The Historic Village of Colamb By Prajal Sakhardande
The encyclopaedia Mundarika while mentioning original Konkani words gives the etymology of the name Colamb. Colamb, in ancient Konkani, means the bend of a river. True to its etymology the village of Colamb is located on the bend of the Kushawati River in the Sanguem taluka. We find that all the ancient original names of Goan villages were in the Konkani language. The original people of Goa, the Kunbis, used these words. The topography of the village featured in these names, as cited above. The village name Colamb is a name from the pre-Kadamba era. The Kadamba rule over south Goa began around the second half of the 10th century when we settle Shasthadev I as the true founder of the Goa Kadamba line whose origins are linked to the Banavasi lineage in Karnataka. The Kadamba rulers of ancient Goa added the suffix 'halli' (a Kannada word) to every village in Goa, as it stood for village. Many villages were left without the suffix 'halli', Colamb being one of them.
Colamb is an ancient settlement of the Kunbis (Velips) who were agriculturists. They set up the ancient Gaunkaris (the village communities) in Goa. The Kunbis, who also have the nomenclature of the Gawdas and Velips, are pre-Dravidian communities. Their traditional village or community deities are the original duties of Goa such as the Roinn, the Santer and the Betal. The megalithic site of Pansalimal hamlet and Kevan-Dhandole hamlets belong to Colamb.
An ancient temple made of square laterite stones, with a plinth and a sanctum sanctorum with dvilings ie dual shivlings and an ancient image of a male deity, probably kalbhairav, is located in Colamb. The male deity depicted in a standing position carries a sword in one hand. He is shown wearing a crown and necklaces and has a royal look. He could also be the warrior god. The temple resembles the 11th century Narayandev temple of Vichundrem, a village next to Colamb. In all probability the sculpture and the ruins can be dated to the 11th century Kadamba era. The concept of the dviling ie double ling is a Dravidian concept. There is an ancient dviling at Khadki in the Sattari taluka in a small pond. The dviling in Colamb rests on a 'lingpeetha' (pedestal on which the 'ling' rests). The ancient village of Colamb is a part of the Kushawati river culture and civilization and a part of the Kushawati heritage trail. The south Konkan Shilahars ruled over Colamb during the pre-Kadamba era. Thus Colamb is a heritage village of Goa.
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