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| Shantadurga temple of north Goa commons.wikimedia.org |
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Above image: A combination of Indo-Portuguese architectural style is followed her with pyramidal Shikara, Roman arched large widows, flat dome surrounded by balustrades. Deepa stampha/ tower of the Naya mandir is illuminated on festive days. The ,maroon, peach and while color combination gives a distinctive look unusual for the Hindu temples....................................
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| Location area Ponda, North Goa. en.wikipedia.org |
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| Deepa Stambha of the temple of north Goa en.wikipedia.org |
There are many Hindu temples in Goa, once a major Portuguese colony untl 1960s. Countless Hindu temples in this region were razed to the ground during religious persecution under the Portuguese. The Shantadurga temple of north Goa, one of the largest and oldest (17th century) Hindu temples in this region in the foothill of Kavlem village in Ponda area of Goa (Fatorpa of Quepem Taluka), is a popular place of worship for the Hindus.
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| Shantadurga temple of north Goa osaapa.com |
Set in a lush green serene place, the temple that has massive entrance door called Mahadwar, is dedicated to Shantadurga. On the request of sage Narada, goddess Parvati took the form of Shantadurga to mediate between Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva in order to maintain peace between them. Once they were at war with each other and Shantadurga had to pacify them as their enmity made the celestial- devas and sages uncomfortable and jittery. Further, the Assura would have taken advantage of the disunity between two gods.
Locally the Goddess is called Santer, an incarnation of Parvati. The Goddess is the Kula Devi or Kuldevta of many Saraswat Brahmins of the Konkan region. The popular annual 'Zatra' falls in the month of Pausha Shuddha Navami and pilgrims in thousands make a bee line to this quiet place.
The idol of Shantadurga, also known as Jagdamba Devi is seen with two serpents one on each hand representing Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. Earlier Devi temple was present in Cuncolim village in Salsette Taluka and in the 16 and 17 th century and later shifted to Fatorpa owing to the Portuguese invasion of 1564 and later religious persecutions (see Goan Inquisition initiated by St Francis Xavier) it was demolished like most other temples of Goa. The present temple came up in 1730, thanks to the munificence of the Maratha ruler Maharajah Shahu. In the sanctum are enshrined two images of Shantadurga - one in sitting posture and the other one being in standing position. The Shiva linga in the sanctum, it is said, is 800 years old. The deepa stambha here is illuminated on festive days. Important festivals observed here are Navaratri, Akshay Tritiya, Vasant Panchami and Shravani Somvar, etc. On certain annual festive occasions like Jatra the deity (processional idol) is taken in a golden palanquin round the temple premises.
Long distance visitors can stay on the temple complex and the management runs agrashalas or guest houses for the prospective visitors.
https://www.astrolika.com/temples/shantadurga-temple-ponda.html
https://www.indianetzone.com/65/shantadurga_kalangutkarin_temple.htm
https://osaapa.com/asia/product/shri-shantadurga-temple-ponda-north-goa-fwt-asia/
