Part 2

Now sun was on our head, we are hungry too. We walk up to Gandhi chowk in searching Veg hotel for lunch. Veg because our next destination was temples so we are unable to take non-veg. But we do not get veg hotel. So we decide that we move to our next destination and search there, because we are running out of time. We took bus for Manguesh temple.

Manguesh temple – this temple is located in priol, ponda. In ancient time During the Portuguese rule, a number of Hindu temples were destroyed in Goa.

To avoid such thing devotee of Manguesh Move the linga from original place to present place. Which was under control of Adil shah.

And built small temple there after that rebuilt and renovation take place 3-4 times to getting form of temple at present.

Manguesh is known as incarnation of lord Shiva. Behind that one Legend is there. In ancient time Lord Shiva lost everything in game of dice with his wife parvati. So he decided that go into self-imposed exile and come to goa.

After that Goddess parvati come here in searching of lord shiva. Lord shiva knows that and decided to do prank with parvati. So lord shiva take avatar of tiger and attack on parvati. Because of suddenly attack Goddess parvati fear and cry for help “trahi mam girisha” means o lord of mountainous save me. Lord shiva immediately change their avatar And back into normal form. The name Manguesh is derived from this course like that.

– “trahi mam girisha”

– mam girisha

– mangirisha

– Manguesh

The name Manguesh is not using or known for lord shiva anywhere else in india.

In front of the main gate one water reservoir is there. Temple has very beautiful structure with circular dome. In the temple architecture little bit influence of Christen and Muslim architecture too. Temple is surrounded by hillock and forest. We took darshn and do parikrama, sit there for a while and move to explore temple premises. After roaming there we see the temple canteen and our hunger is awake so we go there and took lunch. Canteen is very nice & clean. Pure veg with no-onion, no-garlic use in meals. After enjoying our meal we take leave from here. Reach bus stop and took bus for Mhalsa Temple. Is just 1.5 km away from here.

Mhalsa temple – this temple is located in Mardol, ponda.

Mhalsa is a mohini avtar of lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu took this avtar during “samudrmanthan” (churning of the ocean) when Dev(gods) & Danves(demons) are fighting for Amrut (Nectar) which obtain through samudrmanthan. So that time lord Vishnu appear in this form to help devtas and distract the demons and deprive them of nectar. The Demons are stared on Mohini while lord Vishnu distribute nectar to god and water to demons. Behind this shrine couple of legends are there and this is one of them.

Also Behind this temple many tales are there, some believe that the original temple is located in Nepal. After that moved to Aurangabad in Maharashtra

And during the mughal rule the idol is moved to secret location in goa. After few hundred years later Portuguese conquered goa and temple is located In Mardol.

The present temple is very beautiful architecture the temple is famous for its huge brass lamp which is 40 feet in height and has 21 rings of a hundred-fifty small lamps.

Here also one water reservoir back side of temple. We worship there and move towards our next destination.

Our next destination is Nagueshi and Santadurga Temple. So we took bus for pond bus stand and inquired there. Then we coming to know that Naguashi and Santadurga Temple is in one route so we take bus for Naguashi and decided that we go Santadurga temple on return way. From bus we saw santadurga temple and one another temple “Ramnath Temple” in route so we added this in our itinerary. We get off at Naguashi bus stop and we saw the direction board for Naguashi temple. And we saw one another temple direction on board Mahalaxmi Temple so we added this also in list. From there 10 minutes walking  to reach temple. We reach there.

Nagueshi temple – this temple is located in Bandode or Bandivade, Ponda.

This temple is dedicated to lord Nagueshi. This is also known as nagnath in ancient time

This is another incarnation of lord shiva. Unlike other most temples in goa, this temple location originally exists here from centuries. temple architecture little bit similar here with Dome and Pyramid Structure. We worship and roam there and move

Mahalaxmi temple – this temple also situated in Bandoda, Ponda. this temple is just 300m from Nagueshi temple. We just walk 10 min to reach temple.

Under the Portuguese rule, their relation with hindus is not good until 19s. During 19th century here in bandoda Portuguese were so patient & co-operative with Hindus that is very grateful. So Hindus built there temple of Mahalaxmi as she is known as goddess of peace.

We took darshan the idol of goddess is much similar to original Mahalxmi temple at Kolhapur, MH. We roam in temple premises, there are huge metal idol of goddess laxmi about 15 ft in height and cast by one of the award winning artist. I just forget the name of artist. After that we move towards our next destination.

Ramnath temple – this temple is located in Ramnathim, Bandivade. This is also on walk able distance from mahalaxmi temple approx 1 km we took 20 min to reach temple.

This temple is dedicated to lord Ramnath from Rameshwar. Which was set up here by Gaud Saraswat Brahmins who had migrated from Rameshwar. Same like another temples in goa this temple is also relocated to present location from Loutolim in Portuguese rule.

Temple is beautiful. The sabhmandap (grand hall) have no pillar yet there have gallery for ladies. There is a five-storied deepstambha (lamp tower) in the courtyard with images of Hindu saints carved on its base. We worship there and move towards Shantadurga temple.

Santadurga temple – the temple is located in Kavlem, Phonda. Just a km. from ramnath temple.

This temple is dedicated to goddess Shantadurga which is form of goddess Adimaya Durga. Once upon a time there was a fierce war between Lord Shiva & lord Vishnu due to that entire world was distressed, so lord bramha prayed to adimaya durga to stop the war in lords. Hence adimaya durga held lord shiva in one hand & lord Vishnu on other hand and make reconciliation between them. This stop the war and reclaim the peace in the world so that form of goddess is known as Shanta+durga = shantadurga. (shanta means peace)

The temple is relocated in present location after Portuguese destroy original temple. Temple looks are royal. We worship and roam there for photographs

Ponda is a place where major goan temples are relocate because of maximum hindu population & lack of Portuguese rule. We just see these six temples but there are many other temples are remains to see. but we have not much time in hand and we are exhausted.

Then we went to bus stand for caught bus. We wait for bus about 25 min then we got bus and we reach to kadamba bus depot and again took bus for going our hotel. Check in hotel and refreshed up and relax. Then after some time we went for dinner……

(Note: All information of places from Web)

That’s all folks…..