganapathi Mahammaya Temple ). Originally from Golthi or Gotim, Divar Island, Goa

 

 

9. Ramnathi, Goa

 

The temple of Ramnathi is located in Ramnathim, Bandivade in Goa. This temple belongs to the Goan Brahmin community (Saraswat and Daivadnya Brahmins). Similar to other Goan Brahmin temples, Ramnathi too incorporates the system of Panchayasthan, therefore this temple house 5 main deities namely - Shri Ramanath (chief deity), Shanteri, Kamakshi, Laxmi Narayan, Ganapati, Betal and Kalbhairav, along with other family purushas.

 

Legend

Shri Ramanath Deity was originally installed 3000 years B.C by Rama at Rameshwar. When Rama came back from Lanka along with Sita, after killing Ravana, he decided to pray to Shiva in order to absolve him of killing a Brahmin. Hence a Shivlinga was installed and Rama prayed to it. This came to be known as Ramanath.^[1]

History

The original temple of Ramnathi in Goa, was located in Loutolim in salcette  Goa. The Idol of Ramnathi was shifted to the present site in the 16th century to prevent its destruction by the then Portuguese authorities.^[2] In May 2011, the Ramnathi temple completed 450 years at its present location.

Deities

The chief deity of the temple is Ramnath. Since Ramnath is the chief deity, the temple came to be known as Ramnathi. The name Ram-Nath equals Lord of Rama. In addition the temple has the idols of the Goddess Shanteri(Shantadurga) from Rivona and the Goddess Kamakshi from Loutolim. There is an idol of Shree Lakshmi Narayan Shree Siddhinath (Ganesh), Shree Betal and Shree Kaalbhairav. This completes the Ramnathi Panchayatna.^[4]

Kulavis

The kulavis or associated families had migrated out of Salsette due to religious persecution and now dwell all along the western coast of India. A large number of the Saraswats kulavis live in Mumbai, South Canara, Kerala and abroad. The tradition of coming to the temple after a major family event continues.
The kulavis come from the Vatsa, Kaundinya, Koushika(kamsha) Gotras

 

 

10. Ravalnath, Goa

 

Ravalnath is a very popular Shaivite deity in west coastal region of India, figuring predominantly Goa, the Sindhudurg district of coastal Maharashtra and some areas of Karnataka.

 

Etymology

The origin of word Ravalnath is a matter of conjecture. Some historians believe that it originates from the word "Ravi" which means Sun. Others speculate that it derives from the Tamil word "Iravalnath,which means to beg.
Ravalnath is a form of Kalbhairav and found in Panchyatana of almost all Goan temples.

Iconology

Ravalnath is depicted having four hands, and he bears Trishul Damaru, Akshmala, Khadga, and Panpatra (vessel for drinking Soma rasa) or a Khetaka.
He is considered as Shivagana, wears a Mundamala (garland made of human skulls), and has a horse as his Vahana.^[1] Some historians relate this deity to the Nathpanth tradition. Still others cite its connections to the Jain and Buddhist traditions.

Devotees

People belonging to all Hindu communities like Padti, GSBs, Daivajnas, Karhades, Mestas,Achars,Bhandaris ,Charodis, Naik Bhandari, Kharvi, Vaishya Vani, Marathas and others worship Ravalnath equally.

Famous temples

Standalone temples devoted to Ravalnath are common in Goa. In addition, many Goan temples, Shaivite and Vaishnavite, feature Ravalnath as a parivar devata (subsidiary deity). Ravalnath in Goa is also worshiped as "Piso Ravlu" (eccentric Ravalnath) and "Shaano Ravlu" (wise Ravalnath) most probably in the Devaki Krishna Panchayatna. Some temples specially dedicated to Ravalnath are as follows

• Lakshmi Ravalnath, Gawanwaddo Marcela
• Pisso Raulu, Marcela
• Ravalnath temples at Pernem
• Ravalnath temple at Sanvordem
• Ravalnath Temple at Chandgad, Maharashtra
• Ravalnath at Karwar, Majali, Karnataka
• Ravalnath Temple at Shiroda, Ponda, Goa (Shri Satya Ravalnath)
• Rawalnath Temple at Adiware , Ratnagiri, Maharashtra.
• Rawalnath Temple at Bhatye , Ratnagiri, Maharashtra.

Om Tat Sat

                                                        

(Continued...)                                                                                                                              

(My humble  salutations to the great devotees ,  wikisources  and Pilgrimage tourist guide for the collection )