The Flight of Gods 26. Parashuram Temple, Poinguinim

The Flight of Gods

by Mohan PaiSri Parashuram Temple

Poinguinim

Sri Parashurama is the 6th incarnation of Lord Vishnu who is an axe-wielding(Parashu) warrior God. According toPuranic tradition he is credited with the creation of the West Coast (Parashurama Sristi).

Entrance to Garbhagriha – photo by Mohan Pai

 

Shrines to Sri Parashurama are quite rare and apart from the temple at Poinguinim village in Canacona taluk in Goa, the only other three known shrines are at Pethe Parashuram near Chiplunand Payyanur, and Thiruvallom in Kerala.Sri Parashuram Shrine – photo by Mohan Pai

 

The rise of Nath cult appeared to have coincided with the cult of Parashuram and both Poinguinim and Chiplun were set up as independent shrines to Para-shurama during 1300-1400 AD.
The temple at Poinguinim is a small temple located amidst forest grove in a serene surroundings. The Shikara isthe traditional pyramid shape. The mantapa has traditional carved wooden pillars. There is an an iconic representation of ‘Kshetrapala’ in the courtyard.

Kshetrapala – photo by Mohan PaiThe legend of Parashurama is a popular story in the Hindu Mythology with different regional versions. According to one version, Parashurama, the axe-wielding avatar of Vishnu is the son of Sage Jamadagni and Renuka. Jamadagni is killed by despotic Kshatriyas because he refuses to part with “Kamadhenu”, his wish-fullfilling divine cow. In revenge, Parashurama traverses the earth twenty-one times and wipes out all the Kshatriyas.

Painting of Sri Parashuram in the Temple

 

Parashurama, struck by remorse tried to expiate his sins by performing yagnyas during which he gifted away all his lands to the Brahmins with no land left even to build a hermitage for himself. Varuna, God of the seas came to his aid and offered him to gain from the sea as much land he could span in one throw of his axe. Parashurama stood at Pethe Parashuram (near Chiplun, Maharashtra) and threw his axe as far as Kanyakumari. The sea retreated and the coastal tracts of Konkan, Kanara and Kerala were thus generated.
Parashurama populated his new lands with Brahmins as well as new plants such as the coconut, the banana and the jackfruit which now thrive throughout the region.

 

This legend is probably based on the lowering of sea level which resulted in the emergence of the coastal strip which is now referred to as Konkan and Malabar.

 

The Legend of Parashurama

The Flight of Gods 24. Brahma Temple, Carambolim

The Flight of Gods 
By Mohan PaiShri Brahma Temple
Carambolim

Black basalt Brahma idol – photo by Mohan Pai

The temple is situated at a village called Brahma-Carambolim to distinguish it from CarambolimVillage near Old Goa, the original home of the deity. Brahma-Carambolim is located 7 km from Valpoi town in Sattari Taluk.

The stone sculpture of Brahma here is truly magnificent. Carved out of a single black basalt stone, it is one of the finest specimen of Kadamba art and is an ancient image still in worship. The sculpture has a beard on the central face. In his four hands he carries a ladle in his upper right hand, the book of Vedas in his upper left hand, Kamandalu in his lower left hand and chanting beads in his lower right hand which is in Varamudra posture.

Here again Brahma is a migrant deity, originally from the village with the same name – Carambolim that is located right next to Old Goa. The image was hurriedly carried away by its devotees. But where as most of the Gods saved in this way were installed nearby, just across the border, the Brahma image made a journey far to the east into the foothills of the Western Ghats.
There is no independent cult of Brahma, as according to Puranic version, Brahma was cursed by Shiva not to receive any worship and there are hardly any shrines to Brahma in India. Apart from Goa, there are two Brahma shrines in existence at Pushkar in Rajasthan and at Khajurao in Madhya Pradesh. In Goa, apart from Brahma-Carambolim where he is the main deity, he is also a Parivar Devata in Shri Bhagavati temple in Parse and Virnode temple in Pedne taluk and in Shri Shantadurga temple at Colomba in Sanguem taluk.

The Brahma worship in this region appears to have arrived during the period of early Chalukyas of Badami.The Shrine under renovation – photo by Mohan Pai

The temple at Brahma-Caramboli is a small plain building, hardly recognisable as a temple. The temple is under renovation and the sanctuary was in the midst of scaffolding when the author visited the temple in February, 2006. Regular pujas, however, are being conducted without interruption.

Vagheri Hills, Sahyadris – view from the Brahma Temple – photo by Mohan Pai

The Flight of Gods 14. Laxminarcinva Temple, Veling

 

The Flight of Gods
by Mohan Pai

Shri Laxminarcinva Temple

Veling

Shri Laxminarcinva temple of Veling, originally of Shankhavali Village that bordered Kushasthali (Cortalim) in Salcete, is one of the temples which during the 16th century faced the fanatic fury ofthe Portugese proselytization. The idol of ShriLaxminarcinva was shifted to its present locationat Veling in Antruz (Ponda) which was then under the rulers of Sonde kingdom. Shri Laxminarcinva Murti brought from Sancoale

The temple was first housed in a modest hutment and then rebuilt in its present rich scenic surroundings in the later part of the 18th century.

In this temple, a stambh was installed in the sanctum sanctorium and over the years a suitable silver and gold Kavach with attributes of Shri Laxminarcimha was added. However, in 1974, the vigraha idol was installed in place of the Kavach.

The Mantap – photo by Mohan Pai

Over the centuries, due to weathering the temple had deteriorated and required renovation which was undertaken in the year 2000 AD. And the entire temple including the sabha mantap, roofing and the garbhagraha were restored to their original glory.

THE LEGENDS

Shankhavali and Kushsthali, the two flourishing and adjustant villages were at loggerheads on the question of their boundaries and were equally fed up with their age-old problem. A godly man from Punjab came as a chance visitor (according to another version it was a Gaud Saraswat Brahmin by the name ‘Naik’ from Karnataka). By his saintly nature he soon won the affection and confidence of the residents of both the villages. He placed the Shaligrama which he always carried with him for his daily oblations at the foot of the pipal tree of the temple of Shri Shantadurga for his sacramental routine. The two villages requested him to bring about a settlement of their dispute.
The Temple – Photo by Mohan Pai

The pious man said “ I shall move with my “Lotta” full of water and its beak would go on trickling till it gets empty and this line of trickling will decide your boundary”. The villagers accepted this solution. But after it was done, some of the Kushasthali villagers felt cheated and in revenge, they quietly took away his Shaligrama and threw it into the temple lake. When the saintly man discovered the loss he went on a fast and refused even water.

Intricately carved wooden pillars – photo by Mohan Pai

 

Fortunately, one of the elderly villager had a dream which indicated that the Shaligrama lay at the bottom of the temple lake and the object of worship was retrieved. The legend says that the deity was interpreted as Narcimva. After this incident, the deity rose in popular esteem and flourished into an important temple. The holy man took permanent abode in Shankhavali and married a local bride.
Tirthasthana – photo by Mohan Pai

The other legend with some historical background is about the fisher folk of Carnalla. With the Portugese threat imminent, the kulavis of the temple secretly removed the idol and were anxious to transport it across the Zuari river. When they reached the bank of the river the brave Carnalla fishermen came to their rescue and carried them across the river to a safe haven. This incident took place during the middle of the 16th century.

 

 

In recognition of their service, their descendants are treated as guest of honour for two days at the temple of Shri Laxminarcinva during the Kartik festival. The deity is taken in a boat in the temple lake, probably to perpetuate the memory of the first river crossing. This ritual is called ‘Sangod’.

Sangod – photo by Mohan Pai

The affiliate deities of the temple are Purusha, Paik and Bhandari. The main festivals celebrated are Sri Ramanavami and Navaratri and the annual Jatra is held in Magha Masa.

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The Flight of Gods 12. Sri Mangesh Temple, Mangueshi

The Flight of Gods

by Mohan Pai

 

SHREE MANGESH TEMPLE

MANGUESHI

 

 Shree Manguesh temple was originally located in Kushasthali (Cortalam) and was a popular centre of pilgrimage till the Portugese destroyed it and on the original site of the temple now stands a church.
In 1560 AD anticipating the onslaught of thePortugese, the devotees moved Shri Manguesh Shivalinga to a safer place in the Hindu territory of Sonde kingdom across the Zuari river. The Shivalinga was kept in a scenic surroundingson a hillock covered by forest, probably in a small hutment at a place now known as Mangueshi.

Shri Mangesh Temple – photo by Mohan Pai

In the year 1739 AD, the Peshwas donated the village of Mangueshi to the temple. Mangueshi is still a small hamlet about 1,000 families. Subsequently, a proper temple was built around 1744 AD which was supported by wooden pillars which have been preserved even today. A new temple was built in 1890 AD which was again renovated in the year 1973.

PURANIC LEGEND
According to Manguesh Mahatmya which forms a part of the SkandaPurana, Devasharma, one of the three later Gauda Saraswat emigrants, found the Linga near the river Agashi at Kushsthali. The discovery is attributed to a servant who appears to have seen Dev Sharma’s cow pouring milk from her udder everyday at the same spot and this happened to be a Linga.
The word Manguesh is derived from another episode according to which Ishwara and Parvati were playing a game and the former lost the game and left Kailasa in a huff and wandered from place to place until he reached Gomant. Parvati went in search of him till she reached Gomant. Ishwara then assumed the form of tiger to frighten Parvati. On seeing the tiger she cried out “Trahi Mam Girish” (Protect me oh lord of the mountain). Thus the word Manguesh is derived fromMangirish. The same story is also repeated in Konkanakhyana.
Within the temple complex there are shrines to Dev Sharma, Moolkeshwar who was the caretaker of the cow belonging toDev Sharma and Shiv Sharma who identified the Shivalinga.
The other ‘Parivar’ devata shrines are that of Virabhadra, Kalbhairav, Lakshminarayana and Santeri.
The annual festivals include the birthday of Sri Ram, AkshayaTritiya, Sri Anant Vritotsava, Navaratri (Dussera), Diwali, Mahashivaratri and Magha festival.

Deepasthambha – photo by Mohan Pai 

MY BLOG LIBRARY
For some of my articles visit:
http://mohanpaiblogger.blogspot.com/
http://mohanpaisarticles.blogspot.com/
http://biodiversity-mohanpai.blogspot.com/
http://delhigreens.com/2008/03/10/whither-the-wilderness/

For some key chapters from my book “The Western Ghats”, please log on to:
http://westernghats-paimohan.blogspot.com/

For detailed blog (6 Chapters) on Mahadayi/Mandovi River Valley, please log on to:
http://mohan-pai.blogspot.com/

For the book ‘The Elderly’ please log on to:
http://oldagecare-paimohan.blogspot.com/

You can also access my blogs on Sulekha and WordPress:

For my book “The Flight of Gods – Hindu Temples & Shrines of Goa” please log on to:

http://mohanpai.sulekha.com/blog/posts/pageno-1.htm
http://flightofgods.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm

http://flightofgods.blogspot.com/

 

http://mohanpai.wordpress.com/