Mahamaya Kalika Devasthan Kasarpal
Mahamaya Kalika Saunsthan (
The presiding deity of the temple isHistory
The folk tradition believes that this temple might have been constructed during the Chandragupta Vikramaditya’s time.[5] A Copper-plate or tambiapotto (in Konkani) dated 1436 AD, which is in the possession of the Archaeology department of Goa, mentions among various other things the following:
... The Brahmin Devasharma of
...being always honoured by the King of the Konkan.. ...His descendant Nagadeva, a worshiper of Shiva went to Pallika(Kasarpal)and in presence of Mahajanas, and the copper-smiths of the village, gave on the first day of the month Chaitra of shri Nala of shalivahana era 1358, the village of Varandem(which includes Kasarpal) as nomoxim(gift)to the son of Rupa Shreshti, named Lakshman Shreshti, who was born by the grace of Devi...[3]
Kalamba seems to be another name of the deity though, the name Kalika appears in the copper-plate inscription mentioned above. During
Iconography
The main idol in the sanctum sanctorum is more than 800 years old and is a masterpiece of Kadamba sculptures. The deity is four armed, shows each hand carrying variously a
Other affiliated deities
The temple Panchishta includes the following deities: Devi Panchayatana (worshiped in the main sanctum sanctorum, includes Ganesha, Surya Shivalinga, Shaligrama etc.),
The temple architecture
The temple is a masterpiece of Goan temple architecture, with a huge hall for public gatherings during festivals and meetings (Sabhamantapa a stage and a Nagarkhana which is above the stage is used to play drums and shehnai during specific times of the day and during specific rituals), the main hall inside the temple (Chowk), path for circumambulation (Sarwali) and Sanctum sanctorum (Garbhakud or Garbhagruha), with a huge golden Kalasha. Temple is surrounded by Agrashalas, two beautiful gates (Praveshdwaras) and a magnificent lamp tower (Deepastambha) is eye-catching.[1][4][6]
The devotees and patrons of the temple
The deity is believed to be patron deity of above said
Festivals
The
Museum
It is the first temple in Goa to have a private museum on its own, titled as Kaalika Sangrahaalaya. It has objects of ancient, medieval and the modern period. The museum has around 10 small galleries housing rare antiquities including stone sculptures, brass lamps, wooden and silver artifacts etc.[7]
See also
- Goan temple
- Kansarpal
- List of Temples in Goa
- Shantadurga Kalangutkarin Temple, Nanora
Notes
- ^ a b Gomes Pereira, Rui (1978). Goa: Hindu temples and deities (tranlslated from the original in Portuguese by Antonio Victor Couto). Pereira, 1978. p. 33.
- ^ Mahamaya Kalika temple on Wikimapia
- ^ a b Gomes Pereira, Rui (1978). Goa: Hindu temples and deities (tranlslated from the original in Portuguese by Antonio Victor Couto). Pereira, 1978. p. 121.
- ^ a b c d e f g Madkaikar, Shripadrao (April 1984). Shree Devi Kalika(in Marathi). Kasarpal: Kalika Prakashan Vishwast Mandal. pp. 5–78.
- ^ Gomantak Devasthan Special Volume (in Marathi). Panaji- Goa: Gomantak Pvt Ltd. 2001. p. 148.
- ISBN 81-230-1161-X.
- ^ "Kalamba devi Sangrahalaya". Panaji: Navahind times. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 28 April 2010.