Shri Mahalaxmi Sausthan Temple

Overview

Shri Mahalaxmi Temple is 4 kms from Ponda in Bandora village. Shri Nagesh Maharoudra Temple is built approximately 300 meters apart. Bandora is a Village in Ponda Taluk in North Goa District of Goa State, India. It is located 23 Kms towards East of District headquarters Panaji, 3 kms from Ponda and 22 kms from State capital Panaji Ponda (3 KM ),Talaulim (2 KM ), Durbhat (4 KM), Curca, Bambolim, Betora-nirancal (5 KM ) are the nearby Villages to Bandora. Bandora is surrounded by Tiswadi Taluk towards west, Margao Taluk towards South, Madgaon Taluk towards South, Mormugao Taluk towards west. Goa Velha , Margao , Madgaon , Marmagao are the nearby Cities to Bandora.

This Place is in the border of the North Goa District and South Goa District. South Goa District Margao is South towards this place. It is near to Arabian Sea. There is a chance of humidity in the weather.

About The Temple

The temple was built in the year 1413 A.D. (Shaka 1335 as per the Hindu calendar) by Gowda Saraswat Brahmins. The reinstallation Ceremony was performed on May 7th, 1990 by the then President Shri Subhash T. N. Gunekar in the esteemed presence of Shrimat Vidyadhiraj Tirth Swamiji of Shri Gokarn Math.

In addition to the black granite stone idol, there is an Utsava idol made of 'panchloha' (five metals). Legends state that during the inquisition in 1557, two non-Brahmins, Sapta and Phato, carried the Utsava idol in a box, while the granite idol was broken by the Portuguese. Sapta and Phato traveled by boat along the Arabian Sea, crossed the Rasai River and reached Talawal or Durbat in Atrunja, and handed over the idol to the Bhandiwade Mahalaxmi Temple. Sapta and Phato were rewarded by the Goddess who ordered the management to give them each two balls of rice after the mid-day mahapuja. This practice is carried out even today at a small hut constructed (near the temple) in memory of these two devotees. The Bhandiwade Mahalaxmi, who resembles the Mahalaxmi idol at Kolhapur in Maharashtra, has four arms. These arms hold a vessel containing prasad and flowers, a sickle, a club and a dagger. Even today one can see the original stone idol at the centre of 'Garbhagar', while the small metal idol brought from Kolva is placed in corner. The festival of Mahashivaratra is dedicated to the original deity, while of the Ram-navami is performed in honour of the deity from Colva. On that day, she is placed in the Maharath and taken in procession. Apart from Shri Ram Navami (Chaitra Shud Navami), and Maha Shivaratri Festival in the month of Magha, Shri Mahalakshmi Pratishthapana Day in Vaishakha and Navaratri Festival in the month of Ashwin are also celebrated very grandly.

This is one of our ancient Kuladevata Temples. When Lord Parashuram had invited forefathers from Trihotrapura, they had come down to Goa with their deities of daily worship, which later became the Kulaswamis. Prominent among them were Shri Mahalakshmi, Shri Nagesh, Shri Magirish Mahadev (popularly known as Shri Mangesh), Shri Mahalasa, Shri Saptakotishwar and Shri Shantadurga. They were installed in different parts of Goa and when Shri Nagesh was installed in Bandiwade, Ponda it was believed that close to it, Shri Mahalakshmi temple was erected. Some people believe that this Goddess was migrated from Kolvem village in Salcete taluka, during the persecution of Hindu temples by Portuguese rulers in 1540 to Bandivadem.

Actually Shri Mahalaxmi Temple was located in Bhandiwade during the historical time when Parashuram along with ten 'Gotra' Saraswat Brahmin Rishi migrated towards the South of India. This is as mentioned in the Shriskanda Puran Uttar Rahasya Sahayadri Khanda Prathmodhya. Upon their arrival to Goa, the Saraswats, who had brought the Mahalaxmi idol with them, built a temple at Bhanda-Vatika or Bhandiwade village in the Atrunja or Ponda taluka. Most of the Saraswats, however, were then living at Tiswadi and Sasasti talukas and had to cross a river and travel a long distance to worship the deity. So they established at Kolva, just 6 km from Madgaon, another Mahalaxmi temple, on the banks of the Arabian Sea.The inscription of 1413 A.D. referred mentions this Goddess and it means that at that time she existed there. In fact, Shri Mahalaxmi of Colva was migrated from there first to Talaulim in Ponda taluka along with other deities and later on to Bandivadem. Other deities in the temple are Shri Narayan Purush, Shri Narayan, Shri Ravalnath and Shri Baleshwar.

The Sabhamandap has a gallery of 18 images out of Bhagvata sect and is considered one of the rare galleries of wooden images of Lord Vishnu in India. The speciality of this temple is its beautiful chowka which is famous for its magnificence. The Agrashala in the front and behind the temple as well as of the right side were constructed in the year of 1703 saka, Plava sanvatsar. The Agrashalas on the left side were constructed by Sarvashri Ramachandra Tata Naik Gaunekar and Panduranga Naik Namashikar while at the back side was constructed by Narayan Laxman Naik Bhatkar and Sasashiva Naik Gaunekar. The ground floor of the present backside Agrashala was reconstructed in the year 1965 and the first floor was completed in 1970. It has 7 compartments on each floor. The Agrashala in front of the temple was constructed in the year 1937. The reconstruction of the right side one took place in the year 1965. The construction of the building behind the temple on right side was started in 1974. The inauguration of this new building took place on the 24th March 1974. The adjoining building has to be reconstructed. The temple has three halls for auspicious functions to celebrate like weddings, Thread Ceremony, Naming the child and other rites and rituals which are performed on inviting groups of people. The names of the halls are Mahalaxmi Hall, Rawalnath Hall, and Narayan Dev Hall.

About The Deity

The presiding deity is Goddess Mahalaxmi and other deities in the temple are Shri Narayan Purush, Shri Baleshwar, Shri Narayan and Shri Ravalnath. This place was known in the past as "Bandiwad" or "Bandivadem". Mahalaxmi is the Goddess of power and strength. She is believed to be an incarnation of ‘Adishakti’-the supreme power and energy. The Shaktas, among the Saraswats, worshipped Adishakti in the form of the linga. Many accept her as Pallavi, their supporting deity, believing that this Goddess of tremendous strength and power was released when the devas and rakshasas were churning the ocean for amrita (nectar). This was popularly known as the Amruthmanthan. The Saraswats, upon their arrival in Goa, were worshippers of 'Shiva-Shakti'. While Shiva was represented by the 'Linga', Shakti was a Goddess. Thus Shri Mahalaxmi was their Goddess. This Goddess has been worshipped by the Shilahara rulers (750-1030 A.D.) and the Kadamba Kings of Goa. This peaceful or Satvika form of devi has a unique feature, that she wears linga on her head.

History

Despite the Portuguese influence that dominated Goa over the centuries, it is fascinating to see how such a large number of Hindu temples have survived here. Uprooted from place to place, the presiding deities were preserved and worshipped, at times, even in the houses of pujaris (priests), till they were ultimately incarnated in their present-day temples. Some such old temples of Goa, which are noted for their natural beauty and simple architecture, have certain basic features, as in the days of yore, of being surrounded by betel nut trees, coconut groves and lakes of pure water. When you enter any of these temples you are welcomed by the sentinels-the great pillars of light.

Among the oldest temples in Goa are the ones built by the Saraswat Brahmins of Bihar-the Shanta Durga Temple at Kavele, the Mangeshi Temple of Priol, the Mahalaxmi Temple at Bhandiwade, the Ganapati Temple at Khandole, and the Sri Nagesh Maharudra Temple at Bandora. Of these, unlike all other ancient deities of Goa, Sri Nagesh Maharudra did not move from Bandora (Bhandiwade) even during the period of the Portuguese inquisition. Most of these temples look relatively new as they have been restored after being destroyed by the Portuguese. That explains why there are no temples around the coast, which was the prime territory of the Portuguese.

There are many tales about the origin of each of these temples, most of them revolving around the migration of the Saraswats from the banks of the legendary Saraswati river, on to the Gangetic plains, and then on to Gomantaka on the invitation of the sage Parasurama. The Saraswat Bhramins generally accept Shri Mahalaxmi as Pallavi, their supporting or protecting deity if they have the following as their kuldevata.

Festivals

Other festivals celebrated in Shri Mahalaxmi Temple are: Kartik Sudha Dashmi in July/ November, Chaitra Pournima in Chaitra i.e. in March/ April Ashadh Shudha Dashmi and Anant Chaturdashi in Badrapadh i.e. September Vaikunth Chaturdashi (Awali Bojan) in Kartik i.e. November

Puja Timings

Pooja is held every day in the temple from 7:00 a.m till 11:30 a.m. Midday pooja is held at 12:00 noon. And the evening pooja is held at 8 in the evening.

Accessibility

Airport

Goa is well connected by air from various cities in India. There are regular flights to Goa from Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and other important cities in India. Dabolim, the airport in Goa is 29 km away.

Railways

Goa has two major railheads at Vasco and Madgaon. There are also two Konkan Railway stations - Karmali and Thivam. Karmali is the station for going to Panjim and Thivam is the station to go to Mapusa or Calanguate. There are direct trains to Goa from most of the major cities in India.

Road

Panaji, also Panjim, the capital of Goa is well connected by good motorable roads with all the major destinations in India via the National Highways NH 4A, NH 17, and NH 17A.

The Kadamba Bus Stand at Panaji is the major inter-state bus station within Goa. There are regular to and fro bus services run by the Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka state transport services.

Temple Address