The Flight of Gods 32. Shantadurga Temple, Dhargal

The Flight of Gods

by Mohan Pai

Sri Shantadurga Temple

Dhargal

This temple is located at Dhargal, about 14 km from Mapusa in Pernem taluka. This temple is dedicated to Shree Shantadurga, an incarnation of Goddess Parvati, consort of Lord Shiva.
Photo by Mohan Pai

It is one of the few temples in Bardez that survived the Portuguese Inquisition and during that time the deity was moved from the house of Shree Kichkar of Taliwada, Mapusa to Sanquelim, which was then a part of the Maratha kingdom of Sawantwadi.

Photo by Mohan Pai

It was subsequently installed at Dhargal in Pernem in 1550 ,which was then also a principality of the Sawantwadi kingdom. The main festival or "Zatra" falls in December and draws huge crowds.