Temples
in goa
The temples
of Goa are in essence
like most Hindu temples
in India, based around
a deity which is worshipped.
The architecture of Goan
temples is a little different
mostly because of historical
reasons.
The
fundamental design of
any Hindu temple is
organized around the
central shrine or the
"Garbagriha"
or the "sanctum
sanctorum" that
houses the main deity.
A tower or "Shikara"
arises from the main
shrine and is traditionally
pyramidal shaped. There
are usually two or more
smaller shrines housing
other deities known
as "Parivar Devatas"
around the entrance
to the Garbagriha.
Shri
Shantadurga Temple,
Kavlem
This temple is the largest
and most popular temple
in Goa. It was built in
1713 and dedicated to
the "Goddess ShantaDurga".
The
beautifully constructed
pagoda like temple has
a distinct influence
of European architecture.
In front of the entrance
is the six storeyed
Lamp Tower ( deepmal
). Marble is used in
the interiors of the
temple while magnificent
chandeliers add to the
beauty of the shrine.
Shri
Mahalsa Temple, Mardol
This
beautiful temple was
constructed in 1567,
The interiors of the
temple are very impressive
with intricately carved
huge wooden pillars
and slatted windows.
The worship hall of
the temple has painted
carvings of the 10 incarnations
of Lord Vishnu which
are quite interesting.
The
main sanctum has a silver
frame on its doorway
inside which is the
idol of the presiding
deity draped in red
and yellow silk. The
temple has a red pyramidal
roof in typical oriental
style.
The
temple is dedicated
to Mohini a female form
of Lord Vishnu.
Shri
Mangesh Temple, Priol
Situated
at Priol in Ponda, The
temple is dedicated
to Lord Mangeshi( a
form of Shiva ). It
was Built in 18th Century
and is a local landmark
and one of the most
important Hindu temples.
The
Manguesh linga is placed
in the main silver sanctum,
flanked by a solid gold
idol and is illuminated
by oil lamps.
The
courtyard of the temple
is dominated by a seven
storied DeepStambha
(Lamp Tower), which
is undoubtedly most
impressive in Goa.
Shri
Mahadev Temple, Tambdi
Surla
Situated
at Tambdi surla 13 kms
north of Molem village
in the western ghats,
this temple was built
in the 13th Century
and is dedicated to
lord Shiva.
The temple has a touch
of Kadamba architecture,
only of such kind in
Goa. It has been built
with black basalt stone
which is not found anywhere
in Goa and must have
been transported across
the Western Ghats from
the Deccan Plateau.
The
exquisite carvings inside
the temple are still
fresh and reminds the
grandeur of the Goa's
Hindu arhcitectural
legacy.
The pillars and walls
of the temple are significant,
as they are fully carved.
The temple has a simple
front elevation. The
temple tower (Shikara)
has the images of Lord
Shiva facing the north,
Lord Vishnu facing the
west and Lord Brahma
the south.
Sri Mahadev Bhumika Temple
Just
5-km from Kasarpal is
another temple complex
with beautiful natural
surroundings at village
Sal, which is soon going
to be converted into
a tourist village.
The
Festivity
The temple is famous
all over Goa and Sindhudurg
district for its annual
festival of "Gade",
which is a three-day
religious affair from
Phalgun Vadya 1 to 3.
Devotees believe that
people can have Darshan
of 'Devchar' at night
during the festival
and hence the Gade attracts
huge crowds even from
urban areas of Goa.
Sri Kamakshi Temple, Goa
About
12-km from Kavalem is
situated another important
religious monument which
is dedicated to Sri
Kamakashi. The deity
is believed to have
come from Kamakhya,
Guwahati in Assam, which
is her original abode.
In
Goa, the original location
of Sri Kamakshi temple
was Raia in Salcete
Taluka. But the deity
was subsquently shifted
to Shiroda village in
Ponda Taluka due to
religious persecution
by alien rulers.
The
place where temple is
has an ancient name
"Shivagram".
Of the smaller temples
present in the complex
there is the one dedicated
to Lord "Rayeshwara".
People irrespective
of religious faith and
hailing originally from
Raia, still venerate
Sri Kamaksha.
Sri
Kalika Temple, Goa
One
of the most important
Hindu monuments in
North Goa is the temple
dedicated to Sri Kalika
situated in the Gillage
Kansarpal near Assonora,
a few kilometers away
from the Mapusa town.
The Daivadnya Brahmans
are the main devotes
of this deity. A huge
gold "Kalash"
atop the dome of the
temple beckons thousands
of devotees and inquisitive
visitors to this otherwise
secluded place.
The
temple is dedicated
to Goddess Kali, which
is the Rudra form of
Goddess Durga. The temple
represents a fine blend
of aesthetics and architectural
designs.
Sri
Devaki Krishna Temple
3-km
away from Banastari
Bridge on Panaji -Ponda
Road is situated the
noteworthy temple dedicated
to Devaki Krishna at
Marcel. The deity is
said to have been brought
from Chorao in Tiswadi
to Mayem in Bicholim
and then shifted to
its present place during
the days of religious
persecution by the alien
rulers.
The
Garbha Griha contains
the beautiful idol of
Devaki and Lord Krishna.
The idol of Devaki is
in standing posture
with a child Krishna,
sitting astride her
hip. This particular
pose is considered to
be unique in Goa. The
idols are beautifully
carved in black stone.
The major festival is
Malni Purnima from Paush
Vadya is celebrated
over here with great
fervour and excitement.
Shri
Ramnath Temple
Besides
the shrine of the main
Ramnath deity it has
four small temples of
Shri Laxminarayan, Shri
Shantadurga (Sateri),
Shri Betal and Shri
Sidhanath.
The five together, constitute
Shri Ramnath Panchayatan.
The legend in mythology
says that Rameshwar
is the original abode
of Lord Ramnath.
Topobhoomi
Goa
Born under
the divine inspiration
of his Holiness Haturii
Mathadhish Shrinad Brahmanand
Swamiji, the Tapobhoomi
Complex at Kundai has
now become a center of
pilgrimage to the students
of Hindu culture and religion,
spread over an are of
10,000 sq. mts.
This
centre of Param Pujya
Padmanabh Shishya Sampradaya
harbaurs a number of
projects, a unique Datta
mandir, Sanskrit pathshala,
Dhyaan Gumfa (Chamber
for meditation), Ayurveda
Centre, Yoga Anusandhan
Kendra, Bhajani Vidyalayi
Bhaktoddhar Library,
etc. His Holiness Brahmanand
Swamiji, who is the
head of Haturii Muth
has rendered yeomen
service to uplift poor,
downtrodden people in
the last two decades.
Goddess is known for
fulfilling the vows
of her devotees through
Kaul Prasad who also
perform Tulbhar to propitiate
her. While propagating
the Bhakti movement
in this holy land, he
has salvaged poor and
middle class from falling
into the clutches of
vices such as drinking,
gambling, drug-abuse
etc. It is solely because
of Swamiji's guidance
that thousands of young
people have been able
to-walk in the right
direction.
Tapobhoomi
has been set up to educate
mankind about its duties
and responsibilities.
Tapobhoomi has been
set up to spread the
message of divine love
and compassion. Tapobhoomi
is indeed a temple of
humanity, standing firm
on the foundation of
devotion i.e. Bhakti
Shri
Naguesh Temple
Dedicated
to Lord Shiva, is situated
in the village of Bandode,
about 4 kms. to the
east of Ponda. The temple
Sabhamandap has a gallery
on both sides that contains
exquisite specimen of
intricate wood carvings
of the events of Ramayana
on one side and wooden
images of Astadikpal
and Gandharva on the
other.
Goa
Mosques
Jama
Masjid Goa
Built
in the last century,
the Jama Masjid was
completely renovated
in 1959. The new structure
is remarkable for its
harmonious proportions
and elegant simplicity.
It
has four minarets whilst
the entrance facade
is flanked by two elegant
towers surmounted by
pillared kiosks.
A
dome shaped kiosk rises
in the centre of the
minarets. Festivals
are celebrated here
with due solemnity by
the rejoicing devotees.
Safa
Masjid at Ponda, Goa
The
Shahouri masjid, the
biggest and most famous
of the 27 mosques in
Ponda taluka was built
in 1560 by Ibrahim Adilshan
of Bijapur. Adjacent
to the Mosque is a well-constructed
masonry tank with small
chambers with 'meharab'
designs.
The mosque and the tank
were formerly surrounded
by an extensive garden
with many fountains.
They were destroyed
during the Portuguese
rule.
The two major festivals
Id-Ul-Fitr and Id-Ul-Zuha
are celebrated at this
mosque with great pomp
and are attended by
a large number of people.
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