Ancient art at its best
By Rohit Phalgaonkar
Goa is one place that never seems short of beautiful locales; around every
bend, even in the midst of the city, don't be surprised if you find some
mini paradise. One such piece of paradise, also a showcase of ancient art
and history, is the serene village of Keri, situated towards the fringe of
the state in the taluka of Ponda.
The Shri Vijaydurga temple here is a beautiful structure that stands on the
banks of a picturesque lake. The deity of the temple was shifted from
Sancoale to Keri in the 16th Century AD. It was initially transferred to
Agastipur (Agaapur) in Ponda and was kept in a water tank near the temple of
Shri Madhav.
It is said that Shri Vijaydurga came in the dreams of a Kashyapgotri
Brahman, told him the exact location of the tank and asked him to establish
her after offering the bunch of bananas growing in front of his house. The
next day, the Brahman did as he had dreamt and found a beautiful stone image
in the tank. As he carried it, the image suddenly turned heavy after
reaching the place on which the temple stands today.
The following verses from Chapter 8 of Konkan Aakhyaan (1721 AD) clearly
indicate the origin and shifting of the deity: "Shankhaavalli Dev don
stalli; Keri aanni Veling vaasi; Veling vaasi Narsinh Sateri; Vijaydurga te
Keri maajhaari".
A dome mounted on an octagonal tower forms the Shikhar of the temple. The 12
pillared Sabhamandap with arched windows has beautiful Kaavi art patterns
and murals on its external and internal walls. A very good attempt has been
made by the temple committee to conserve this ancient art. This temple
stands as a role model to all. depicting how the beauty of this antique art
should be maintained. The Kalyan Mandap, displaying various wooden
sculptures of mythological figures, has a series of round columns on the
either side of the central alleyway.
It appears to be the only temple in Goa which celebrates Navratri during the
Margshirsh (November) month, thus making it unique. The Makhar during this
Navratri captivates the onlooker's attention. Makhar is a massive wooden
temple freely suspended by chains from the ceiling. It is swayed and rotated
along its vertical axis on the pulsating dhol, Taasha, shehnai, and cymbals.
Shri Vijaydurga is seen seated on a lion in the centre of the Makhar, along
with her other two forms, Mahalakshmi and Mahakali on the either sides. The
age-old tradition of Kirtans is also kept alive by the temple.
Feb 29, 2008
Goa Plus
