Mahalaxmi Temple, Goa

Mahalaxmi is the Goddess of power and strength. She is believed to be an incarnation of. Adishakti. -the supreme power and energy. The Shaktas, among the Saraswats, worshipped Adishakti in the form of the linga. Many accept her as Pallavi, their supporting deity, believing that this Goddess of tremendous strength and power was released when the devas and rakshasas were churning the ocean for amrita (nectar). On their arrival in Goa, the Saraswats, who had brought the Mahalaxmi idol with them, built a temple at Bhanda-Vatika or Bhandiwade village in the Atrunja taluka. Most of the Saraswats, however, were then living at Tiswadi and Sasasti talukas and had to cross a river and travel a long distance to worship the deity. So they established at Kolva, just 6 km from Madgaon, another Mahalaxmi temple, on the banks of the Arabian Sea.

History

The Shri Mahalaxmi Temple is situated at Bandora which is 4kms. from Ponda. Shri Mahalaxmi is the presiding deity and it is considered the abode of the original Goddess of the Shakti cult. The Sabhamandap has a gallery of 18 images, out of 24 images of emanatory aspects of the Bhagavata sect, which is considered one of the few galleries of wooden images of Vishnu in India.
Under Portuguese rule, Portuguese relations with Hindus were not so good. It was during the early 19th century, Portuguese were so patient and co-operate with Hindus here in Bandora, that to be grateful, Hindus built here a temple called "Mahalaxmi" as she is referred to as Goddess of peace.
Hindus describe Mahalaxmi as a form of Mother of all Universes, who raised three super powers Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer. She has worshipped for many ages and by the 8th century many of their ancestor Hindu leaders adopted her.