Awesome Temple Of Lord Damodar, Goa

This famous Temple is dedicated to Damodar deity – the reincarnation of Shiva God. Here such Gods as Ramnath (the incarnation of Lord Shiva), Chamundeshwari (the fierce form of Shakti, a tutelary deity), Mahakali (the Hindu Goddess of time and death, considered to be the consort of Shiva the God of consciousness, and as the basis of Reality and existence) and Mahesha (one more incarnation of Lord Shiva) are also honored and hold in reverence. Originally the Temple was built in the City of Margao, but in 1565 during the Portuguese Inquisition it was destroyed and a Church of Holy Spirit was elevated on its place. Darmodar is a place of worship for both Hindus and Catholics.

The Shri Damodar Temple is one of the most beautiful and famous architecture constructions in Goa. It stands on the bank of Kushawati River near the Zambaulim Village, just 22 km from the City of Margao on the border of Quepem region (Quepem taluk) and Sanguem region (Sanguem taluk), in South Goa.

Hindus believe that the Kushawati River is a sacred one place and that its healing properties help to get rid of different skin diseases.

Goddess ShantDurga Temple, Goa

This temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga, one of the most powerful of all Hindu deities. The main idol has the idol of Lord Shiva on one side and Lord Vishnu on the other. Lores have it that while Goddess Durga brought a ceasefire between the two, bringing peace to the world. Owing to this, she was named as Shri Shantdurga, which means peace in Hindi. It was built over a course of years from 1713 AD to 1738 AD.

Shantadurga is the mother Goddess worshipped by our countrymen since times immemorial. She takes various forms and shapes. In Bengal, she is the Durga, in Gujrat she is the Amba. She is the Dravidian Goddess who was incorporated in the Aryan pantheon. In fact in Goa, she was worshipped as 'ant¬hill' (roinn) by the pre-historic Goan people. The Shantadurga deity was brought to Goa by the Gaud Saraswat Brahmins who are supposed to have migrated to Goa from especially the Gaud region of Bengal, Tirhut (Trihotrapur) in Bihar. Tirhut, being the original place from where the deity was brought to Goa in the ancient times by the Saraswat community. These 96 Gaud Saraswat families who settled in 66 villages that is Sashi (Salcete). They built a shrine dedicated to Goddess Shantadurga at Keloshi a village in the present day Marmagoa taluka (then in Salcete). Her devotees began to worship her with utmost dedication. The Portuguese under the leadership of Afonso de Albuquerque conquered Goa in 1510 and throughout the 16th centure, owing to the conversion zeal of the government as well as the missionaries a kind of fear psychosis developed amongst the Hindus. In the Keloshi village, the devotees of Shatadurga were gripped by this fear of religious persecution. Hence, they shifted the idol of Shatadurga across the river in a clandestine manner into the Antruz mahal which was under the tolerant Adilshahi rulers. This shifting of the idol took place in the year 1566 during the infamous inquisition period of Goan history. The original temple which was rebuilt by Anu Shenvi None was destroyed and the idol of Shatadurga was shifted to a beautiful hamlet of the Mahars (Maharwada) who gave shelter to the devotees and the deities.

Lord Vimleshwar Swayambhu Shivlinga, Goa

Vimaleshwar Temple is located in Rivona village of Sanguem taluka in the state of Goa, India. Vimaleshwar is a form of Lord Shiva and is worshiped in the form of a Shivalinga.It is a Swayambhu shivlinga. The Prabhu Dessai family of Rivona (GSBs) and the Daivajna Brahmins with surname 'Rivonkar' or 'Revankar' are Mahajans of the temple.

Sri Mahalsa Temple, Goa

The temple of Goddess Mahalasa had been on the plateau of Verna village in Salcette taluka from ancient times long before the advent of the Portuguese rule in this part of Goa. It is said that Parushuram brought 10 Saraswat families in Gomantak from their settlements in Trihotra in the North. These 10 families brought with them their following family deities: Mangueshi, Mahadeva, Mahalaxmi, Mahalasa, Shantadurga, Nagesh and Saptkoteshwar.

Later, more Saraswat families came to Goa and they too brought with them their own family deities. In all, there were 66 families which settled in Salcette taluka. Of them, six families settled in Varyenapur or Varunapur (old Mhaddol), commonly known as Vernem during Portuguese rule and Verna now.

Lord Saptkoteshwara Temple, Goa

This is one of the greatest Shaivite shrines of Goa which has a chequered and turbulent history of more than one thousand years. Saptakoteshwar was the family deity of the Kadambas of Goa, and they honoured it by featuring the legend and the Shikara on their gold coins. The gold coins of Jayakeshi I (1050-1080AD) and Jayakeshi II (1104-1147 AD) carry the inscription. The temple was destroyed several times by the marauding Muslims and later by the Portugese. The Lingam itself is one of the most sacred relic which has been equated with that of the Kedarnath in the Puranas and its presence endowed on Goa the designation of Konkan Kashi. This sacred relief, however, had to be buried inthe paddy fields to avoid desecration and had to face the ignominy of being turned into the step of a well so that people drawing water could commit the sacrilege of stepping on it. This same mukhalingam, however, had the privilege of being venerated by two very illustrious personalities in the Indian history. Madhav Mantri, the famous general of the Vijaynagar Empire and The Great Maratha Hero,Both of them, rebuilt, the Saptakoteshwar Shrine after its destruction. Though Saptakoteshwar is a Shaivite shrine, the Linga of Saptakoteshwar is considered not only the abode of Shiva but also of Vishnu, Brahma and Bhairava. Both Hari and Hara are present in the Linga. Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated on a grand scale in this temple. Taking bath on this occasion in the river near the shrine is considered meritorius. The belief is that the river becomes Pancha Ganga on the Gokulashtami day. Even in the 16th century large crowd of devotees estimated to be over thirty thousand would assemble and bathe in the sacred waters..

Shri Mangeshi Temple, Goa

The Shri Mangeshi Temple is a Beautiful Temple Dedicated To Lord Shiva. It is considered to be the Most Important Temple In Goa, it belongs to the typical Goan Hindu temple style of architecture. It is very distinctive with its white towers, welcoming at the entrance even though it is small and exquisite. It is located on a Hillock at Proil which is in the Ponda Taluka, surrounded with lush greenery which creates a separate place in the hearts of the onlookers. It is 22 kms from Panjim and 26 kms from Margao. It is one of the largest, wealthiest and most frequently visited temples in Goa.

Legend has said that once Lord Shiva And Mata Parvati were playing dice in their abode at Mount Kailas. Shiva kept losing, and in the last roll of the dice staked his heaven. Having lost that too, he had to leave the Himalayas. He wandered southwards and presently crossed the Sahyadri mountains and came to Kushasthali, now Cortalim, where Lopesh, his faithful devotee, entreated him to remain. Forlorn Parvati, now heartbroken without Shiva, left heaven and went in search of him. In the midst of a dense forest she came face to face with a huge tiger. Shiva had taught her an incantation, “He Girisha mamtrahi” – O Lord of the Mountains protect me – but she was so frightened that she lost her coherence and uttered the jumbled incantation, “Trahi mam Girisha”. Shiva, who had assumed the form of a tiger, instantly returned to his normal form. And then at a much relieved Parvati’s behest, he added Mam-Girisha to the many appellations he is known by. Which is also how the village where the temple is situated came to be eventually known as Mangeshi, an abbreviation of Mam-Girisha.

Shri Ramnath Temple, Goa

Ramnath is a Divine Symbol of the unity of Hari (Vishnu) and Hara (Shiva). Ramnath is a compound word formed by the unity of two words Rama and Natha. So, Ramnath means the Lord of Rama. In another way Ramnath also means the one whose Lord is Rama. So, the Lord of Rama is Shiva and the Lord of Shiva is Rama. Shivshankar drank the poison (Halahal) which came out during the churning of the ocean. His throat became blue and he started getting burning sensation. That sensation was soothed by the recital of Rama Nama. So, our Ramnath is a symbol of unity of Hari and Hara and we should be proud of being Kullavis of such Daivat.

Must Read - Story Of Samudramanthan

The temple of Ramnathi is located in Ramnathim, Bandivade in Goa. This temple belongs to the Goan Brahmin community (Saraswat and Daivadnya Brahmins). Similar to other Goan Brahmin temples, Ramnathi too incorporates the system of Panchayasthan, therefore this temple house 5 main deities namely - Shri Ramanath (chief deity), Shanteri, Kamakshi, Laxmi Narayan, Ganapati, Betal and Kalbhairav, along with other family purushas.

Shri Mahadeva Temple, Goa

The Tambdi Surla Temple Dedicated To Lord Shiva has a pillared porch and three stepped entrances and the shrine surmounted by a tower. It is quite small with a small passageway and has Shiva's vehicle, a headless Nandi bull in the center of the main porch.

A solid piece of stone work is the lotus shape carved out of the porch's ceiling. The pierced stone screen carrying the figures of deities that surrounds the door of the vestibule is another notable feature.
The small Shiva (Mahadev) temple of Tambdi Surla situated at about 18 km from the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary gate is the only surviving structure of the Kadamba Yadava dynasty. Thus it is the oldest temple of Goa, that survived from the Portuguese as it was set next to a stream in the middle of the small clearing, hidden in the dense jungle.

Top Temples In Goa You Must Visit

Goa is a state in west India within the coastal region known as the Konkan. Bounded by Maharashtra to the north and Karnataka to the east and south, the Arabian Sea forms its western coast. It is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Goa is one of India's richest states with a GDP per capita two and a half times that of the country. Goa is known for its striking landscape, famous beaches in India, astounding monuments and churches and bustling Goa nightlife. Goa is one of the most visited tourist places in India.Below are the some awesome temples that are situated in Goa that are most visited.

Lord Kamleshwara Temple,Goa
Shri Mahadeva Temple, Goa
Shri ramnath Temple, Goa
Lord Saptkoteshwara Temple, Goa
Sri Mahalsa Temple, Goa
Lord Vimleshwara Swayambhu Shivlinga, Goa
Goddess Shant Durga Temple, Goa
Lord Damodar Temple, Goa
Shri Mangeshi Temple, Goa

Lord Kamleshwar Temple, Goa

Lord Kamleshwar the beautiful Lord Shiva Temple situated at Korgao in Pernem which is the north most taluka of Goa. It is known to be built by a queen named Kamala who ruled Goa from Revatidvip (today's Redi).
The temple is about 200 years old and is the only temple in Goa that has a pair of stone images of Shiva's carrier, Nandi. These stone images can be seen directly opposite the shrine containing the deity. Near the Kamleshwar temple one can also see a beautiful image of Shri Vishnu and a beautiful life-sized image of a deity named Kuvaleshwar. The Bhumika temple that is situated nearby can also be visited.

Ghorwadeshwar Lord Shiva Temple

“Ghorwadeshwar” Lord Shiva Temple situated near Ghorawadi. This is a “Shivlinga” temple at the hill top with beautiful nature view. Pretty clam and quite place with wind breezing which you can feel while sitting at the table top land in between the climb to the temple. The Ghorwadeshwartemple look from outside, it is engraved in huge rock, the small dark orange colour small temple is Hanuman / Maruti temple & the other two arches are entrance to the main Shivalinga darshan.

Ghorwadeshwar Temple Gallery

Famouse Murudeshwara Statue, Karnataka

Murudeshwara temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva lies in the holy beach town in the Bhatkal Taluk of Uttara Kannada district in the state of Karnataka, India.

It is the second tallest statue of Shiva in the world. The statue is 123 feet (37 m) in height, and took about 2 years to build. The statue was built by Shivamogga's Kashinath and several other sculptors, financed by businessman and philanthropist Mr R.N. Shetty, at a cost of approximately 50 million rupees. The idol is designed such that it gets the sun light directly and thus appears sparkling.

Seeta Amman Temple, Sri Lanka

The Sita Amman Temple, located halfway between the highland village Sita Eliya and the Hakgala Botanical Gardens, has become the most venerated of all Ramayana Trail sites in Sri Lanka, because it is believed to be the place where Sita spent most of the time during her captivity on the island of Lanka. After she refused to stay in Ravana's magnificent palace she was transferred to Ashoka Vatika or Ashoka Vana where she lived under Ashoka trees. It was here that Ravana's wife Mandodari visited her and that Hanuman met her for the first time, identifying himself with the finger ring of Rama. Sita is said to have bathed in the nearby stream. There are remarkable holes in the rocks at the river bank believed to be footprints of Lord Hamunan.

Bhakt Hanuman Temple

On these hills of Ramboda where Hanuman was searching for Sitadevi, the Chinmaya mission of Sri Lanka built a temple with Hanuman as the presiding deity. On every full moon day special pooja”s are conducted and witnessed by thousands of devotees.

Lord Murugan Temple, Katargama, Sri Lanka

The Kataragama temple complex dedicated to Skanda-Kumara is one of the few religious sites in Sri Lanka that is venerated by the majority Sinhala Buddhists, Hindu minority Sri Lankan Tamil people, Sri Lankan Moors and the Vedda people. It is a collection of modest shrines, of which the one dedicated to Skanda-Kumara, is the most important. Lord Muruga is worshipped as a deity whom embodies the pure Hindu ideal of God being in all things and manifesting himself wherever he is called to with love.There are many stories about Murugan, or Skanda-Kumara as He is more commonly known there. Skanda-Kumara's place of worship is held dear by many Sri Lankans who consider the Kataragama complex and its temples holy and make annual pilgrimages there. But perhaps the most unique feature of Kataragama, and what makes it really stand out is its relative unassumingness. Almost all its shrines are unremarkable minor buildings free of any embellishment. There is absolutely no representation of deities decorating the exterior of the buildings. This is in marked contrast to any other Hindu temple in Sri Lanka or India, that are usually covered with carvings and statues of gods and goddesses in colourful scene. Practically all the shrines are made out of stone with the exception of one dedicated to the Goddess Valli which has been constructed with timber. Almost 2500 years later, Kataragama still holds a special place in the heart of devotees of Lord Muruga.

Kandaswamy Temple, Nallur, Sri Lanka

The historic Kandaswamy Temple in Nallur, not far away from Jaffna's town centre, is dedicated to Lord Murugan in the form of the divine spear Vel, a well-known symbol of Tamil religiousness. Founded in the 10th century this Skanda Temple was enlarged during the 13th to 15th century when Jaffna was a major principality of the island, particularly under Chempaha Perumal, who later on became the Sinhalese king Bhuvenaikabahu VI. in Kotte. The original Nallur temple was destroyed by Portuguese invadors and replaced by a church. But within the former temple premises, called Kurukkal Valavu, the current temple building was erected in 1749, during the Dutch colonial period. Nallur is renowned for the strict discipline, order and timing of its puja ceremonies and became a landmark of Tamil Hindu cultural pride.

Selva Saniddhi Temple, Sri lanka

Selva Saniddhi is the most northern temple along the famous Pada Yatra pilgrimage route. The temple is located in Thondaimanaru 25 outside Jaffna, in only 9 kms distance to Point Pedro, the northernmost spot of the island. Selva Saniddhi is a place of Vel worship. The venerated silver spear once has been brought here from its main sanctuary in Kataragama, called Katirkaman by Tamils. Selva Sannidhi is Sri Lanka's Murugan temple farthest away from Kataragama.

Nagapushani Amman Temple Sri Lanka

Nagapushani Amman Temple is a historic Hindu temple located on the island of Nainativu, west of the Jaffna peninsula. It is dedicated to Parvati who is locally known as Nagapushani and to her consort Shiva who is named as Nayinar here. Adi Shankara, India's great 9th century Vedanta philosopher, identified the shrine as one of 64 Shakti Pithas. For Tamil people this temple for the goddess traditionally is eminently respectable. An annual 16 day Mahostavam festival of this Nagapushani Amman temple on Nainativu Island, held in June, is usually attended by more than 100,000 pilgrims.

Ketheeswaram Temple , Sri Lanka

The Ketheeswaram temple, also known as Tirukketisivaram, is a Sri Lankan Hindu temple with a two and a half millennia long tradition as a place of Shiva worship, even claiming to be more ancient than the Sinhalese and Buddhist era of the island. Tirukketisvaram (there are many diffferent English spellings) is situated in Mannar district, but on the Sri Lanka's mainland, opposite to Mannar island. The temple was rebuilt 1903 after being destroyed by the Portuguese invaders and religious fanatics in 1575. King Ravana's wife Manthodari is believed to have been from this town, and her father is said to have built the temple. Another legend has it that the planetary god Ketu worshipped Shiva in this shrine, this is why it is called "Keteeshwaram".

Gayathri Pitam Nuwara Eliya , Sri Lanka

Gayathri Pitam, also spelt Gayaththri Peedam, inside Nuwara Eliya town is the first and foremost temple built for Gayathri Amman in Sri Lanka, Gayatri being an aspect of Saraswati and the Universal Mother. The temple was founded by the Gayathri Siddhar Swami Murusegu. The Shiva Lingam for this Tamil temple was brought from the Holy River Narmada. Gayathri Pitam is said to be the place from where King Ravana's son Meghanath propitiated Lord Shiva with penance and worship and in turn was granted super natural powers by the mighty god.

Famouse Manavari Kovil Temple, Sri Lanka

Manavari, about 6 kms north of Chilaw, is the first place where Lord Rama installed a Lingam, as a remedy to Lord Shiva after commiting Brahmincide by killing king Ravana who was a Brahmin. This Shiva Lingam in Manavari is called Ramalingam because it was made by Lord Rama. There are only two Lingams in the world named after Lord Rama, the other one being that of Rameshwaram in India.

Lord Naguleshwaram Temple, Sri lanka

Keerimalai is a village 18 kms north of Jaffna at the northern shores of the Jaffna peninsula. Its two attractions are mineral springs believed to be of healing power and the adjacent famous Naguleshwaram temple, this Shiva Temple is the northernmost of the 5 Isvarams, venerated since ancient times. The sage Nagula Muni was cured after bathing in the holy water of the springs and therefore built the temple for praising the Shiva Lingam.

Sri Shankari Devi Shakti Peeth, Sri Lanka

Story of Sankari devi and Saraswati devi


Once Parvathi devi asked Lord Shiva to built a house for them. But, Shiva is not interested. He loves Vairagya. He replied that he can't do it because of lack of money. Parvathi didn't agreed. She asked him again and again. Finally Shiva called Vishwakarma and ordered him to built a house. Vishwakarma went to Lanka dweepam. (Again, there is a controversy on the location of Lanka. I will write another post for that.) He built a wonderful palace.
Shiva wanted to do Griha pravesam. At that time Ravana is doing Tapasya for Lord Shiva. Pleased by his Tapasya, Shiva and Parvathi appeared before him. Shiva gave boons. Ravana is Brahmin by birth. He is a master of four Vedas. Parvathi asked Ravana to perform Puja for their Griha pravesam. Ravana accepted it very happily. He did all Pujas and made them enter the house. Pleased by the dedication of Ravana in doing Pujas, Parvathi told him to take a boon from her. But, Ravana is only great at Tapasya and Knowledge. He is not good at heart.
Ravanasura asked Shiva about taking a boon in return to the Puja he made. Shiva replied that it is not good for a Brahmin to ask returns for the Puja. A real Brahmin must satisfy with the Dana and Dakshina given by Yajamani. He should never ask what to give as Dana or Dakshina. Parvathi told that Ravana can ask any thing he wishes. Ravanasura was attracted by the Lanka palace. He asked the palace as a boon! (Who knows? Parvathi may also be convinced by the Vairagya of Shiva.)
She accepted. She gave Lanka palace to Ravanasura as Dakshina! She was fully depressed. Seeing that, Ravana asked Jaganmata to live in Lanka. Shiva disappeared. Parvathi told that she will be in the form of Shankari (Shakti peeth), as long as Ravana follows her word. Also warned that she will leave Lanka if Ravana don't cares her.
She is going to Kailasa with sorrow and grief. At Kashmir, Goddess Saraswati appeared before her. Saraswati is telling consoling words to Parvathi. Parvathi was frustrated and told Saraswati that she is speaking like a parrot. Parvati called her Sarika (One who speaks like Parrot). She told her to stay there and tell this type of words to all. By the respect on Parvathi, Saraswati appeared in Kashmir as a Shakti peeth. Parvathi went to Kailasa.

Sri Kailawasanathar Swami Devasthanam, Sri Lanka

Sri Kailawasanathar Swami Devasthanam, also called Kovil Veediya, is the oldest and one of the largest Hindu temple in Colombo. It is located at Captain's Garden, Maradana district, behind the Fort Railway Station. As such, it is also called Captain's Gardens Pillayar Kovil. Within it are shrines dedicated to Shiva and Ganesh.
Sri Kailawasanathar Swami Devasthanam Images

Lord Munneswaram Temple Sri Lanka

Munneswaram temple is an important Regional Hindu Temple complex in Sri Lanka. It has been in existence at least since 1000 CE, although myths surrounding the temple associate it with the popular Indian epic Ramayana, and its legendary Hero-King Rama. The temple is one of five ancient temples dedicated to Shiva in the region.
The temple is located in Munneswaram, a village with mixed Sinhala and Tamil population situated in the Puttalam District of Sri Lanka.
The presiding deity Siva is installed in the form of Lingam in the sanctum sanctorum.


The Siva temple’s architectural details conform to what is written down in the Hindu scriptures known as agamas. The Siva temple faces east and has three pathways around it. A sacred pond is situated in front of the Siva temple and a Bo Tree stands by the side of it. The main sanctum and the structure above the sanctum are one of the largest in Sri Lanka.
The main festivals celebrated at the temple include Navarathri and Sivarathri. The former is a nine-day long festival in honour of the presiding Goddess, while the latter is an overnight observation in honour of Lord Shiva.
Source - Munneswaram.com