sri saptkoteshwar bicholim

DISCOVER GOA ›› BICHOLIM ›› SRI SAPTAKOTESHWAR TEMPLE

The famous temple of Sri Saptakoteshwar Naroa, Bicholim. Sri Saptakoteshwara was the patron deity of the Kadambas who had built a beautiful temple dedicated to this deity at the Diwar Island.The invading foreign rulers destroyed the temple.The image of Sri Saptakoteshwara was shifted to Naroa by the devotees then.  It was Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj who ordered renovation of the temple in 1668. The famous Saptakoteshwara temple is a standing specimen of medieval architectural style and mirrors the rulers' refinement and artists, superior craftsmanship. It is elegantly beautified with sculptural adornments.It is a big temple with imposing tower, vast courtyards and several mini-shrines. The Archamurti- Shivalinga is called "Dhara-Linga".

DISCOVERING TEMPLES OF GOA NOTICE

DISCOVERING TEMPLES OF GOA  NOTICE

All the members of the group hereby informed that the  blog meeting is scheduled on 1 OCT at CAFE COFFEE DAY MIRAMAR 4pm in the evening. Kindly remain present for the meeting. Agenda for the meeting

1.To discuss the important points regarding our places in which we are going to post.

 2.To see whether all members are contributing for the blog.

3.To check whether post brought are personally collected by the members and not coppied from net. 

4.To check whether the materials brought by the members are correct and make corrections if required.

5.To fix the date, time, place for the next meeting.

6. To discussions regarding what pictures to post.

 s/d

(PRIYANKA ADKONKAR)

 BLOG ADMIN

Place:- Panaji

Date:-30th sept 2014

Mahalaxmi Temple

Located in Panaji,the Mahalaxmi temple was the first Hindu temple allowed to be built by the Portuguese in Goa after around 300 years. In 1818 the Portuguese authorities gave consent and approved its construction. It was renovated in the year 1983. The deity of the temple originally came from the village of Taleigao and was moved to Bicholim in the 16th century. Fearing the security and safety, the deity was kept in the Mhamai Kamat house. It was then shifted to Mayem in Bicholim till 1817. After permission of the liberal Portuguese governor the temple was built and the image was finally brought to Panaji.

The Mahalaxmi temple enshrines the deity of Mahalaxmi, the Goddess of wealth. The deity considered a peaceful form of the goddess and wears a linga on her head and is made of black stone with four hands. The main festivals at this temple are Navaratri and Chaitra Purnima.In February also a big fair is held that draws a large number of devotees.

Mangueshi Temple

Located about 21 km from Panaji, the Mangueshi temple stands tall amidst the Hindu temples of Goa. The Manguesh temple was originally located at Kushasthali (present day Cortalim). With the threat of persecution looming, the linga was transferred from the original temple to the present location at Priol. Manguesh is an incarnation of lord Shiva and the Shivalinga inside the fluorite designed sanctum is flanked by dwarpalas (guards).

The temple is a modern piece of architecture blended with traditional Hindu pattern. The entrance to the temple bears an image, which wards off every thing impure from the inner precincts of the temple and maintains its sanctity. Festivals and periodical devotional activities are conducted with great zeal. Monday is the weekly festival. On this day murti of the Lord is taken out, before the Aarti at night, in a procession in Palakhi accompanied by music. The annual festivals are Ramanavami, Navaratri, Magha Poornima Festival (Jatrotsav) and Mahashivratri.

Kamakshi Temple

Kamakshi Temple

The Kamakshi Temple is dedicated to Kamakshi or goddess Kamakhya, originally a deity from Guwahati, Assam. She is also known as Parvati or consort of lord Shiva and is known as Shantadurga or goddess of peace. The original temple of the deity was in Raia in Salcete Taluka which was destroyed by the portuguese and the idol of Kamakshi was carried away to Shiroda in 1564-1568. The image of the goddess has been carved out of a Salagrama shila. The main tower design is quite marvelous with the roof bearing stark resemblance to that of a Buddhist pagoda. It has hooded serpent images on the corners of the roof and elephant statuettes at the corners of the square.


The vicinity of the Kamakshi temple has another small temple as is observed in most of the Goan Hindu temples, a shrine dedicated to Lord Rayeshwara or Shiva and the place where the temple is built has an ancient name Shivagram. people of all faiths from all over Goa venerate and worship the Kamakshi Goddess who is believed to shower immense blessings on her devotees and fulfill desired wishes. The main festivals celebrated here are the Dussera, Mahashivaratri, the temple Zatra and Shigmo. Another occasion that draws large number of devotees is Umavas (no moon day). On this day most of the buses to Shiroda are packed and it is difficult to find transport due to the large number of travelling devotees.

Chandreshwar Bhootnath Temple

The Chandreshwar Bhootnath temple is an ancient temple located on the road to Quepem, about 14 kms. from Margao. It is located on the Chandranath hill, a heavily wooded hill about 350 metres high and is dedicated to an incarnation of Shiva, The Lord of the Moon. The Chandranath Bhoothnath temple is associated with the Bhoja dynasty who were the rulers of the region till the 8th century and in fact they named their capital Chandrapur after the deity.  

 

Many pilgrims arrive at the main entrance for darshan, or the ritual viewing of the deity. Inside the temple's inner sanctum, the Shivalinga is made of a natural outcrop of rock. It is placed in such a way that it gets bathed on full moon nights in moonlight. The area around the temple is strangely infested by small rock crabs.



Next door, a smaller temple is dedicated to Chandreshwar's attendant deity, Bhootnath who is the lord of ghosts. The temple's ancient chariot is well known for its wood carvings. A palanquin procession of the deity is held every Monday evening wherein food is offered to the devotees. The main festival here is the five-day Hanuman Jayanti, along with Dushera and Mahashivratri .

Mahalsa Temple

The temple of Mahalsa lies in Mardol 9km. from Ponda. It was shifted here from the Velha conquistas salcette, Goa to avoid destruction during the forcible Christianization of Salcette, Goa. Mahalasa is considered as the Mohini form of Lord Vishnu and hence she is referred to as "Mahalsa Narayani".

 

 

The Magha Jatra (festival) at the temple and Navaratri are the days of importance in the yearly calendar.Jaianchi puja is also famous puja held in this temple in the month of August. Sunday holds a special significance for the temple as on this day Palakhi Seva is performed. The goddess is taken out for a ride around the temple in a Palkhi. The Palkhi is decorated with flowers and traditional colourful decorations. A large crowd gathers to participate in the event and the devotees sing her praises.

Rudreshwar temple, aravalem

Rudreshwar temple, araulem

             

               

The temple is situated close to the famous “Pandava Caves” of Aravalem The main deity is Shri Rudreshwa, an incarnation of Lord Shiva.

Annual Shivaratri Zatra is a major event at this temple which draws thousands of people.

          

          Located in BicholimTaluka at a distance of 45 kms from Panaji the temple of Rudreshwar is half a km away from the rock-cut caves of Harvalem where the ancient linga of Rudreshwar is venerated. The idyllic Harvalem waterfalls is close by. The image of Rudreshwar is facing the waterfall. The festival of Mahashivaratri draws big crowds. However, the temple assumes importance as Hindus perform rites for the dead here.                  

Bodgeshwar Temple

The Shri Bodgeshwar temple is located near Mapusa at about 12 kms. from Panaji. The temple is situated amongst rice fields just outside Mapusa city. Locally, the place is known as as Bodgini, It has a shrine which is dedicated to Kanakeshwar Baba or Bodgeshwar. Bodgeshwar is regarded as 'Angavani' which refers to one to whom vows are made and who fulfills desires of the devotees.

ZLegend says that on moonless nights, one can sometimes see the torch held by the diety Bodgeshwar, as he roams the fields near the temple. There is a belief among people that all their prayers will be fulfilled and thousands of devotees flock to this temple. The people also offer offerings to the diety as promised by them on fulfillment of their desires. The festival of the God Kanakeshwar Baba is usually celebrated during the months of December / January at the Shree Dev Bodgeshwar Temple. An annual fair or 'Zatra' is held during the festival which thronged by both locals and the tourists alike.

 

LAIRAI TEMPLE

Lairai Temple

In the village of Shirgao in Bicholim taluka lies the temple of Goddess Lairai. The temple of Shree Lairai is located at a distance of 2 kms. from the Panaji - Valpoi Highway. The deity Lairai is famous all over Goa for the Shirigao zatra. Every year thousands of devotees attend annual feast of deity to witness the walking of devotees of the deity, known as 'dhond' barefooted through the sacred fire known as Homkunda. A mud road leads to the temple and passes through many iron ore mines along the way.

The Shirgao Jatra takes place in early part of May. The festival begins early in the morning and continues throughout till dawn. The devotees (dhond) take a bath and walk all the way uphill to the temple to worship the Goddess. Late into the night, as midnight approaches, the devotees perform a frantic dance inside the temple, which is all lit up for the occasion. The dance sessions end around midnight. Next a fire is made using a huge pile of wood kept in a large clearing near the temple.

The final and most spectacular part of the jatra then begins. In the early hours of the morning when the fire has died down, the raking of the coals begins. The devotees await their turn to walk on the holy path of hot coals. Around 4 a.m., the actual ritual starts, with the devotees running through the hot coals carrying their sticks with the name of Devi Lairai. It is said that the fire does no harm to the just devotees who walk calmly through the embers. The unjust are said to hurry through running through the burning coals.

 
 

Tambdi Surla Mahadev Temple

Tambdi Surla Mahadev Temple

The Mahadev temple of Tambdi Surla is the oldest temple of Goa, that survived from the Portuguese as it was set next to a stream in the middle of the small clearing, hidden in the dense jungle. The Tambdi Surla temple dedicated to Lord Shiva has a pillared porch and three stepped entrances. The temple is built in the Hemadpanthi style from the finest weather-resistant grey-black basalt. It is considered to be the only specimen of Kadamba-Yadava architecture in basalt stone preserved and available in Goa. The temple has been declared as a protected historical monument by the Archaeological Survey of Idia

There is a linga symbol of Lord Shiva mounted on a pedestal inside the inner sanctum and local legend has it that a huge King Cobra is in permanent residence in the dimly lit interior. In February/ March on the festival of Mahashivratri hundreds of devotees assemble here. The area around the temple has soft green grass that dries up in summer but is rejuvenated every monsoon.