Mahalasa Narayani Temple Goa:
The Mahalasa Narayani Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Mahalasa, situated in the Indian state of Goa’s Mardol, Ponda.
Mahalasa is associated with Mohini, the goddess Vishnu’s female avatar. With her four hands, Mahalasa holds a drinking bowl, a sword, a Trishula, and a severed head. She is standing atop a demon or man in a prone position while a lion or tiger sucks blood that has seeped from the head. She also dons the sacred thread, known as yajnopavita, which is typically worn in honour of masculine deities. She is standing atop a demon or man in a prone position while a lion or tiger sucks blood that has seeped from the head.
The Bhavishya Purana describes her as Rahu-matthani, the slayer of Rahu, and Goud Saraswat Brahmins and Vaishnavas from Goa and South Canara identify her with Mohini and call her Narayani.
Mahalasa is identified with Mohini and Vishnu in this shrine, but in the Khandoba cult, she is considered the wife of Khandoba, a form of Shiva, and a manifestation of the goddess Parvati.
Mahalasa Narayani Temple Goa History:
The Portuguese demolished the older Mahalsa temple in Old Mardol, Velham, or Verna, Salcette, in 1567, but the Mahalasa icon was saved. Moved here from Velham, it escaped destruction during Salcette’s forced Christianization. The image was reconsecrated when the present Mardol temple—which was not under Portuguese rule—was constructed in the seventeenth century.
It’s unclear what the icon was up to before Verna. There are others who think that the original location of Mahalasa’s main temple was in Nepal. She was relocated to Maharashtra’s Aurangabad. When Aurangabad was conquered by the Muslims during the Mughal era, the icon was relocated to a top-secret location in Goa. At Verna, a little temple was eventually constructed.
Mahalasa Narayani Temple Timings: 6.30 am – 8.30 pm
Festivals Celebrated at Mahalasa Narayani Temple:
Sunday is very important to the temple and the ruling goddess. Palakhi Seva is conducted along with other rites on this day. The goddess is driven in a palanquin (palakhi) around the shrine. The palanquin is decorated with flowers and vibrant, traditional accents. A sizable throng forms to take part in the occasion, and her admirers chant her praises.
The two primary yearly temple events are Magha Jatra, which is a festival held at the temple, and Navaratri, which is a festival honouring the Hindu deity.
Mahalasa Narayani Temple Goa address: Mardol, Ponda, Goa 403404
Mahalasa Narayani temple Mardol website: https://www.mahalasa.org/
Mahalasa Narayani Temple Goa contact number – 0832 234 3421
Mahalasa Temple Mardol Accommodation:
Shri Mahalasa Saunsthan is the name of the temple’s own guest home, often known as a dharamshala. There are four three-room blocks and twenty-six two-room blocks in all, and each has an associated bathroom and toilet.
How to reach Mahalasa Narayani Temple Goa:
The temple is roughly nine kilometres from the closest settlement of Ponda and about twenty-one km from Panaji. Private transport might be your best bet for flexibility, but the town of Mardol is also served by a number of state-run buses.
Mahalasa Narayani Temple Goa Photos:
