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Temples/
Pilgrimages/ Places of worship in Goa
Sri
Manguesh Temple
Sri Manguesh temple at Mangueshi in Ponda Taluka, the most
prominent among temples, is situated along the National Highway-4A
about 23-km from Panaji. This temple is famous for its pristine
glory, which attracts thousands of visitors every year and is
gifted by the Welcome Gate, an elegant lamp tower, a "Noubatkhana"
overlooking the temple tank and the "Agrashalas" on three sides.
Although the Sri Manguesh temple originally stood in a secret
location in Cortalim, and was moved to its present site between
Mardol and Priol during the 16th century, the structure visitors
see today dates from the 1700s
Sri Datta Mandir
Shri Datta Mandir is located at a distance of 37 kms from Panaji
at Dattawadi, Sanquelim, and 40 kms. from Margao, this century old
temple of trimurty (Hindu) has a backdrop of a beautiful hillock
covered with dense groves of areca palms. The most important
festival, which is attended by devotees from all over Goa, is
Datta Jayanti that falls in the month of December.
The deity is believed to have cured many people of unsound mind.
The entire interior consists of white marble.
Sri Mahalakshmi Temple
Shri Mahalaxmi Temple is located at the Altinho foothill of Panaji
and was built on contributions made by devotees in 1817. The deity
is Goddess Mahalakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of Wealth, made of black
stone, with four hands and is placed in a silver canopy. This is
the peaceful or Satvik form of Devi. According to the Shakti cult
(worship of power), Mahalakshmi is the original Goddess who takes
forms according to three aspects or gunas viz. Brahma (peaceful,
calm form or satva), Vishnu (creative action or rajas) and Shiva
(destruction or tamas). The deity originally from Mayem in
Bicholim taluka was transferred to the present site.
Sri Shantadurga Temple, Kavalem
There is the famous temple of Sri Shantadurga the goddess of peace
who is said to have settled a quarrel between Lord Shiva and Lord
Vishnu amicably. Sri Shantadurga is worshipped all over Goa and
scores of temples have been devoted to this deity. At several
places it is known by several names, "Thamai", "Sateri", "Bhumka",
"Adimaya" and others.
Situated at the foothill of Kavalem, the Shantadurga temple boasts
of a huge tank, a Dipa Stambha and Agrashalas. The temple was
built in 1728 AD during the reign of Shahu Maharaj of Satara at
the request of one of his ministers, Naro Ram Mantri.
The original site of Sri Shantadurga temple is Kardelivana of
Quelossim in Mormugao Taluka, where the great bard Krishnadas
Shama penned the epic "Sri Krishna Charita" probably in the 14th
century on the lines of Dnyaneshwari.
Shri Chandreshwar Temple
The Shri Chandreshwar Temple atop the Chandranath Hill dates from
the pre-Christian era, when this region formed part of the Boja
capital of Chandrapur today's Chandor). The famous Shiva Linga is
lit up by moonlight on the full moon night, and is said to become
mystically bathed in water. Sri Chandreshwar or God of the Moon is
so placed so to offer the visitor a wonderful view of the green
valley below.
Sri Morjee Temple
It is a small shrine dedicated to Kanakeshwar Baba or Bodgeshwar,
locally known as Bongini. The god is regarded as agngavani i.e. to
whom vows are made and who fulfills desires of the devotees. On
the fulfillment of desires, people offer presents to the God as
promised by them earlier. A very big fair is held in the month of
December/January when thousands of devotees flock to this temple.
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