Flight of Gods - Hindu Temples & Shrines of Goa

Monday, April 20, 2009

The Flight of Gods 22. Siddheshwar Temple, Borim

The Flight of Gods

by Mohan PaiShri Siddheshwar Temple

Siddhanath Hill, Borim

The Mantap - photo by Mohan Pai

From Borim village in Ponda Taluk aroad leads to a nearby hill of Siddhanath. Near the summit there is a Shiva temple of Siddheshwar. This is a Nath Panthi shrine and although one can see no samadhi, it is believedthat the samadhi of Karan Siddha isbelow the ground level of the linga.

The Temple Shikara - photo by Mohan Pai

The temple of Siddheshwar is associated with the Nath Panth which was fairly widespread in Goa during the 12th & 13 centuries. The founder of Nath cult (Sampradaya) was Matsyendranath and his historicity is shrouded in mystery.

Tulasi Vrindavan - photo by Mohan Pai

His well-known pupil was Gorakhnath and he belonged to the early 11th century. Historical evidence availble indicates that the Nath Panth had spread to Goa by 1200 AD.

Thickly forested slopes photo by Mohan Pai

A few kilometers away from the temple there is a shrine associated with Nath Siddha Madhavanath. In this shrine there are ‘padukas’ (sandals) and a Trisul (trident). These objects are taken out in a palanquin in a procession during the annual fair (Jatra) on the day of Mahashivaratri.A view of the Sahyadris from the Siddhanath Hills -photo by Mohan Pai
This is a very picturesque hillock with a view of the Goa Sahyadris with thickly wooded slopes. Nearby close to the village of Shirshinre there is a beutifull waterfall.

A waterfall on the Siddhanath Hills near Shrshiren - photo by Mohan Pai

The Flight of Gods 21. Mallikarjun Temple, Gaondongrem

The Flight of Gods

by Mohan Pai Shri Mallikarjun Temple

Gaondongrem

Shri Mallikarjun Temple, Gaondongrem is situated in Canacona Taluka in South Goa. This deity is mainly worshipped by Gavades, Kunbis, Velips and the Marathas.

The Linga is believed to be Swayabhu linga, uncovered by a member of the Kunbi community while clearing the forest and it is a phallic shaped uncut stone covered with a metallic mask.
The legend mentions that the demon Malla was fighting with one of the Pandava brothers, Arjuna. Shiva assumed the form of a hunter and killed Malla and saved Arjuna and hence the name ‘Mallikarjun’.

The Shikara - photo Mohan Pai

The festivals held at Gaondongrem are Shisharanni (cooking on the head-earth) and annual Zatra. During the festival of Shishranni, the performance and rituals include bathing of the gade, dress, smearing of sandal paste on the entire body. Heads are covered with wet cloth and layers of plantain trunk and piercing needles in the abdomen as well as left arm. Head-hearth is formed of three heads of Gade.

Deepasthamba - photo Mohan Pai

A unique collection of three replicas of stone of decapitated human heads could be seen here.
The ritual of hunting ia a compulsary ritual held every three years with group of traditional hunters gather at the shrine and proceed to the jungle. The head of the hunted animal is cut and worshipped at the shrine and all members share the flesh.
One of the wooden pillars in the mandapa is used as the oracle pillar in the temple.

Image of Paik outside the temple - photo Mohan Pai

Shree Mallikarjun is a popular, tribal deity in Goa. There are 14 shrines of Mallikarjun spread all over Goa. The striking similarity in these shrines is that all idols are in phallic shape and covered with metallic masks. The lingas are believed to be ‘Swaymbhu’ lingas. In some shrines the daily worship is performed by Brahmin priest only for a certain designated period and during the rest of the period, the Kunbi priests namely Velip and Zalmi perform the daily worship. The ritual of hunting is associated with some of the Mallikarjun shrines.

Tulasi Vrindavan - photo Mohan Pai

According to the records two ancient shrines of Mallikarjun existed in Bardez at Assgao and Pomburpa which were demolished by the portugese.

Centres of Mallikarjuna Worship:
Bicholim: Pale, Surla

Canacona: Avem, Gaondongrem, Kuskem, Shristhal

Ponda: Boma, Kundai, Dhavli

Quepem: Bali, Caorem, Molcormem

Sanguem: Bhati, Kumbari

The Flight of Gods 20. Shri Datta Mandir, Sancolem

The Flight of Gods

by Mohan Pai

Shri Datta Mandir

Sancolem

Gateway to Datta Mandir

With the growing atmosphere of tolerance, or indifference by the Portugese authorities many Hindu shrines and temples appeared in the late 19th century over the length and breadth of the New Conquests.

The Temple Complex - photo by Mohan Pai

Shri Datta Mandir at Sancolem, about 6 kms from Bicholim was one of the temples built during this period (1882). It follows the more conventional design and is built on fairly traditional lines but with a dome.

The Mantap - photo by Mohan Pai

The temple is situated near a river in wooded surroundings. There are two old Audumbar trees at the entrance to the courtyard.

photo by Mohan Pai

Datta Jayanti, the main annual festival of the temple is held in December and attracts devotees from all over Goa.

Shri Datta Guru’s animals in marble - photo by Mohan Pai

The Flight of Gods 19. Ramnath Temple, Ramnathi

The Flight of Gods

by Mohan Pai

Shri Ramnath Temple

Ramnathi

The ancient shrine of Ramnath was originally located in Loutlim and was burnt down by the Portugese Captain Diogi Rodrigues of Rachol Fort in the year 1567.

The idol was smuggled out and consecrated at the present site at Ramnathi, Bandode very near to the Shantadurga Temple at Kavalem. According to the tradition, the linga of Ramnath was brought from Rameshwaram.

The Temple Complex - photo by Mohan Pai

The main temple building was completely renovated in 1905, resulting in its original proportions being distorted by a huge unsympathetic additional hall that overpowers all else.

The Mantap - photo by Mohan Pai

The Parivar devatas here are Laxminarayan, Kamakshi, Shantadurga, Vetal and Kalabhairav. The Kalabhairav image came from Raia, the next village to Loutlim where Ramnath originated.

Deepasthamba - photo by Mohan Pai

The Flight of Gods 18. Nagesh Temple, Nagueshi

The Flight of Gods
by Mohan Pai

Shri Nagesh Temple

Nagueshi

This is one of the few temples where the deity is not a ‘migrant’ deity since it was originally located at its present site in Bandode and unaffected since it was outside the Portugese territory.
The temple is located at Nagueshi (Bandode) 4 km east of Ponda. This is an ancient temple and which probably belongs to the 7th century AD and was later renovated by Sahu Maharaj,

Grandson of Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj. This is a ‘Swayambhu’ shrine of Lord Shiva and according to Nagavya Mahatme of Sahyadri Khanda in Skanda Purana Shiva is closely associated with Nagas. The Naga cult in Goa happens to be an ancient cult and according to Bhoja inscription, the Hindus had worshipped Nagas in this region in c. 400.

The Deepasthama at this temple has brightly coloured painted deities on the lower half. The temple has a large and beautiful water tank surrounded by palm trees which is centuries old.
There is a Vijayanagar inscription dated1413 AD on a stone slab in the temple about the donations and grants given to the temples of Shri Naguesh and ShriMahalakshmi of Bandode by one Main Shenoy. There is also a mention of Naganath in the Savoi Verem copper plate dated c. 1,300. There is a Shiva-Parvati and a Ganesha stone idol which are believed to be 7th & 8th century pieces.

Deepasthamba-detail

The Mantapa has a raised central portion with a carved and painted wooden panels depicting a number of deities in subdued colours. Below the ceiling are friezes of small carved wooden panels depicting scenes from Ramayana andMahabharata.
There are shrines to the affiliate deities - Lakshminarayana and Ganesh in the porch of the side entrance. In the court yard opposite the Ganesha’s porch are set four small shrines each with a linga.
Close by there the house built for the Raja of Sonda when he gave his territory into the hands of the Portugese and sought asylum here in 1764. The house has been now renovated and extended and is still occupied by the Raja’s descendants.

The Flight of Gods 17. Damodar Temple, Zambauli

The Flight of Gods

by Mohan Pai

Shri Damodar Temple

Zambouli

Shri Damodar of Zambauli is a ‘migrant’ deity from Mathagrama (Margao). The original temple at Margao, which probably belonged to Kadamba period, was razed to the ground by Captain Diogo Rodrigues under the instructions of Dom Casper Leao Pereira, the first Archbishop of Goa and the Church of the Holy Spirit was deliberately built at that exact spot and consecrated in 1565 AD. It was again rebuilt in 1675 AD in baroque style.

Along with Shri Damodar, many other deities from Margao were shifted to Zambauli around 1567 AD where the villagers of Rivona welcomed the new deities and offered land and other facilities for their rehabilitation.

The Mantap - photo by Mohan Pai

Damodar is an epithet of Krishna and particularly associated with his childhood. Yashodha, his foster mother, tied his lower abdomen to a heavy mortar and the abdomen of Krishna was pressed and hence the epithet Damodar. The temple is situated at Zambauli about 22 kms From Margao on the banks of Kushavati river.

The Temple - side view - photo by Mohan Pai

The Kushavati river is supposed to have great healing powers and many devotees take bath here to cure themselves of bodily ills. There is an ancient tree that spreads itself in front of the temple. A triple-arched gateway with its Naubat Khana leads to the Courtyard. The temple was renovated between 1892-1908 with copper roofing being added to the Shikara. The temple has a more conventional Shikara design for the towers instead of domes, somewhat North Indian in outline. Almost every part of the temple is new, having been renovated once again between 1951 and 1972.
The affiliate deities here are Shri Lakshminarayan, Mahakali, Chmundeshwari and Mahesh. Shigmo is a major and famous festival of Zambauli celebrated on a grand scale.

Tulasi Vrindavan - photo by Mohan Pai

THE LEGEND
The legend says that the temple of Damodar at Margao was erected as a memorial in honour of Malkaji Damodar. The story is one of jealousy and hired assassins. Malkaji Damodar, son of a local Desai, was returning from his wedding in Quelossim with his bride. Both the bride and the bridegroom were attacked and murdered by hired assasins employed by a frustrated suiter from a nearby village. A temple was built by the people of Margao in His honour on the spot where Malkaji was murdered.

Zambauli is part of the Rishi Vana or the present day Rivona which is an area of ancient Buddhist settlement. The Buddhist monk Punna, who brought Buddhism to Goa in the 3rd century BC, based himself in a place called Sunaparant, which is believed to be the present day Zambauli. Some ancient Buddhist caves are located about 3ks from the temple of Damodar at Rivona.

The Flight of Gods 16. Devaki-Krishna Temple, Marcel

The Flight of Gods
by Mohan Pai

Devaki-Krishna Temple
Marcel

The temple is popularly known as ‘Pisso' Ravalnath and is located at Marcel. This is the only temple in India where Lord Krishna is worshipped with his mother Devaki as Devaki-Krishna.
The original temple of Devaki-Krishna was on the island of Chodan in the Mandovi river.

Pisso Ravalu

It was destroyed by the Christian missionaries and relocated first at Mayem between1530 and 1540 AD and then shifted to its present site at Marcel between 1540 and 1567. Marcel then was under the Bijapur rule but the Sardesais were Hindus who supported the cause.

The Mantap - photo by Mohan Pai

There was a small shrine to the deity earlier and the present temple was built in the year 1842. The black stone idol of Devaki in standing posture holds on her left side of abdomen, with her left arm, the image of child Krishna.Shano Ravalnath

The affiliate deities are Bhumika Devi, Ravalnath (Pisso Ravalu), Ravalnath (Shano Ravalnath), Malinath, Katyayani, Laxminarayan Chodaneshwar, Dhada, Shankar and Kulapurush.The Temple Complex - photo by Mohan Pai
There is a historical legend about Vasco da Gama who was appointed Viceroy in his old age of all Portugese colonies of the Far-east as a gesture of honour.One day he visited Chodan island, and when he saw the idol of Devaki Krishna through the main doorway, he immediately saluted the image and went on his knees, thinking that it was the image of Mary and infant Jesus. But his companions pointed out his mistake and Vasco da Gama was visibly annoyed.