When Goa celebrates a divine migration

GOA: It must really puzzle tourists around 500 per day by a conservative estimate who arrive before Shree Shantadurga deity at her abode in Kavlem, Ponda. True to her name, Shree Shantadurga sits content, her serene features nothing like that of Durga or other forms of Shakti found in temples elsewhere in the country.
Mythologically, Shree Shantadurga is believed to have slipped into this peaceful role to bring an end to a major tiff between Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.Historians believe that the deity resulted from a combine of Durga of Bengalfrom where the Saraswat Brahmins travelled to Goaand the local goddess of fertility, Shree Santeri.
But both, believers and researchers, concur on one fact that the goddess, who is personification of peace, witnessed turbulent times when Portuguese rulers landed in Goa. It is when the colonizers threatened to raze all Hindu temples in their territory that devotees moved the deity’s idol, originally located in Quelossim, Salcete, to its present location in Kavlem.
The completion of 450 years of this migration and the idol’s subsequent installation at Kavlem in November 1556, will be marked by the temple managing committee in a grand 10-day celebration comprising rituals and unlimited feasting for devotees.
“At least 25 temples in Goa are dedicated to Shree Shantadurga, but any person at a taxi stand, bus stand or airport in the state will direct tourists or devotees to Kavlem when they ask for Shree Shantadurga temple,” secretary of the temple’s managing committee, Dilip Gaitonde, said.
Researcher Vinayak Shenvi Dhume writes that the origins of the deity in Goa can be traced back to somewhere around 1100AD, when the migration of the Saraswat Brahmin families to the region occurred. Worshipped in Quelossim then as Shree Santeri, she is originally believed to be the family deity of one of the Brahmin families and accumulated devotees quickly due the favours granted to worshippers.
“Unlike other ancient temples in Goa, we have never denied a devotee an audience with Shree Shantadurga temple, notwithstanding where he/she has come from or what he/she is wearing,” said temple purohit Kumar Sarjyotishi.
As per Portuguese records, the idols of both, Shree Shantadurga and Shree Manguesh, were shifted out of Salcete on a moonless night sometime between January 14 and November 29, 1566. Shortly after that, the original temples dedicated to the two were demolished by the Portuguese.
The deity’s idol was ceremoniously installed at the Kavlem temple on margashirsh shudhpanchami, 450 years of which will be celebrated from November 25 to December 4 this year, with anushthans, cultural performances and mahaprasad. Around 500 bhats from Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra will be involved in performing the rituals. Swamijis of Shri Gaud Padacharya Kavlem Math, Shri Gokarna Partagali Jeevottam Math and Shri Chitrapur Math will carry out discourses for devotees from December 2 to 4.
When the idol was first shifted to Kavlem, it was under the reign of the Muslim ruler, Adil Shah, whose representative for the area was a person known as Sardesai. The fact that Sardesai belonged to the Saraswat community instilled a sense of security in the devotees and also helped solicit patronage for the temple from Adil Shah himself. Gradually, a palkhi (palanquin) procession was initiated only in the presence of a member of the Sardesai family. This went on to become a custom.
Available records indicate that the current structure of the temple was created between 1713 and 1738AD and was repaired and renovated from time to time in the 20th century.
Legend has it that Shree Shantadurga herself inspired Naroram Mantri, who was originally from the Vengurla region of Maharashtra, to build the temple. Mantri proceeded to do so using his own funds. His efforts caught the attention of Shahu Maharaja, for whom Mantri worked. As a token of recognition, Shahu Maharaja bequeathed the village of Kavlem to the temple in 1739 AD.
Till date, a special place is reserved for Mantri’s descendants in the temple during pujas and arti.