Shri Mangesh temple is located at Mangeshi village in Priol , Ponda Taluka, Goa. It is at a distance of 1 km from Mardol close to Nageshi , 21 km from Panaji the capital
of Goa, and 26 km from Margao .
H.H.Shrimad Swamiji of Shri Kavale Math is Spiritual head Of Shri Manguesh Saunsthan, Mangeshi. This temple is one of the largest and most frequently visited temples in Goa. In 2011, the temple along with others in the area instituted a dress code on visitors of the temple.
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 conversation in Marmugoa taluka, the
Saraswats of Kaundinya Gotra and 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.
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, 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.
Other deties
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,Virbhadra,Saanteri, Lakshminarayan , Suryanarayan , Garuda and Kala Bhairav .
Legend behind the origin of the Linga Mangeshi is devoted to one of the avatars of Lord Shiva. The story goes that during a
game of dice Lord Shiva lost everything he possessed to his wife Parvati, even his home on mount Kailasa in the Himalayas. He left his abode and wandered to South India and reached Goa. He decided to stay there and meditate.
His wife Parvati, heartbroken and lonely, came searching for him. While moving through the dense forests in Goa she encountered a tiger. In fright she shouted, “Trahi
Mam Girisha”. Which meant ‘Oh Lord of the mountain protect me’.
Turns out the tiger changed his form into Shiva, who had changed his form to frighten
Parvati. Off course Lord Shiva and Parvati reunited. To mark the occasion, Lord Shiva adopted the name Mam Girish, last two words of Parvati’s cry. The words "mam girisha" became associated with Shiva and over time the words got abbreviated toManguirisha or Manguesh.
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 procession 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.
Conclusion
The temple sheds immense light upon an interesting chapter in the Goan history. The complex is worth the visit and the architecture of the building is a unique blend of
various influences prevalent at that time.
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