The Mahajans of Madkai – the otherwise quiet serene place which has turned into a battle-like zone between the Mahajans and Bahujans over the replacement of Goddess Navdurga’s idol – are determined not to give up the fight with Portuguese-era Mahajanis Act their crucial backbone.
Permission from the Goddess in 2013 to replace the partially-damaged idol, subsequent making of a new statue and preparations for the ceremony came to a grinding halt when the non-Mahajans launched a sudden protest over the replacement of the idol. The loss, Devasthan committee claims is to the tune of Rs 25-30 lakh.
“The temple belongs to eight ‘gotras’ (ancestral families). This group had built the temple and eventually their descendents became the owners or Mahajans. The number of descendents later multiplied. We are also the trustees of the temple,” a prominent Mahajan, who refused to be named, told Herald.
Discussion to replace the idol has often been made public with permission from the Goddess taken in the presence of Swamis, Mahajans and villagers who are the witnesses. A senior Mahajan and member of the committee recalled that after failing to get ‘prasad’ (permission) from the deity in the year 1998 and 2000-01, they were finally granted a nod on December 22, 2013.
“We received a positive reply from Goddess Navdurga to replace the idol with a new one on December 22, 2013 in the presence of Swamis, 40 Mahajans and villagers. A public notice was issued through three newspapers earlier… We then took a second ‘prasad’ to choose among the two sculptors to design the idol. The making of the idol took one year to choose among the two sculptors to design the idol. The making of the idol took one year and when the auspicious day approach for the replacement, the Bhats and Bahujans protested. We faced a loss of Rs 25-30 lakh in the whole preparation,” he stated. It is learnt that in the clash between the two groups, the security system of the temple like CCTVs were destroyed.
It was in the year 1982 that the committee came across cracks on the idol, which was repaired by a team of experts in the following years. However, deeper cracks and depression on the existing idol, led to taking a decision and permission from the Goddess for replacement.
With the new idol still kept secured in Madkaim, the Mahajans are upset that government has still not come in their support despite the prevailing Acts. “It is the responsibility of the government to protect Mahajanis Act and other prevailing Acts. The rule of the law should have prevailed. If the law is bad, there is democratic procedure to modify the Act in the Legislative Assembly or the court of law. Anarchy is not the solution,” another aggrieved Mahajan commented.
With around three to four Acts controlling the temples, a committee member explained that any owner of the temple – irrespective of the caste – are Mahajans as per the old Act. From approx 450 temples across Goa, around 50 belong to Saraswats, 4-5 by Desais and 3-4 by the Shets while the rest have trustees from other Hindu communities.
The problem infact began when the Bhats – priests began claiming their ownership on the temple. “The matter is going on for 8-10 years when the priests, who are actually our employers and appointed to do service of the Goddess put forth their names as the owners… We objected and won the case in the court last November,” the Mahajan said.
“Why a common eligible person is not made chairman of any government institute and why only legislators are given the privilege? Similarly, will an elected representative fight to take over the Legislative Assembly even after five years? It is the same with the temple owners… How can an employer or non-Mahajans can become owners,” he said explaining the situation.
