Thread by @AngryBoka

#TemplesofGoa
#Thread
#Janmashtami

The Epitome of Motherhood in Goa- Shree Devkikrishna Laxmi Ravalnath Devasthan, Marcel (My Kuladevata)

Located in Marcel, a small hamlet in Goa, Shri Devkikrishna Ravalnath Devasthan boasts itself of being the only temple in India where Shri Krishna is worshipped as an infant along with his biological mother Devki.

History of the Devasthan.

Originally, the temple of Shree Devkikrishna was located in a place called Devgim, on the island of Chorão or चोडण, in the Tiswadi Taluka.

The Portuguese rulers in Goa brought about mass religious conversion of the local population and razed

innumerable Hindu temples in the three talukas: Bardez, Salcette & Tiswadi.
The Devkikrishna temple also met the same fate. Sensing trouble, the local Hindus quietly crossed over the neighbouring Vaddem village near Maem in Bicholim Taluka with the vigraha of Devkikrishna

and other deities of Chorão. This translocation of the deities took place between the years 1530 and 1540. But when the Portuguese attacked the Bicholim taluka in the 18th Century, the need was felt to shift the deities once again. This time a safer haven under the Adilshahi

kingdom was selected. This safe haven was the hamlet of Mahashala or Mashel or Marcel. Inspite of being under the Adilshahi rule, the entire affairs and governance of Ponda taluka was under the control of the Hindu Desais and Sardessais. It was only in the year 1842 that

a grand temple of Shree Devkikrishna was built in Marcel.

The Story behind Mata Devki holding Balkrishna in Her arms⬇️

A special reference to Gomanchal Parvat or present day Goa is made in the Mahabharat & the Harivamsa Purana.

According to the popular lore, Mata Devki happened to meet Shree Krishna in Chorão or Chudamani island when the evil king Kalyavana was burnt down to ashes by king Muchukunda. Shree Krishna had acted as a medium for the death of Kalyavana.
However, Mata Devki couldn't recognise

Her own son as both, Devki and Krishna were seperated from each other the day He was born and after being freed from the clutches of Kansa, the mother hardly got to see Her son. Realising this, Krishna assumed the form of a baby and climbed up on the lap of Devki.

This moment of a heartwarming reunion between a mother & her son was immortalised in the form of the vigraha that we see today in the Mandir.
The Vigraha of Shree Devkikrishna is that of Mata Devki holding Shree Balkrishna on Her left side and supporting Him with Her left arm.

The Vigraha is believed to belong to the Vijaynagar period. During the alankar mahapuja, a metalic murti of Shree Devkikrishna is placed in front of the moola vigraha and dressed and decorated with jewellery and flower garlands.

The Parivar Devatas or the Affiliate Deities.

The original temples of the Parivar Devatas of Shree Devkikrishna Devasthan were located in different places on the island of Chorão. They were translocated to Maem first and then Marcel along with Devkikrishna. Today these Parivar

Devatas form an integral part of the Devasthan and are consecrated in seperate temples near the main temple. The Parivar Devatas include:
1. Devi Bhumika
2. Shree Laxmi Narayan
3. Devi Katyayani

4. Shree Laxmi Ravalnath Pandavwada (Piso or Mad Ravalnath)
5. Shree Laxmi Ravalnath Gavanwada (Shano or Sane Ravalnath)
6. Shree Dadhsakhal
7. Shree Mallinath

8. Shree Chodaneshwar
9. Shree Mahadev

Even though the Kulavis of this Devasthan are GSB Vaishnavas, one can see the synthesis of the various sampradayas of the Sanatan Dharma here, namely: Vaishnava, Shaiva, Shakta & Nath Sampradaya (Shree Mallinath).

Some facts:
1. Besides Janmashtami, there are two major festivals celebrated in the Devasthan: Chikhal Kalo on the Ashadhi Dwadashi Day & Pousha Pournima i.e. Manni Punav or Malini Pournima.

2. There is a small murti of Chaturbhuja Shree Krishna made out of Tulsi stem.

This murti resides in the Garbhagriha of Devkikrishna and is placed in front of the Palkhi vigraha of Shree Devkikrishna. Childless couples who perform puja to this murti are believed to be blessed with a healthy child.

Conclusion:

Mata Devki sacrificed her motherly affection for her duty towards mankind. But her sacrifice did not go in vain, as this Devasthan worships this very aspect of hers. Today she stands in the temple in her full splendour, like a powerful matriarch, with her son Krishna

And the Preserver of the Universe clings to his mother as a small baby full of innocence.

Here, I conclude this thread 🙏🏼

वसुदेवसुतं देवं कंसचाणूरमर्दनम् ।
देवकीपरमानन्दं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरुम् ॥

🕉️🪷🙏🏼 ॐ तत् सत् कृष्णार्पणमस्तु 🙏🏼🪷🕉️