Thread by @AngryBoka

#TemplesofGoa
#Thread

The Triumphant Mother- Vijayadurga of Keri

Shree Vijayadurga Devasthan is dedicated to a form of Devi Durga, located in Keri, Ponda. She is the Kuladevta of many GSBs and Karhade Brahmins. The original temple of Vijayadurga was located in Sancoale or Shankhwal (Sankwal) in Salcette taluka.

Devi Vijayadurga, Devi Shantadurga Shankhwaleshwari and Shri Laxmi Narsimha were the presiding deities of Sancoale. The Portuguese onslaught on these temples forced the devotees to translocate the deities to safe havens. Shantadurga & Laxmi Narsimha were shifted to Veling while

Devi Vijayadurga was shifted to Keri.
The present day Vijayadurga temple is a exquisite and majestic structure adorned with the traditional Kaavi art. The temple is blessed with luscious greenery and a breathtaking landscape.

Reel Credit: #kerivijayadurgasaunsthan

Also there is a beautiful lake in front of the temple . Far away from the maddening crowd, this temple envelopes the devotees with its divine energy.

Story of the Goddess.
Devi Shantadurga of Keloshi (who is now worshipped in Kavlem) wanted to meet Her sister, Devi Mahalaxmi of Colva (worshipped in Bandora now). She decided to travel by sea and reached a place called Shankhwal. Devi became enchanted by the beauty of this place

But then she heard the prayers of some villagers in Shankhwal, who were being tormented by a demon Kalantaka. Devi Shantadurga fought with the asura and ultimately killed him. She emerged victorious in the battle and thus, named Devi Vijayadurga.

During the Portuguese inquisition, like most other deities, Devi Vijayadurga was translocated from Sancoale to Keri. But this process wasn't smooth. Although the devotees had moved the vigraha out of its temple, they were not sure about where to translocate the deity.

Till the time they found a safe haven, the devotees decided to hide the vigraha in a lake in Agapur/ Agastipur near Kavlem. In the course of time, a Brahmin in Keri, whose Kuladevi was Vijayadurga, was instructed by the Devi to fetch Her vigraha from the lake and establish it

in Keri. She also instructed him to carry with him a bunch of bananas growing on his tree and Kewra flowers and immerse these offerings into the lake before fetching the vigraha. He did as he was told and thus, Devi Vijayadurga from Sancoale made Keri Her permanent abode in 1560.

The Vigraha of Devi Vijayadurga is almost two and a half feet tall and in the form Ashtabhuja Mahishasuramardini Durga, carrying various weapons like sword, shield, chakra, conch, etc. The vigraha is incredibly lifelike and the smile on Aai's face is extremely assuring.

An interesting fact.

While all the temples in India celebrate Navratra during the Ashwin month, the Vijayadurga Devasthan celebrates Navratra during the Margashirsh month. Grand Makharotsav takes place during this time and a big zatra (fair) is held in Keri.
VC: Facebook https://t.co/aTeGi09Iw1twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

If you ever come to Goa, please do visit this temple. You will experience a very different aspect of Gomantak bhumi.

I conclude my thread with this verse from the Vijayadurga aarti.

तू गौरी, तू महालक्ष्मी, तू आर्यादुर्गा
महाकाली, तू महासरस्वती, तू शांतादुर्गा ।
रिद्धि सिद्धि या अष्टहि सिद्धि तूची सर्वांगा
ऐसी सर्व स्वरूपी नटसी तू विजयादुर्गा ॥

श्री विजयादुर्गा प्रसन्न 🙏🏼🌺