This visit to the Shri
Shantadurga Temple, Shiroda, Ponda, 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: Shri Shantadurga
Some of the
salient features of this temple are….
The temple faces
east with a two-tier mandapa/ arch. The temple tank is on the left
side before the entrance. 6-tier Deepa sthambh is in front of the temple. A
Chatrapathi Shivaji’s image is in the entrance mandapa. Dwarapalakas are on
both sides of the sanctum sanctorum. Devi is in a standing posture, abhaya
varada hastam, and 2 hands are keeping on the heads of two devotees. A six-inch
Shivalinga, Shree Bhavanishankar carved out of a black stone, and Maha Vishnu
are on both sides of Shree Shantadurga in the sanctum sanctorum.
A Tulsi mada, a stone with a garland (woollen blankets are offered for prayer), the Maha Vishnu Shrine and the sacred well are in the
praharam.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists
of the sanctum sanctorum, ardha mandapam, Sabha mandapa/ maha mandapam, and mukha
mandapam. A circumambulatory path is provided around the sanctum sanctorum. A two-tier octagonal vimanam is over the sanctum sanctorum. The mandapas have a Mangalore tiled roof.
Chandeliers are
fixed in the Maha Mandapam
HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTIONS
Shree Shantadurga
Devi was at Keloshi. From there, Devi was shifted to Kavlem during the rule of the Portuguese.
Since the temple was destroyed by them, the Deity was shifted to the present
place. The new temple of Shree Shantadurga Devi was built during the period
from 1713 to 1738 CE. Later renovations have been done over the years to the
main temple and to the other temple.
The inspiration
to build the temple was given by the Goddess (Devi) Shree Shantadurga to Shri
Naroram Mantri. Shri Naroram Mantri was originally from Kochar village in the
Vengurla region. His full name was Naroram Shenvi Rege, and he was called
Naroram Mantri as he was a Mantri [minister] in the Shahu Chatrapati’s Court
during the period 1723 CE. He believed that he could attain fame and
fortune only because of the blessings of Shree Shantadurga Devi. He felt that
he should build a new temple for the Devi with his own money. He started
building the temple around 1730 CE, and with the help of other mahajans, the
currently huge and beautiful temple was completed. Due to his efforts, the
village Kavalem was given as a gift to the temple by Shahu Maharaja in the year
1739 CE. Shri Naroram Mantri also gave many donations to the temple.
The original
murti (image) of the Devi was stolen by Pathans from the temple in 1898 CE.
In 1901, a new murti was sculpted by Shri Laxman Krishnaji Gaitonde, which was
installed on Wednesday, the Phalgun Shukl Dashmi, Shake 1823, i.e. on 19 March
1902.
Due to the
continuous abhishek and puja over the years, the Shivalinga kept near the Devi
had started wearing away in some places. Hence, after obtaining permission from
Shree Shantadurga by way of prasad kaul, the job of sculpting a new Shivalinga
was assigned to the sculptor Shree Ramchandra Sunder from Mumbai. The new Shivlinga
was installed in the temple on Margshirsh Shukl Panchami 1887 CE, i.e. on 27
November 1965, among chanting of Vedas and Mantras. The old Shivalinga was
submerged in the ocean in a religious ceremony.
Ref:
LEGENDS
The temples of
Shree Shantadurga and Shree Mangesh, two of the most revered patron deities of
the Hindu Goud Saraswat Brahmin community, are located in Kavlem and Mangeshi, respectively, in the Ponda district of North Goa. This avatar of Shree Jagdamba Devi, which had come to make peace [Shanti] between Shree Vishnu and Shree Shiva,
came to be known as Shree Shantadurga Devi.
As per the legend,
Shree Shantadurga is one of the forms of Goddess Adimaya Durga. It is believed
that once there was a fierce war between Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, due to
which the entire world was distressed. Hence, Lord Bramhadeva prayed and
beseeched Goddess Adimaya Durga to intervene and stop the war. The Goddess held
Lord Shiva by one hand and Lord Vishnu by the other hand and brought about
reconciliation among them. This stopped the war and brought peace to the world.
This form of the Goddess Adimaya Durga is known as Shree Shantadurga.
POOJAS AND
CELEBRATIONS
Apart from
regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vasant Utsav, Ram Navami,
Shimag Utsavam, Palkhi Utsav, Navaratri, Maha Shivaratri, Deepavali, Jatra,
etc.
As per one devotee, the worship of Shantadurga will be completed only after worshipping here. Blankets and liqueur are offered as a prayer
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will
be kept open from 06.00 hrs to 21.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
The mobile numbers
+918322312557 and +91 9834513091 may be contacted for further details.
Email: office@shreeshantadurga.com
HOW TO REACH
The temple is 4
km from Ponda, 10 km from Mangeshi, 13.3 km from Shree Kamakshi Temple, 20.2 km
from Old Goa, and 35.2 km from Vasco-Da-Gama Railway Station.
The nearest
Railway station is Vasgo-Da-Gama.
LOCATION OF THE
TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
--- OM SHIVAYA
NAMA ---
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