This visit to the Shree
Mangesh temple, Mangeshi village, Mardol, Priol, Goa, was a part of the Goa Heritage walk to the temples and Heritage
sites, organised by Aatrupadai, from 5th December 2025 to 7th
December 2025. Thanks to திருச்சி பார்த்தி for organising the Heritage walk.
The presiding
Deity: Shree Mangesh
Some of the
salient features of this temple are….
The temple faces
northeast with an entrance arch/mandapa. The temple tank is in front of the
temple, with parivara sannidhis around the inner wall. Dwarapalakas are at the
entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. The moolavar is a Mukha Lingam, and a Shiva Lingam
is also on the back wall.
In praharam, Shree
Moolakeswara, Lakshmi Narayana, Suthra Narayana, Garudan, Virabhadra, Kala
Bairavar, Vinayagar, Bhagavathy, etc.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple
consists of sanctum sancturm, ardha mandapam, maha mandapam/sabha mandapa (can accommodate around 500 devotees) and a mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum
is of octagonal shape from adhistanam to sigaram. A two-tier octagonal vimana
is over the sanctum sanctorum. The mandapas are with Mangalore tiled sloped
roofing. The chandelier lighting was installed in the 19th century.
The Deepasthambh
is of 7 tiers in front of the temple.
HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTIONS
The history of
both Shree Mangesh Temple and the Shree
Shantadurga Temple is very much interconnected. The temple of Shree
Shantadurga Devi was originally at Keloshi. In Keloshi, Shree Shantadurga Devi
was known as Santeri Devi and was worshipped by that name. Shree Shantadurga’s
temple was built at Keloshi by an affluent merchant, Anu Shenai Mone.
With the advent
of the Portuguese in Goa and the increasing missionary activities, the
community was afraid for the safety of the temples and idols. Hence, the
families worshipping Shree Shantadurga and Shree Mangesh, on a moonless night,
leaving their homes and hearts behind, crossed over the Juari river (also known
as Aghashashini or Agashi river) with the images (murti) of the deities and the
linga on their heads and shifted to the region under the rule of Muslim king
Adilshaha. Via Dandi, they reached the village Kavalem in Antruj village and
chose a site with beautiful surroundings to install the image of Shree
Shantadurga. It is indeed surprising that a new place could be found by the
devotees for the installation of Shree Shantadurga with exactly the same scenic
beauty as available at Keloshi. The patron deity Shree Mangesh was installed in
Priyol in Ponda Taluka. The place is now known as Mangeshi (its original name
is not known, though some believe that it was earlier known as Ganapati Wada).
Antruj was too small a place to accommodate all the G.S.B. families who went
there to escape the Portuguese harassment. They naturally dispersed in all
directions but always regarded the temples as a link between them. Their
voluntary contributions and later active patronage of Peshwas improved and
enriched the temples.
Ref:
Existing for
centuries at Kubhas Thal (kuthal) in Goa until 1080 CE, in a magnificent temple
known for its wealth and glory and established and managed by twenty-four
families (Vangads) of Gaud Saraswat Brahmins of "vatsa" and "Kaudinya
Gotras, the "Shivalinga" of Sri Mansuesh and its Pariyar Devta were
shifted by them for safety to this land in Priol sometime during October-November
1560 CE, when Hindu temples in Goa were being desecrated and destroyed by Christian
Missionaries. This temple of Sri Manguesh was established by its
kulavi-devotees in its initial form sometime during January-February 1561 CE. The
temple was renovated by them in 1744, 1890 and in 1973.
Ref
Inscription at
the entrance / mukha mandapa
LEGENDS
The Mangesh Linga
is said to have been consecrated on the mountain of Mangireesh (Mongir) on the
banks of the river Bhagirathi by Brahma, from where the Saraswat Brahmins brought
it to Trihotrapuri in Bihar. They carried the linga to Gomantaka and settled at
Mormugao, on the banks of the Zuari river, present day called Kushasthali (modern
day Cortalim) and established their most sacred temple there.
POOJAS AND
CELEBRATIONS
Apart from
regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Maha Shivratri, Rama Navami,
Akshaya Tritiya, Anant Vritotsava, Navaratri, Dussera, Diwali, and Magha
Poornima Festival (Jatrotsav). Magha Poornima Festival begins on Magha Shukla
Saptami and ends on Magha Poornima.
Chariot
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will
be kept open from 06.00 hrs to 21.30 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
The mobile numbers
+917666429814 and +919403167799 may be contacted for further details.
Website: https://shrimangesh.com/
HOW TO REACH
The temple is 10
km from Shree Shantadura Temple, 11 km from Churches and Convents, a UNESCO Site
of Goa, 39 km from Goa Airport, and 46 km from Vasco-Da-Gama Railway Station.
The nearest Railway
Station is Vasco-Da-Gama.
LOCATION OF THE
TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
--- OM SHIVAYA
NAMA ---
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