Shanta Durga Temple



Shri Shantadurga Temple is a private temple complex belonging to Goud Saraswat Brahmin community. 33 km (21 mi) from Panaji at the foothill of kavalem village in ponda Taluka, Goa, India.
H.H. Shrimad Swamiji of ShriKavale Math is Spiritual head of Shree Shantadurga Saunsthan, Kavale.
Shree Shantadurga is the Kul Devi (family deity) of many Gaud Saraswat Brahmin families only.
This current temple structure of shree Shantadurga Devanthan was built during the period from 1713 AD 1738 AD by Naroram Rege Mantri. On the 4th of December 2016, the temple completed its 450th year of existence.
The temple is dedicated to Shantadurga, the goddess who mediates between Vishnu and Shiva. The deity is also called ‘Santeri’ colloguially. Purana talks of a battle between Shiva and Vishnu. The battle was so fierce that the God Brahma prayed to Goddess Parvati to intervene, which she did in the form of Shantadurga. Shantadurga placed Vishnu on her right hand and Shiva on her hand and settled the fight.
Shantadurga is holding two serpents, one in each hand, representing Vishnu and Shiva.
Some of local legends or beliefs often say that Shantadurga of Keloshi had gone to Sankhwal, a village in Salcette Taluka to kill a demon named Kalantak that was harassing the Brahmins. As a reward, she was given the name of Vijaya. The Vijayadurga shrine was located in Sankhwal along with Shantadurga and Lakshmi Narasimha but was later shifted to a place called Kerim in ponda Taluka during the Portuguese invasions.
The current temple was constructed during the reign of Maratha ruler Chattrapati Shahu of Satara in about 1738 A.D. Naroram Rage Mantri originally from Kochara village in the Vengurla Taluka, (Kokan) was a Mantri (Minister) in Chattrapati Shahu’s Court at Satara (Grandson of Shivaji Maharaj) around 1723.
He obtained finances to construct the new temple for the goddess from Shahu Maharaj of Satara. The temple construction started around 1730. Due to his efforts, the village of Kavalem was bequeathed to the Temple by Shrimant Bajirao Peshwa in 1738.

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