| THE
TEMPLE TOUR
It is now over 140 years since the incident and
the original temple has been rebuilt, restored
(1825) and repaired several times since, but the
legend of the hero live on. The annual palkhi
festival of the temple is held each year in the
month of March and is definitely worth a visit.
If you have proceeded Eastwards and have chosen
to take the beaten track to the Shantadurga Temple
at Kavlem, then you have chosen to visit the most
inspiring and impressive of all the temples in
this district. Shantadurga affectionately called
Santeri, is also worshipped as a termite mound
in some part of Goa. Here, however, her temple
has been built in the complex Surla Style of the
Kadamba period. Architecturally speaking, it ranks
as the most important of all temples in Goa The
square base of the temple accommodates the garbhagriha
(sanctum sanctorium), the antarralaya (circumambulatory
corridor) and the sabbamandapa community hall).
Betel nut palms stands sentinel near the gabled
red-riled roofs that cap the building. This is
where Portuguese architectural influences meet
Indian ideology in a confluence of ideas.
It is from here onwards that you can embark on
a cultural journey that is unique to the world.
Head northwards for a look at the Narasirnha Temple.
This was probably the most beautiful temple in
Goa in the 16th century if descriptions of it
daring back 258 years are anything to go by. Originally
located in the village of Sanqual, this temple
was shifted to Ponda during the Goan Inquisition.
They say that there was no real threat to the
temple at the original location but because the
Shantadurga deity from neighbouring.
Kushtasthal (Curtorim) was being moved, the Elders
of the Village decided to move this one as well.
They also said, like they still do, that on only
have to whisper in Sanqual to be heard in Kushtasthal!
At Velinga today the ornate silver doorways and
beautiful nagaarkhana (percussion house) of the
temple pay tribute to Goa’s indigenous craftsmen.
Travel further North and you come to the outstanding
Mahalsa Temple at Borim. Like ordinary men and
women, gods and goddesses too enjoy varying degrees
of popularity! Lakshmi, Lord Vishnu’s consort,
enjoys a great level of popularity at this temple.
Much feared for her sense of justice) an oath
taken under the temple bells was considered sacrosanct
in the days when decisive oaths were prevalent
in Goa. So powerful was this institution that
the Portuguese government recognized an oath on
the scriptures which was taken in the deity’s
presence as an exclusive right of the Brahmins.
There was also the “most dreaded oath”,
an oath which was taken on “the heads of”
one’s wife and children. These oaths were
made official in the decrees issued by the Portuguese
Viceroys. An oath on the deity’s eyes, on
the head of a caw, on a betel nut or even on a
wheel of the temple chariot were commonplace in
this temple while the rovo or the oath on a piece
of red-hut iron was said to have been rarely administered.
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