Famous Temples in India

Religious Significance

In the 16th century the Havyaka Brahmins from Karwar-Kumtha areas who lived on alms and charity of others worshipped the Mahalaxmi deity and wherever they went in search of alms they carried this deity along. In the 16th century, they moved to Goa along with this diety and reached Taleigo village of which Panjim was then a mere ward, along the river Gomati (Mandovi). The Brahmins whose whole day was spent begging for alms had sought shelter in the precincts of the Vetal temple of Taleigao. But when they learnt of the conversion policy of the Portuguese, fearing desecration of their revered Mahalakshmi idol made of marble, they moved away from Taleigao and as they were moving on they found a horse stable which actually belonged to the Portuguese government.

A person called Late Shri. Raghavendra Kamat Mhamai who then worked for the Portuguese military found that this place selected by the Havig Brahmins to hide their deity was unsafe and hence moved it to his palatial house opposite the Adilshahi palace (Old Secretariat) in the heart of Panjim city. Still fearing for the safety and security of the deity, he moved it to Mayem village of the Bicholim Taluka where it remained till 1817.

Sometime later in 1817, Late Shri. Narayan Kamat Mhamai of Panaji dreamt of the deity and the next day itself he along with others went to Mayem and brought the diety to Panjim and kept it at the ancestral house of Late Shri Raaya Kamat Ghanekar.There is also one more incident related to this as it is said that when the idol was brought to panaji in a boat and taken out at a place where stands the People's High School today. That corner at the People"s High School is still venerated where the deity was kept hidden under a chinch tree.

The place where the present temple stands belongs to Late Purshottam Prabhu Sinari of Raibander. For constructing the temple donations were collected which amounted to 1006 sharafi. After building the temple the idol of Goddess along with her family deities were established on Aashaad Shukla Saptami shake 1739 ie friday 10th july 1818. It was Saraswat Brahmins who consecrated the idol of Goddess, hence they are the Mahajans of this temple along with sheth community from Panaji and Taleigao, Bhandari Community, Nhavi Community, Tarukar Community, Hindu Gaonkar Communities from Bardez taluka are also upasak of Goddess. During this time monarchy was prevalent in the portuguese regime hence Late. Narayan Kamat Mhamai specially got a approval from king of portugal for the construction of temple. The then Governer General of Goa Conde-de-Rio-Pardo approved the order. By 1819, the temple was completed. The original deity today lies in a small box in the rear wall of the temple which faces the present day main idol of Goddess Mahalakshmi.