Shanta Durga Temple

Shri Shantadurga Temple is a Private temple complex belonging to GSB community. 33km from Panaji at the foothill of Kavalem village in Ponda Taluka, Goa, India. H.H.Shrimad Swamiji of ShriKavale Math is Spiritual head Of Shree Shantadurga Saunsthan,Kavale.Shree Shantadurga is the Kuldevi (family deity) of many Gaud Saraswat Brahmin families only.This current temple structure of Shree Shantadurga Devasthan was built during the period from 1713 AD to 1738 AD by Naroram Rege Mantri.On the 4th of December 2016, the temple completed its 450th year of existence. (Margashirsh Shuddh Panchmi).DeityThe temple is dedicated to Shantadurga, the goddess who mediates between Vishnu and Shiva. The deity is also called 'Santeri' colloquially. Purana talks of a battle between Shiva and Vishnu The battle was so fierce that the God Brahma prayed to Goddess Parvati to intervene, which she did in the form of Shantadurga. Shantadurga placed Vishnu on her right hand and Shiva on her left hand and settled the fight.Shantadurga is holding two serpents, one in each hand, representing Vishnu and Shiva.Some of local legends or beliefs often say that Shantadurga of Keloshi had gone to Sankhwal, a village in Salcette Taluka to kill a demon named Kalantak that was harassing the Brahmins. As a reward, she was given the name of Vijaya. The Vijayadurga shrine was located in Sankhwal along with Shantadurga and Lakshmi Narasimha but was later shifted to a place called Kerim in Ponda Taluka during the Portuguese invasions.