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 4th
December 2016.
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