by Mohan Pai
Shri Laxminarcinva Temple
The temple was first housed in a modest hutment and then rebuilt in its present rich scenic surroundings in the later part of the 18th century.
Shankhavali and Kushsthali, the two flourishing and adjustant villages were at loggerheads on the question of their boundaries and were equally fed up with their age-old problem. A godly man from Punjab came as a chance visitor (according to another version it was a Gaud Saraswat Brahmin by the name ‘Naik’ from Karnataka). By his saintly nature he soon won the affection and confidence of the residents of both the villages. He placed the Shaligrama which he always carried with him for his daily oblations at the foot of the pipal tree of the temple of Shri Shantadurga for his sacramental routine. The two villages requested him to bring about a settlement of their dispute.
The Temple - Photo by Mohan Pai
The pious man said “ I shall move with my “Lotta” full of water and its beak would go on trickling till it gets empty and this line of trickling will decide your boundary”. The villagers accepted this solution. But after it was done, some of the Kushasthali villagers felt cheated and in revenge, they quietly took away his Shaligrama and threw it into the temple lake. When the saintly man discovered the loss he went on a fast and refused even water.
Tirthasthana - photo by Mohan Pai
The other legend with some historical background is about the fisher folk of Carnalla. With the Portugese threat imminent, the kulavis of the temple secretly removed the idol and were anxious to transport it across the Zuari river. When they reached the bank of the river the brave Carnalla fishermen came to their rescue and carried them across the river to a safe haven. This incident took place during the middle of the 16th century.
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Respected Sir,
ReplyDeleteVery nice work.Keep it up.
Best wishes !!!!