Mangueshi Temple

Shree Manguesh Saunsthan
Geography
Country India
State Goa
District North Goa
Locale Mangeshi Village, Priol
Culture
Sanctum Manguesh, Shantadurga
Major festivals Rama Navami, Akshaya Tritiya, Anant Vritotsava, Navaratri, Dussera, Diwali, Magha Poornima Festival (Jatrotsav) and Mahashivratri
History
Date established 1560
Date built 1560

Shri Mangesh temple (Devanagari: श्री मंगेश मंदीर) is located at Mangeshi Village in Priol, Ponda taluk, Goa.[1] It is at a distance of 1 km from Mardol close to Nagueshi, 21 km from Panaji the capital of Goa,[1] and 26 km from Margao.

This temple is one of the largest and most frequently visited temples in Goa.[2] In 2011, the temple along with others in the area instituted a dress code on visitors of the temple.[3]

History

This temple had its origins in Kushasthali Cortalim, a village in murmugao which fell to the invading Portuguese in 1543. In the year 1560, when the Portuguese started Christian conversions in mormugao taluka, the Saraswats of Vatsa Gotra moved the Mangesh Linga from the original site at the Kushasthali or Cortalim on the banks of river Aghanashini (Zuari)(Sancoale) to its present location at Mangeshi in Priol village of Atrunja Taluka, which was then ruled by the Hindu kings of Sonde of Antruz Mahal (Ponda), to be more secure.

Since the time of the shifting, the temple has been rebuilt and renovated twice during the reign of the Marathas and again in the year 1890. The final renovation occurred in the year 1973 when a golden kalasha (holy vessel) was fitted atop the tallest dome of the temple.[1]

The original site was a very simple structure, and the current structure was only built under Maratha rule, some 150 years after it had been moved. The Peshwas donated the village of Mangeshi to the temple in 1739 on the suggestion of their Sardar, Shri Ramchandra Malhar Sukhtankar, who was a staunch follower of Shri Mangesh. Just a few years after it was built, this area too fell into Portuguese hands in 1763,[4] but by now, the Portuguese had lost their initial religious zeal and had become quite tolerant of other religions, and so, this structure remained untouched.

Deities

Main Deity

Scan of a wallet card depicting Shri Mangesh

The main temple is dedicated to Bhagavan Manguesh, an incarnation of Shiva. Bhagavan Mangesh is worshipped here as Shiva linga. According to the legend, Shiva had manifested into a tiger to scare his wife Parvati. Paravati, who was frightened at the sight of the tiger, went in search of Shiva and cried out, "Trahi Mam girisha!" (Oh Lord of Mountains, save me!). Upon hearing the words, Shiva turned himself back to his normal form. The words "mam girisha" became associated with Shiva and over time the words got abbreviated to Manguirisha or Manguesh.[1]

He is the kuldevta of many Goud Saraswat Brahmins.[5]

Other deities

The complex also has shrines of Goddess Parvati and God Ganesha. The other deities in the temple are Nandikeshvar, Gajana, Bhagavati and the Gramapurusha Deva Sharma of the Kaudanya gotra. The subsidiary shrines to the rear of the main building house Devtas like Mulakeshwsar, Virabhadra, Saanteri, Lakshminarayana, Suryanarayan, Garuda and Kala Bhairav.

Legend

The Mangesh Linga is said to have been consecrated on the mountain of Mangireesh (Mongir) on the banks of 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 bank of zuari river present day called Sancoale.and established their most sacred temple there.

.

Temple complex

The 450-year-old Shri Mangesh temple dedicated to Shiva stands out with its simple and yet exquisitely elegant structure. The temple architecture consists of several domes, pilasters and balustrades. There is a prominent Nandi Bull and a beautiful seven-story deepstambha (lamp tower), which stands inside the temple complex. The temple also has a magnificent water tank, which is believed to be the oldest part of the temple.[6]

The Sabha Griha is a spacious hall which accommodates over 500. The decor includes the chandeliers of the nineteenth century. The central part of the Sabha Griha leads to the Garbha Griha where the image of Mangesh is consecrated.

Rituals

Daily rituals

Like most temples in Goa, Mangueshi Temple has a large number of pujas being performed daily. Every morning, Shodshopchar pujas, namely Abhisheka, Laghurudra and Maharudra, are performed. This is followed by Maha-Aarti at noon and Panchopchar pooja at night.

Every Monday, the idol of Manguesh is taken out for a precession in the Palakhi accompanied by music before the evening Aarti.

Festivals

The annual festivals include Rama Navami, Akshaya Tritiya, Anant Vritotsava, Navaratri, Dussera, Diwali, Magha Poornima Festival (Jatrotsav) and Mahashivratri. Magha Poornima Festival begins on Magha Shukla Saptami and ends on Magha Poornima.[7]

Controversies

Mangueshi Temple has been embroiled in many controversies in recent years.

In June 2018 two young women, one a medical student from the U.S. and the other a computer student from Mumbai, came forward in separate incidents with personal accounts of molestation by the same priest inside the temple.[8][9][10][11][12][13][14] Both women lodged FIRs in Ponda, Goa.[15] The priest in question, Dhananjay Bhave, was booked on July 20, 2018[16][17][18][19] under the Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code. As of July 2018, the priest is absconding[20] and the cases are ongoing.[21][22][23]

In November 2017, a physically-challenged young girl was denied entry into Mangueshi Temple by the management, based on her usage of a wheelchair and claims by the management that “a wheelchair is a vehicle and vehicles aren't allowed inside the temple”.[24][25] A police report was lodged by the girl's family under the Rights of Persons with Disability Act 2016.[26][27]

Gallery

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, India - Maguesh Temple, Priol
  2. ↑ David Abram (2003). Goa. Rough Guides. pp. 107–. ISBN 978-1-84353-081-7.
  3. ↑ Goa temple bans entry of foreigners, others impose dress code
  4. ↑ Teotonio R. De Souza (1 January 1989). Essays in Goan History. Concept Publishing Company. pp. 20–. ISBN 978-81-7022-263-7.
  5. ↑ Baidyanath Saraswati (1984). The Spectrum of the Sacred: Essays on the Religious Traditions of India. Concept Publishing Company. pp. 138–. GGKEY:SPH4CJ0Y60Z.
  6. ↑ Amelia Thomas; Amy Karafin (2009). Goa and Mumbai. Lonely Planet. pp. 134–. ISBN 978-1-74104-894-0.
  7. ↑ http://www.shrimangesh.org/festivals.html
  8. ↑ "Two Mumbai women accuse Goa Mangueshi Temple priest of kissing them". The Indian Express. 2018-07-19. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
  9. ↑ "'Goa priest molested us inside temple premises'". The Hindu. Special Correspondent. 2018-07-19. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
  10. ↑ "Temple priest accused of molestation - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
  11. ↑ "Student says priest hugged her, temple says no evidence". Tribune India. July 20, 2018. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
  12. ↑ "Goa Priest Tried To Kiss Me In Temple, Alleges US-Based Medical Student". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
  13. ↑ "Two Women Accuse Goa Priest of Trying to Kiss Them, Temple Trust Says 'No Dependable Evidence Found'". News18. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
  14. ↑ Desk, India.com News (2018-07-19). "Two Women Accuse Goa Priest of Molesting Them Inside Mangueshi Temple". India.com. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
  15. ↑ "Goa Priest Charged For Molestation After Allegations From Two Women". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
  16. ↑ Goa 365 TV (2018-07-20), Molestation in Mangeshi temple by a Pujari?, retrieved 2018-07-22
  17. ↑ "Goa Mangueshi temple: US student gets FIR lodged, priest booked for molestation". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
  18. ↑ "Cops book Mangueshi temple priest on 'molestation' charges - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
  19. ↑ "Goa's Mangueshi temple priest booked for allegedly molesting woman". https://www.hindustantimes.com/. 2018-07-20. Retrieved 2018-07-22. External link in |work= (help)
  20. ↑ "Mangueshi temple priest booked in second molestation case". The Indian Express. 2018-07-24. Retrieved 2018-07-24.
  21. ↑ "Ponda temple priest seeks advance bail - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
  22. ↑ IANS (2018-07-21). "Goa temple priest accused of molestation granted interim bail". Business Standard India. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
  23. ↑ Kamat, Prakash (2018-07-19). "Molestation: will verify and act, says Goa Minister". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
  24. ↑ "17-year-old disabled Mumbai girl denied entry with wheelchair in Goa temple". The Indian Express. 2017-11-07. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
  25. ↑ "Manguesh temple denies entry to 17-year-old wheelchair user - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
  26. ↑ Kamat, Prakash (2017-11-06). "Disabled girl denied entry with wheel-chair to temple in Goa". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
  27. ↑ "Goa temple denies access to wheelchair-bound girl". The Hindu. Special Correspondent. 2017-11-06. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
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