Shri Chamundeshwari Deity reinstalled at Bicholim

by RAMESH SAVAIKAR
Posted on 2008-12-21
Shri Chamundeshwari devasthan at Vargaon- Piligaon in Bicholim taluka has a history which dates back to more than 500 years.
During Portuguese reign there were three temples of goddess Shri Chamundeshwari - one was at Margao, from where the idol was shifted to Zambaulim, Quepem.
The second was at Kansarpal, Bicholim. The idol in this temple was desecrated, however it has been preserved by Archeology Department.
The third idol of Chamundeshwari was at ‘ Thorle Gove’. Malik Kafur destroyed this temple in the year 1312 and the devotees of this deity then shifted the idol to Vargaon, Piligaon in Bicholim taluka.
Goddess Chamundeshwari or Chamunda is one of the seven SaptMatruka deities. The angry expression on her face reveals its avatar of Kali or Durga mata.
The temples of different avataras of Parvati devi such as Kali, Mahalsa, Shantadurga, Santeri Mahalaxmi were artistically built in Goa.
During the reigns of Mughal and Portuguese many Hindu temples were destroyed. The art of temple structures during that period was marvellous and appreciable.
Mr Rui Gomes Pereira in his book ‘Hindu Temples and Deities’ says, “In the vast art gallery that India is, Goa should have occupied a prominent place had not the Portuguese destroyed all its temples, sparing none”.
Shri Chamunda deity is one of the avataras of deity Parvatimaya.
The Chamundeshwari’s original place is in Karnataka, Mysore. The big temple is situated at the Chamunda Mountain, where Dussehra festival is celebrated on a large scale with pomp, gaiety and religious fervour.
The form of idol of goddess Chamunda at Chamunda Mountain is similar to its form as described in ‘Vishnu Purana’. The Chamunda idol at Vargaon is also of the same form.
As per the story from Puranas, Chamunda deity killed the devil Chanda and Munda, hence called Chamunda. Later, she killed devils Shumbha and Nishumbha and therefore she is also known as Rakta (blood) Chamunda.
The face of Shri Chamunda is angry and she is standing on a dead rakshasa. She is Dashbhuja having ten hands. She has worn mundaki around her neck. She has Trishul and Damaru in her right hand.
There are temples of Shri Chamunda in Karnataka, Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
The idol of this deity was brought from Old Goa via Amona to Vargaon. The people of Old Goa and Agassaim are devotees of this deity and they consider her as their Gram Devata.
It has been mentioned in “Foral Da Ilhas” (1567) that there was a big temple of Shri Chamunda deity at ‘Thorale Gove’.
The Chamun- deshwari devasthan at Vargaon is more than 500 years old.  The temple was built in 1625, and after 177 years it was renovated in 1802.
The ‘Shila lekh’ on the entrance of sabhamandap is proof that this devasthan is prior to Shri Saptkoteshwar temple at Narva, which was renovated by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who performed its Jirnodhar on November 13, 1668.
Vaishya families such as Govenkar, Amonkar, Tople, Kangane, Daddikar are the Mahajans of this devasthan. The five other deities, which are located in the premises are Shri Gomeshwar, Shri Kalbhairav, Shri Khetrapal, Shri Nirankar and Shri Mulpurush. The devotees have a strong belief that their deity’s blessings can save them from dangers.
Devotees of goddess Chamundeshwari are scattered all over Goa. Many Catholics from Agassaim and Old Goa visit this devasthan to seek blessings of Shri Chamundadevi.
The religious rituals like abhishekas, pooja-path, aarati, are regularly held in the afternoon and panchopcharpooja in the late evening.
The 9-day long ‘Navratra Utsava’ is celebrated in the month of Ashwin, which commences from Pratipada to Ghatsthapana. Everyday besides abhishekas Navchandi Path, Rangpooja Puran at night followed by kiratan performance mark the daily celebration for nine days.
The main annual festival is Jatrotsav, which is celebrated on Vaidya Pratipada of Pausha month. Various religious rituals mark the festivities. Thousands of devotees from different parts of Goa throng to Vargaon to offer their prayers and seek deity’s blessings. The palanquin procession starts at 11 p.m. and then the palanquin is taken for a boat ride, which is the main feature of the Zatrotsava.
After completing 500 years Panchashatabdi Mahotsav was celebrated. The mahajans of this deity felt that renovation of Garbhakud should be undertaken and accordingly it has been completed. Hence they felt the need of reinstallation of idol of Shri Chamundeshwari deity by performing religious rituals ‘PunarPratishthapana’ which will be held on Sunday, December 21 at 10.45 a.m.
To mark the celebrations, Poornahooti, mahaaarati, mahagarrane (common prayer) tirthprasad and Mahanaivaidya will be perfomed from 1.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. Besides at 4 p.m. Suraj Sahakari and his group will present bhajan. At 7 p.m. a music performance ‘Saptsur Maje’ by renowned vocalist Mahesh Mutalik (Ratnagiri) and Pratibha Inamdar (Poona), will be held. The palanquin procession will be held at 9 p.m. and thereafter concluding ceremony of 3-day long Punarpratishthapana Mahotsav.