Sharvani Devi Temple, Advalpale, Goa

Sharvani Devi Temple, Advalpale, Goa

Sharvani Devi Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Goddess Shakthi located in Advalpale Village located near the town of Bicholim in North Goa district in the Indian state of Goa. The Temple is located in a place called Salgaonwada (Salegaonwada), part of Advalpale Village. The deity is the patron deity of Salgaonkar, Prabhus, Naiks, Shenais (Shenoys), Dhonds and Petkars.

History

The Temple was originally known to have been situated in Saligao. At the end of the 16^th century, it was shifted to Ajgaon and during the Portuguese rule it was shifted to Advalpale. 

The Temple

Presiding Deities of this Temple are Sharvani Devi and Vetoba (Vetal). Vetoba is worshipped in the form of Shiva (Siva). The Vetoba shrine houses a life size stone image of Vetal. There are shrines for Jagrut Swayambhu, and Mahadeva in the Temple premises.

Festivals

Vardharpan day, Divja Jatra day and the annual Jatra day in November / December are the festivals celebrated here.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 500 meters from Advalpale Bus Stop, 3.5 Kms from Assonora Bus Stand, 7 Kms from Thivim Railway Station, 12 Kms from Bicholim, 15 Kms from Mapusa, 28 Kms from Panjim and 52 Kms from Goa Airport. The Temple is situated on Mapusa to Bicholim Route. Pilgrims to take left at the Assonora) Junction and travel up the hilly road to reach this temple.

Location

Shanta Durga Kalangutkarin Temple, Nanora, Goa

Shanta Durga Kalangutkarin Temple, Nanora, Goa

Shanta Durga Kalangutkarin Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Goddess Shakthi located in Nanora Village located near the town of Bicholim in North Goa district in the Indian state of Goa. The Temple is situated on the banks of Nanora River.

Legends

Settling the fight between Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu:

As per local folklore, once there was a battle between Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. The battle was so fierce that Lord Brahma prayed to Parvati to intervene, which she did in the form of Shanta Durga. Shanta Durga placed Vishnu on her right hand and Shiva on her left hand and settled the fight.

Shanta Durga:

It is believed that after killing the demons, the deity's anger was calmed. Hence, she is worshipped in the Shanta Soumya form of Durga at this Temple.

Rudaya Mohini:

She is then said have gone to Calangute, a village in Bardez Taluka, to help the people in education, prosperity, good health, beauty. As a reward, she was given the name of Rudaya Mohini. She is referred to as the Goddess of Beauty, Wealth, and Prosperity.

History

The original temple was located in Calangute near Mapusa City in Bardez Taluka. The temple was shifted to Nanora in Bicholim Taluka in the 17^th century, due to forceful conversion of Hindus by Portuguese invaders. Most of the temples were shifted during that time. Nanora is situated between city Assonora and Mulgaon in South. The modern temple was constructed in the 17^th century. It was repaired in the 1990s when the temple was made into a marble masterpiece.

The Temple

The temple is dedicated to Shanta Durga, the Goddess who mediates between Vishnu and Shiva. The deity is also called Santeri colloquially. The presiding deity is Shanta Durga is also worshiped in the form of Vishweshwari. She is shown as holding two serpents, one in each hand, representing Vishnu and Shiva. The temple has a Dipa Stambha and Agrasalas (guest houses).

Festivals

The main festival of the temple is called as Shishirotsav (popularly known as Shigmo). It is a 10-day celebration and includes procession of deities in different Vahanas with other rituals like Kalotsav, Homa, Dhwajarohana, Gulalotsava, Rathotsava, etc. Navaratri, Vasant Panchami, Akshaya Tritiya and Shravani Somvar Dasara are the other festivals celebrated here.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 500 meters from Nanora Bus Stop, 4 Kms from Assonora Bus Stand, 4 Kms from Mulgao, 8 Kms from Thivim Railway Station, 11 Kms from Bicholim, 16 Kms from Mapusa, 29 Kms from Panjim and 53 Kms from Goa Airport. The Temple is situated on Assonora to Dodamarg Route.

Location

Shanta Durga Temple, Kavalem, Goa

Shanta Durga Temple, Kavalem, Goa

Shanta Durga Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Goddess Shakthi located at the foothill of Kavalem Village located near Ponda City in North Goa district in the Indian state of Goa. It is a private temple complex belonging to Goud Saraswat Brahmin community. This temple is considered as one of the most important and biggest temple in Goa. The temple has recently banned entry of foreigners into the temple citing objectionable dressing and conduct as the reason. 

Legends

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/05/shanta-durga-temple-kavalem-legends.html

History

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/05/shanta-durga-temple-kavalem-history.html

The Temple

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/05/shanta-durga-temple-kavalem-temple.html

Festivals

Ramanavami & Vasantha Pooja in Chaitra month, Akshaya Tritiya Palakhi Utsav in Vaisakh month, Shri Lakshminarayan Pratishtostav in Jyestha month, Nag Panchami in Shravan month, Muktabharani Vratostav & Anant Vratostav in Bhadrapad month, Navratri, Dasara, Kojagiri Palaki Utsav & Deepavali Utsav Palakhi in Ashwin month, Tulsi Pooja (Vivah), Aavali Bhojan & Navkaron Utsav in Kartik month, Palakhi Utsav & Aavali Bhojan in Margarishi month, Jatroustav, Khand Rath, Palakhi Utsav, Sarvajanik Maharoudra, Nitya Pooja & Mahashivaratri Rathoustav in Magh month and Shri Patt Pratishoutsav, Palakhi Utsav & Pournima Shimgo utsav in Phalgun month are the festivals celebrated here.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 5 Kms from Ponda Bus Stand, 21 Kms from Madgaon Junction Railway Station, 22 Kms from Verna Railway Station, 31 Kms from Panjim and 34 Kms from Goa Airport. The Temple is situated very close to Kavlem Bus Stop. It is well connected to Ponda City in North Goa district.

Location

Shanta Durga Temple, Kavalem – History

Shanta Durga Temple, Kavalem – History

The Shanta Durga deity was brought to Goa by the Gaud Saraswat Brahmins who are supposed to have migrated to Goa from Gaud region of Bengal, Trihut (Trihotrapur) in Bihar. Trihut, being the original place from where the deity was brought to Goa in the ancient times by the Saraswat community. They built a shrine dedicated to Goddess Shanta Durga at Keloshi a village in the present day Mormugoa taluka. The original temple at Quelossim (Keloshi) in Mormugoa was destroyed by the Portuguese in 1566.

The goddess was shifted to Kavalem and worship was continued there. The current temple was constructed during the reign of Maratha ruler Chatrapathi Shahu Maharaj of Satara in about 1738 A.D. Naroram Rege Mantri originally from Kochara village in the Vengurla Taluka, was a Minister in Chatrapathi Shahu's Court at Satara (Grandson of Shivaji Maharaj) around 1723. He obtained finances to construct the new temple for the goddess from Shahu Maharaj of Satara.

The temple construction started around 1730. The Temple was consecrated under the presence of Shrimant Bajirao-1 Peshwa in 1738. The site on which the original Temple of Shanta Durga stood at Quelossim (Keloshi) is known as Deoolbhata and it is in the possession of the Shri Shanta Durga Sansthan Committee, Kavale. The temple completed its 450th year of existence (Margashirsh Shuddh Panchami) on 4^th December 2016.

Shanta Durga Temple, Kavalem – Legends

Shanta Durga Temple, Kavalem – Legends

Settling the fight between Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu:

As per local folklore, once there was a battle between Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. The battle was so fierce that Lord Brahma prayed to Parvati to intervene, which she did in the form of Shanta Durga. Shanta Durga placed Vishnu on her right hand and Shiva on her left hand and settled the fight. The deity Shanta Durga, therefore, is shown holding two serpents, one in each hand, representing Vishnu and Shiva.

Loma Sharma saved by Lord Shiva:

Once, Lord Shiva was defeated by his consort Parvati in a game of dice. He had left mount Kailash and gone to Gomanchala near Kushasthali for Tapasya (penance). It is here that he heard the cries of the Saraswat Brahmin, Loma Sharma, caught by a crocodile in the river Aghanashini. When Shiva saved Loma Sharma, he prayed to the Lord to remain in Kushasthali. Similarly, when Parvati arrived looking for Shiva, she was also requested to stay at the nearby village of Keloshi (Kadalivana Quelossim).

Shanta Durga from Trihotrapuri:

The Shanta Durga is believed to have been carried by Loma Sharma of Kaushik Gotra when the Saraswats came to Goa from Trihotrapuri (present-day Trihut division) in the Mithila region of Bihar. 

Shanta Durga of Keloshi:

As per local folklore, Shanta Durga of Keloshi had gone to Sancoale a village in Mormugoa to kill a demon named Kalantaka who was harassing the Brahmins. As a reward, she was given the name of Vijaya. The Vijaya Durga shrine was located in Sancoale along with Shanta Durga and Lakshmi Narasimha but was later shifted to a place called Kerim in Ponda Taluka during the Portuguese invasions.

Shanta Durga Temple, Kavalem – The Temple

Shanta Durga Temple, Kavalem – The Temple

The temple complex is situated on the slope of the foothills of western Ghats, 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 a dome. The pillars and floors are made of Kashmir stone. The temple has a huge tank, a Deepa Stambha and Agrashalas (guest houses).

The majestic Deepastambam (lamp tower) is a significant structure in this Temple. It is of six tiers. There is a Nagarkhana at the entrance of the temple. The Sabha Mandapam of the temple has massive and thick pillars with marble flooring. The Antarala (vestibule) has a beautifully carved silver gateway with beautiful grape motifs. The Ghumti crowned by a golden Kalash atop the dome is unique and the highest in Goa.

Presiding Deity is called as Shanta Durga / Santeri. She is housed in the sanctum. Shanta Durga is holding two serpents, one in each hand, representing Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. The idol is made of Pancha Datu. There is a six-inch Shiva Linga found in the sanctum. The highlight of the temple is its golden palanquin (Palakhi) in which the deity is carried on festive occasions.

There is a Shivalinga at this temple which is considered as belonging to the Mahajans of the surname Vorde who are the Kulavis of the temple of Shri Manguesha. There is also a shrine for Lakshmi Narayana on right side. There is a small shrine dedicated to Loma Sharma of the Saraswats at the entrance of the Temple. There is a Temple tank in the premises.

Saptakoteshwar Temple, Narve, Goa

Saptakoteshwar Temple, Narve, Goa

Saptakoteshwar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in the Narve Village in Bicholim Taluk in the North Goa district of Goa, India. The temple is considered to be one of the six great sites of temples of Lord Shiva in the Konkan area. Narve is located on the easternmost tip of picturesque island of Divar.

Legends

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/05/saptakoteshwar-temple-narve-legends.html

History

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/05/saptakoteshwar-temple-narve-history.html

The Temple

The temple is built based on the typical contemporary Goan architecture, having a dome affixed on an octagonal shaped Sanctum Sanctorum with only the Deepa Stambha (Lamp Tower) design being of a distinct variety. It has a small entrance hall with bells. The main five pillared hall is decorated with arches and is intricately painted with chandeliers glorifying the beauty of the ceiling while the sanctorum wall is made of plain wood. Presiding Deity is called as Saptakoteshwar. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam.

The Linga itself is distinctive of a Dharalinga or Mukhalinga type and made of polished stone. There is a shrine for Kalabhairava in front of the temple towards the right side of the Deepa Sthamba and the padukas of Dattatreya carved on the stone can be seen outside of it. Two huge laterite pillar-like structures (similar to Stonehenge) buried deep can be seen a little ahead of Deepa Sthamba. There are ruins of an arched crumbling structure resembling an ancient agrashalas can be found behind the main temple.

There is a man-made tunnel like structure close to the temple. The tunnel is presently silted. There is a sacred tank known as Panchaganga Tirtha can be found near the temple. There are several caves found in the surroundings. Also, ruins of a Jain math and temple can be found near the Temple. It was probably an important Jain temple patronized by the Kadamba rulers before they accepted Saptakoteshwar as their chief deity.

Festivals

Krishna Janma Ashtami is celebrated on a grand scale in this temple. As per records, even in the 16^th century, large crowd of devotees estimated to be over thirty thousand would assemble and bathe in the sacred waters.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 1.5 Kms from Saptakoteshwar Bus Stop, 7 Kms from Bicholim Bus Stand, 16 Kms from Thivim Railway Station, 20 Kms from Karmali Railway Station, 20 Kms from Panjim and 41 Kms from Goa Airport. Narve can be reached from Panjim by a ferryboat from the island of Divar.

Location

Saptakoteshwar Temple, Narve – History

Saptakoteshwar Temple, Narve – History

Saptakoteshwar, a form of Shiva, was one of the chief deities of the Kings of the Kadamba dynasty around the twelfth century. The temple was built by the King for his wife Kamaladevi who was a staunch devotee of this god. The Kadamba kings proudly used the title (Birudu) Shri Saptakotisha Ladbha Varaveera. The gold coins discovered at Chandor, Gopikapatna and other places in Goa belonged to the kings Jayakeshi I, Jayakeshi II, Jayakeshi III, Shivachitta Paramadideva, Soideva, etc. contains Saptakotishvaralabdha – Varaprasada (with the grace of Lord Saptakotishwara) inscribed in the coins. These coins were often referred to as Saptakotisha-Gadyanakas.

When the Kadamba kingdom was conquered by the Bahmani Sultan Allauddin Hasan Gangu in 1352 AD, Goa came under the rule of the Sultan for about 14 years. A number of temples were destroyed during this period and this temple also suffered destruction at the hands of Islamic invaders. The Linga from the temple was shifted and buried in a paddy field to avoid it from being destroyed. The army of Vijayanagar King Harihararaya defeated the Bahmani Sultan's troops in Goa in 1367 AD and managed to restore most of the temples including Saptakoteshwar.

According to the records the temple was reconstructed by Madhava Mantri by the end of the 14^th century. The Linga was later reinstalled back during the reign of the Vijayanagar empire. The temple was demolished in 1560 by the Portuguese and a chapel dedicated to Nossa Senhora De Candelaria was erected in its place. The stones from the temple was used for the church building. The remnants of the temple ruins are still visible in the chapel attached to the cemetery of the church of Nossa Senhora da Piedade or the Our Lady of Compassion Church at Divar.

The Linga was also taken away by a man named Narayan Shenvi Suryarao and hidden in a place called Latambarsem where it remained for 3 years. It is said that it was smuggled away for safekeeping. It was later found on the wall of a well on the Divar island and still bears the marks made by the ropes used for drawing water at the time. The Linga was rescued by some Hindus and was then smuggled across the river to Bicholim.

The other side of the river bank was annexed by an ally of the Sultan of Bijapur, this chieftain played an important role in the rehabilitation of the Linga on the river bank that was visibly hidden amidst a narrow valley. This village assumed the name of Nae Naroa, and now is popularly known as Naroa or Bicholim. The other side of the river bank was annexed by an ally of the Sultan of Bijapur, this chieftain played an important role in the rehabilitation of the Linga on the river bank that was visibly hidden amidst a narrow valley. This village assumed the name of Nae Naroa, and now is popularly known as Naroa or Bicholim.

A new temple was born from an incident during Shivaji's reign. In 1664 when Shivaji (who had gone to offer prayers to the Linga placed in a mud & thatch house) found a straw from the thatch roof fallen on his shoulder he immediately took it as a good omen and ordered the construction of the temple. It was installed in a new temple in 1668 by the Maratha Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The construction of the new site was carried out by Shri Shivaram Desai (president of the Sansthan) on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's support. The stone plaque mentioning this order can still be seen near the temple entrance today.

Saptakoteshwar Temple, Narve – Legends

Saptakoteshwar Temple, Narve – Legends

Saptakoteshwar:

As per legend, Sapta Rishis (Seven Sages) performed penance on 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 (Sapta means seven and Koteshwar means lord of crores).

Gokul Ashtami:

It is said that the Lord appeared before the Sapta Rishis on the day which in later years became the day of the birth of the Vishnu Incarnation, Lord Krishna and hence since times immemorial the festival of this incarnation of Shiva is celebrated on the day which later became the day of the birth of Krishna – Gokul Ashtami. On this day thousands of devotees gather at the site to bathe in the river alongside the temple. The belief is that the river becomes Pancha Ganga (Panch – 5, Ganga – holy river) on the Gokul Ashtami day and it is considered that a bath on this day guarantees salvation.

Linga made of Seven metals:

The Saptakoteshwar Linga of Lord Shiva is believed to be made of seven metals and hence the name Saptakoteshwar.

Lord Shiva battled demons with his army of seven crores:

As per local folklore, it is believed that Lord Shiva of this Temple battled with demons with his powerful army of seven crores. Hence, he came to be called as Saptakoteshwar.

Konkan Kashi:

Goa is considered as Kashi of the Konkan region or Konkan Kashi.

Puranic References:

References to Saptakoteshwar are found in Sahyadri Khanda of Skanda Purana and also in Saura Purana.