For 200 years, the devout and the devoted, the faithful and the faint hearted, the hopeful and the weak hearted, from across faiths, walks of life and ages have thronged to the Mahalakshmi temple on the Dada Vaidya road.
Be it for a starting a new venture, contesting elections, buying a new vehicle, first day of school or appearing for exams, etc, a person does not forget to visit this temple to seek blessings of Goddess Mahalakshmi for an auspicious start.
The temple, which was established on July 10, 1818, is the landmark of Panjim city and in the build-up to the 200th anniversary of the Shree Mahalakshmi Saunsthan, next year, a series of activities, including religious and cultural, have been planned which have already begun from June 30.
Speaking to Herald, Shree Mahalakshmi Saunsthan, President Yogish Dempo said, “Shree Mahalaxmi is the gram Daivat of Panjim and Taleigao. Next year, Shree Mahalaxmi Saunsthan would be completing 200 years and to commemorate this auspicious and historic occasion, various religious and cultural activities have been planned on Shukla Saptami of every month till next year. The culmination would be on the Vardhapan divas next year”
“It is a jagrut devasthan. Whoever comes with their request or with their problems, the goddess takes care of them and the dreams are fulfilled. In my experience in the last four years, no one’s prayers have been turned down. People of all caste or religion visit the temple,” said Dempo.
The 199 year temple has an astonishing history. In the 16th century the Havig Brahmins from Karwar-Kumtha areas who lived on alms and charity of others worshipped the Mahalaxmi deity and wherever they went in search of alms they carried this deity along. In the 16th century, they moved to Goa along with this deity and reached Taleigao village. They later moved away from the Taleigao village and as they were moving ahead the found a horse stable which belonged to the Portuguese government.
“A gentleman, called Raghavendra Mhamai Kamat, a knight serving in the Portuguese military, happened to visit the stable with an aim to inspect his horses, saw the idol of the goddess in the corner of his stable. Upon inquiry, the caretaker revealed the truth. Raghavendra shuddered to think of the dire consequences and the immense torture his family would have to undergo, leave alone the chances of him losing the prestigious post and serving jail term,” writes Nageshrao Sardessai in the Mahalaxmi Saunsthan publication.
Without any delay, that very night Raghavendra transported the idol to a place out of the Portuguese jurisdiction to Mayem in Bicholim taluka to the north of Panjim.
The said idol is believed to have remained in hiding for over two centuries before Narain Mhamai Kamat, a senior member of the Mhamai Kamat family, received divine guidance in the year 1817 in a dream with precise details of the location. Confused and elated at the same time, the gentleman visited Mala and hired a boat and travelled to Mayem via sea route along with few of his confidantes and close boat drivers.
Working under divine guidance, Kamat located the marble idol in a ramshackle but secret place. That very day Kamat returned to Panjim via the river route and hid the idol in a nondescript place at Mala This place is located along the Rua de Ourem (Ourem road) immediately next to People’s High School building and is, till date, revered.
The same night, Kamat shifted the idol to his palatial landmark residence next to the Adil Shah palace (currently known as old secretariat), on the banks of river Mandovi, and began worshipping the Goddess on a daily basis.
