imported>Nijgoykar at 06:44, 26 July 2021

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'''Mahamaya Kalika Saunsthan''' ( [[Devanagari]]:श्री संस्थान महामाया कालिका ) is a temple complex in [[Kansarpal]] village of [[Bicholim]] taluka in the state of [[Goa]], [[India]].<ref name=kali>{{cite book|last1=Gomes Pereira|first1=Rui|title=Goa: Hindu temples and deities (tranlslated from the original in Portuguese by Antonio Victor Couto)|date=1978|publisher=Pereira, 1978|page=33}}</ref><ref>[http://wikimapia.org/#lat=15.6493829&lon=73.9349574&z=18&l=0&m=a&v=2&search=shree%20devi%20mahamaya%20kalika Mahamaya Kalika temple on Wikimapia]</ref>
The presiding deity of the temple is ''[[Kali]]'' worshipped in the form of ''[[Mahamaya]]''. The goddess Kali, the terrible and cruel to the demons and evil doers, is worshiped with blood sacrifice in most parts of India, in Goa however the fierce invocation of the deity was never popular.<ref name=kalika /> As per the tradition, after slaying the demons [[Sumbha and Nisumbha]], the deity's anger was soothed and the deity manifested herself in a peaceful (''Shanta''), gentle (''Soumya'') form, which is very popular in Goa.<ref name=iti>{{cite book|last1=Madkaikar|first1=Shripadrao|title=Shree Devi Kalika(in Marathi)|date=April 1984|publisher=Kalika Prakashan Vishwast Mandal|location=Kasarpal|pages=5–78}}</ref>

==History==
The folk tradition believes that this temple might have been constructed during the Chandragupta Vikramaditya’s time.<ref name="gom">{{cite book|title=Gomantak Devasthan Special Volume (in Marathi)|date=2001|publisher=Gomantak Pvt Ltd|location=Panaji- Goa|page=148}}</ref> A [[Indian copper plate inscriptions|Copper-plate]] or ''tambiapotto'' (in [[Konkani language|Konkani]]) dated 1436 AD, which is in the possession of the [[Archaeological Survey of India|Archaeology department of Goa]], mentions among various other things the following:

{{cquote|... The Brahmin Devasharma of [[Kashyapa]] Gotra, hailing from the region bathed by river [[Ganga|Janhavi]], fleeing from the invasion of the Turukshas([[Muslims]]), came to [[Konkan]]...being always honoured by the King of the Konkan..''

...His descendant Nagadeva, a worshiper of Shiva went to Pallika(Kasarpal)and in presence of [[Mahajanas]], and the copper-smiths of the village, gave on the first day of the month [[Chaitra]] of shri Nala of shalivahana era 1358, the village of Varandem(which includes Kasarpal) as ''nomoxim''(gift)to the son of Rupa Shreshti, named Lakshman Shreshti, who was born by the grace of Devi...<ref name=kalika>{{cite book|last1=Gomes Pereira|first1=Rui|title=Goa: Hindu temples and deities (tranlslated from the original in Portuguese by Antonio Victor Couto)|date=1978|publisher=Pereira, 1978|page=121}}</ref>}}

''Kalamba'' seems to be another name of the deity though, the name ''Kalika'' appears in the copper-plate inscription mentioned above. During [[Goa Inquisition]], when Goa was in turmoil, most of the people of Daivajna caste took refuge in the temple premises to elude conversion to [[Roman Catholicism]] and prosecution.<ref name=iti />

==Iconography==
The main idol in the sanctum sanctorum is more than 800 years old and is a masterpiece of Kadamba sculptures. The deity is four armed, shows each hand carrying variously a [[sword]] (''Khadga''), a trident (''[[trishul (weapon)|trishul]]''), a [[Shield]] (''Khetaka'') and a skull bowl (''[[Kapala]]''), her mount lion, can be seen at her feet.<ref name=iti />

==Other affiliated deities==
The temple [[Panchayatana (temple)|Panchishta]] includes the following deities:
Devi Panchayatana (worshiped in the main sanctum sanctorum, includes Shivalinga, Shaligrama etc.), [[Ravalnath]], Hedgeshwar, Shetyeshwar, Palnath. A Buddhist idol of ''[[Shakyamuni]]'' is found in the temple, as a remnant of the Buddhist sect that prevailed in Goa till the early 12th century AD.<ref name=iti />

==The temple architecture==
The temple is a masterpiece of Goan temple architecture, with a huge hall for public gatherings during festivals and meetings (''Sabhamantapa'' a stage and a ''Nagarkhana'' which is above the stage is used to play drums and [[shehnai]] during specific times of the day and during specific rituals), the main hall inside the temple (''Chowk''), path for [[circumambulation]] (''Sarwali'') and [[Sanctum sanctorum]] (''Garbhakud'' or ''Garbhagruha''), with a huge golden [[Kalasha]]. Temple is surrounded by [[Agrashala]]s, two beautiful gates (''Praveshdwara''s) and a magnificent lamp tower (''Deepastambha'') is eye-catching.<ref name=kali /><ref name=iti />

==The devotees and patrons of the temple==
The deity is believed to be patron deity of above said [[Daivajna|Gomantak Daivadnya Brahmin]] community of Goa . The patrons of the temples or the [[Mahajan]]s are divided into four groups:''[[Salcete|Sashtikar]]'', ''[[Bardez|Bardeskar]]'', ''[[Tiswadi|Tiswadkar]]'', ''[[Ponda taluk|Antrujkar]]''.<ref name=iti />

==Festivals==
The ''[[Shigmo|Shishirotsav]]'' of Kasarpal temple attracts pilgrims from Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka. It is a 10-day-long celebration, includes procession of deities in different [[Vahanas used in Goan temples|Vahanas]], and various other rites like ''Ganga Pujan'', ''[[Homa (ritual)|Homa]]'', ''Dhwajarohana'', ''[[holi|Gulalotsava]]'', ''Rathotsava'' etc. An orchestra known as ''Suvari'' is played during the festival which includes musical instruments [[Ghumot]], ''[[Kansallem|Kasale]]'', [[cymbals]] and [[Shehnai]]. Other important festivals are [[Ratha Saptami]], [[Navaratri]], [[Vasant Panchami|Vasant Puja]], [[Akshay Tritiya]], [[Vijayadashami|Dasara]], ''Avali Bhojan''. Silver [[Transport in India#Palanquin|Palanquin]] procession of the deity on every [[Chaturdashi]] of the dark fortnight of [[Hindu calendar|Hindu lunar calendar]] is also a major attraction<ref name=iti />

==Museum==

It is the first temple in Goa to have a private museum on its own, titled as ''Kaalika Sangrahaalaya''. It has objects of ancient, medieval and the modern period. The museum has around 10 small galleries housing rare antiquities including stone sculptures, brass lamps, wooden and silver artifacts etc.<ref name="museum">{{cite news|url=http://www.navhindtimes.in/iexplore/kaalamba-sangrahaalai-first-private-temple-museum-goa|title=Kalamba devi Sangrahalaya|publisher=Navahind times|accessdate=28 April 2010|location=Panaji|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414150712/http://www.navhindtimes.in/iexplore/kaalamba-sangrahaalai-first-private-temple-museum-goa|archive-date=14 April 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Goan temple]]
*[[Kansarpal]]
*[[List of Temples in Goa]]
*[[Shantadurga Kalangutkarin Temple]], Nanora

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
#[https://web.archive.org/web/20081002171004/http://www.kalikadevikasarpal.com/homepage.html Official website of Shree Mahamaya Kalika temple ]
#[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke09Nah5fLM A video documentary on Shishirotsav at Mahamaya Kalika temple]

{{Daivadnya}}

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{{Hindu temples in Goa}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in North Goa district]]

Mahamaya Kalika Devasthan Kasarpal - Revision history

imported>Nijgoykar at 06:44, 26 July 2021