Shri Mangesh also popularly known as Mangireesh or Manguesh The Mangeshi Devasthan in Goa is a crown jewel of Konkani Temples. Shri Mangesh is the Presiding Deity at one of Goa’s most prominent temples. Shri Mangesh is the Kuladevata (family deity) of millions of Hindu GSBs around the world. This temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, is distinctive with its white towers, welcoming at the entrance. Small and exquisite, it stands on atop a small hill, surrounded with lush greenery, this temple creates a separate place in the hearts of the onlookers. This place is 22 km from Panaji and 26 km from Margao at Priol-Ponda Taluka. This temple is one of the largest, wealthiest and most frequently visited temples in Goa. The temple of Shri Mangesh is set amidst natural beauty and pleasant surroundings. Mangeshi, a little village along Goa’s Panaji-Ponda road is not only a point of pilgrimage for the followers of the Lord, but it also attracts hundreds of tourists from all over India and abroad.
History says:
This temple actually had its origins in Kushasthali, now know as Cortalim, a village in Salcete. Salcete fell into Portuguese rule in 1543. This temple was dutifully preserved until the arrival of the Inquisition from Europe in 1567 when it was vandalized and demolished. In the year 1560, the Portuguese started Christian conversions in Salsette taluka, the Saraswats of Vatsa Gotra felt insecure and shifted the Mangesh Linga from the original site at the Kushasthali or Cortalim on the banks of river Aghanashini to present place in May 1st, 1560 A.D. (according to Hindu calendar - 1482 Sakha) to the locality now known as Mangeshim in Priol village of Atrunja Taluka, which at that time was ruled by the Hindu kings of Sonde. After remaining in the house of a temple priest for sometime, Sri Mangesh deity was finally installed in its present site at Priol. The original site was a very simple structure, and the current structure was only built under Maratha rule, some 150 years after it had been moved. The Peshwas donated the village of Mangeshi to the temple in 1739 on the suggestion of their Sardar, Shri Ramchandra Malhar Sukhtankar, who was a staunt follower of Shri Mangesh. Ironically, just a few years after it was built, this area too fell into Portuguese hand in 1764, but by now, the Portuguese had lost their initial religious zeal and had become quite tolerant of other religions, and so, this structure remained untouched.
Legends
The Mangesh Linga is said to have been consecrated on the mountain of Mangireesh (Mongir) on the banks of river Bhagirathi by Lord Brahma himself, from where the Saraswat Brahmins brought it to Trihotrapuri in Bihar. They carried the linga on to Gomantaka and settled at Mathagrama, the present-day Madgoa, establishing their most sacred and ancient temple of Mangesh on the banks of the river Gomati or Zuari as it is called today. Lord Mangesh is worshipped here in the shape of a Shiva Linga. According to the legends Lord Shiva had manifested into a tiger to scare Parvati. Paravati who was paranoid at the sight of the tiger went in search of Lord Shiva. Parvati was supposed to say "Trahiman Gireesh" but instead out of nervousness she said: "Trahimangeesh"
To visit Shri Mangesh Temple:
By Road: The temple is situated at Mangeshi in Priol Village of Goa’s Ponda taluka. It is on the National Highway No: 4A (now bypassed) which connects the cities of Panaji to Ponda and Madgao. The distance from Panaji to Mangeshi is 20 km and along the same route, it is 10 km away to Ponda. Many inter-state government-run and privately operated buses travel through Mardol.
By Rail: The nearest railway station is Karmali or Old Goa, on Konkan Railway, from where one can take a bus or taxi to Mardol; the other main stations in Goa being Madgaon, Panaji, Vasco Da Gama and Sanvordem.
By Air: The airport is located at Dabolim, which is 30 km from Panaji or Madgao.
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