The spell of Shantadurga of Kawlem

The Zatra festival of Shree Shantadurga of Kawlem will be celebrated at the Shantatadurga devasthan Kawlem on January 23, 2007. The Mahotsava will be marked with religious ceremonies like kirtans, aartis, palkhi, lalkhi, naukarohan on the Chowath day and suvarna shibika and rathotsava on the Mahapanchami.

The Mahapanchami is celebrated with great pomp and gaiety at the devasthan. Hundreds of devotees throng the devasthan for the darshan of the deity.

My mother, a Hindu Saraswat from Rau Valulikar family used to tell me stories of Shree Shantadurga right from the childhood which has unknowingly made me a, devotee of this deity. I also feel that she protects and guides me throughout. My mother has offered me at her feet at the deity's request.

Shree Shantadurga Devasthan is the biggest devasthan and the biggest teerthshetra in the state. Mahamaya; Sateri and Durga are believed to be the different faces of goddess Shantadurga.

Based in Kawlem, in Ponda taluka, Shree Shantadurga Prassana is considered to be the deity of peace and this has reflected in the temple area over which she presides. On entering the temple one feels relaxed in the temple area and often does not feel like leaving. This is the spell of Shantadurga, the "Zagrut' deity of the area.

There is belief that if any one wishes for something and prays with devotion, the godess will never makes her devotee unhappy. In many cases, devotees say, she has answered many of their prayers. The temple itself is a stage of confidence.

One among the many faces of Durga is "Kali" an angry goddess. There is a story narrated from the epics as to how the angry 'Chandika' became'Shantadrga'.

Once, Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, both powerful gods were fighting each other. Both were unbeatable and the war continued for days and months, ancient mythology tells us. All the Gods were worried. The most worried among them was 'Bhramadeva'. He felt that if this continued, the end of the world was eminent. Bhramadeva, with his power called for 'Jagdamba' (in another sense, a incarnation of Durga, who appeared in between Lord Shiva and separated them-thus avoiding the end of the world. He was successful in bringing about peace and thus she continues to be regarded as the deity of peace of 'Shantadurga' .

She has a large number of devotees who have much faith in her and who consider Kawlem as one of the important teerthshetra and visit the deity whenever there is a utsava(Festival) there, or on every panchami.

At the devasthan, the presiding godess is seated on the main seat in the Garbakuda in the kawlem temple with a shiva linga nearby. The temple is situated in a beautiful natural surroundings. Besides the main Shantadurga deity, there is a small attached temple of Shree Laximinarayan with a Ganesha idol and an idol of Godess Bhawati nearby. In front of the temple there are idols of Satpurush grampurush. All these deities have been brought from Kutthali (Cortalim) during Portuguese regime. The temple has a rich garbakida, where the deity is kept.

Shantadurga, the godess who mediated between Vishnu and Shiva is an unique example of equality and oneness. While some of the country's bigger temples still prohibit the entry of lower cast. Harijans are honoured at this temple. A large number of catholics also visit the temple on the panchami days and offer prayers. The annual Zatra festival of the godess which falls in the magh month of the hindu calendar is very famous and attracts large devotees.

On the sixth day or "Saxtt", the day after the Mahapanchami, harijans accompany palkhi and they are honoured by the deity. This is unique and is not seen in any other temples.

Shantadurgas original abode was a Kelohim (Cavelossim) but during the Portuguese regime the deity was brought to Kawlem in Antruz taluka (Now Ponda taluka) by the Zuari river. Other deities like Manguesh were also brought to Ponda so that they could be protected from the Portuguese. During Raja Soundekar's time, the deities gained popularity.

The mahajans of the Shantadurga from Keloshim liked Kawlem, which was known as Maharwada then. Some raised objections over the installation of the deity there but the goddess it is believed to have given her consent to be installed there.

In 1961 after liberation a sahastrachandi was perfonned followed by a Navachandi in 1966. A gold palkhi was designed and later made for the deity.

By John Aguiar
Herald, January 19, 2007

Posted By : John Aguiar, Goa, India on 20/01/2007