Spectrum Tours » Goa » Temples of Goa

§ Shri Bhagavati Temple: There are two Bhagwati temples at Goa. One is 28 kms from Panaji in Pernem Taluka, which is 500 years old. Two life sine ../images of standing elephants made of black stone welcome the visitors. Dussehra is celebrated with gaiety from Ashwin Shuddha Pratipada to Poornima. The other temple is situated at Pernem taluka. The temple complex has five temples, main temple being Bhagvati and the onerts are Sateri, Dev Ravalnatha, Dev Bhivangi Panchakshari & Brahma.

§ Brahma Temple: 7 Kms from Valpoi, in the village of Brahma Carambolim, the shrine belongs to 5 century A.D.

§ Shri Chandranath (45 Kms) : It is situated on the top of 350 meters high hill of Chandranath, at paroda, Quepem. Chandreshwar was the titular deity of Bhoja Kings who ruled South Goa before Christians till the middle of the 8th century. They had named their capital Chandrapur after the deity. Shivalinga is carved out the rock which oozes whenever rays of full moon fall on it. The temple is so designed so that Linga receives moonlight on every full moon. The temples' ancient chariot is well known for its wood carvings.

§ Shri Damodar : (22 Kms from Margoa at Zambulim Sanguem) The river near temple is regarded as holy and is said to have medicinal properties. The deity is worshipped by both Hindus and Christians.

§ Shri Datta Mandir : (37 K.m) from Dattawadi, 40 Kms from Margaon) The century old temple of Trimurty, the deity is believed to have cured many people of unsound mind. The entire interior consists of white marble.

§ Shri Gopal Ganapati : (26 K.m) from Panaji at Farmagudi, Ponda near Bandora) The Portuguese Viceroy attacked the Fort of Ponda in October 1683, but had to beat a hasty retreat at the sudden appearance of the Maratha King Sambhaji with a large army. Farmagudi commemorates this event. "The stone image of Gopal Ganapati was discovered by herdsmen while grazing cattle near hill and later installed in a small shrine and later temple is built by Shri Dayanand Bandodkar, the first chief minister of Goa and consecrated on April 24, 1966."

§ Shri Mahalsa : (At Mardol, 1 K.m. from Mangueshi temple) The deity worshipped is an attribute to Vishnu (Mohini during the fight between the Devas and Asuras).

§ Shri Mahalaxmi : (Situated in the village Bandode, about 4 Kms from Ponda) It is considered the abode of the original Goddess of the Shakti cult. The Sabhamandap has a gallery of 18 ../images, out of 24 ../images of emanatory aspects of Bhagvata sect, which is considered one of the few galleries of wooden ../images of Vishnu in India. The image of Mahalaxmi has close resemblance of that of Mahalaxmi at Kolhapur, the main centre of worship. Her special feature is that she wears the linga on one hand and considered a peaceful or Satvik form of Devi. The Goddess Mahalaxmi was worshipped by the Shilahara rulers (750-1030 A.D.) and the early Kadamba Kings of Goa.

§ Shri Manguesh: (22 K.m) from Panaji at Priol-Ponda Taluka) It is located on a hillock surrounded by lush green hills. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

§ Shri Naguesh : Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this temple is situated in the village of Bandora, about 4 kms east of Ponda. The temple Sabhamandap has a gallery on both side that contains exquisite specimen of intricate carvings of the event of Ramayana on one side and wooden ../images of Astadikpal and Gandharva on the other.

§ Shri Saptakoteshwar : 37 kms from Panaji at Narve Bicholim, was a favoured deity of Kadamba King. Its original temple was situated in the island of Diwar. It was destroyed by Portuguese and the idol was shifted to its present site at Narve. The linga worshipped in this temple is faceted and is known as Dharalinga.

§ Shri Shantadurga : 33 Kms at Kavlem, is dedicated to Shantadurga, the Goddess who mediates between Vishnu and Shiva. Temple has a rich and beautiful Garbhakunda where the deity is kept. Another temple of Shantadurga is at Dhargal 14 K.ms from Mapusa, Pernem. When all the temples in Bardez were destroyed by the Portuguese, this Goddess was removed at Sanquelim. Therefore in 1550 A.D. this Goddess was taken to Dhargal in Pernem Taluka. The third temple of Shantadurga is at Kunkolienkarin, 18 Kms from Margoa, at Fatorpa. Originally from Cuncolim village in Salcete Taluka, the Goddess was removed to Fatorpa in the 16th century during religious presecution by the Portuguese.

§ Shri Vitah Mandir : 41 K.ms from Panaji situated at Vitahlwadi, Sanquelim, Shri Vitthal is the ancestral god of Ranes who had put up prolonged memorable resistance to Portuguese rule.