Shree Shantadurga Temple (Shree Shantadurga Saunsthan), Kavlem
Kavlem (Kavale), Ponda taluka, Goa · Goddess Shantadurga, the form of Durga who made peace between Vishnu and Shiva
The goddess of peace: a Maratha-era temple at the foot of the Kavlem hills, where Durga holds Vishnu and Shiva apart and families still seek her 'kaul' on a copper lion plate.
Shree Shantadurga is the kuldevi (family goddess) of many Goud Saraswat Brahmin families and one of the grandest temples in Goa. The goddess was originally worshipped as Santeri at Keloshi (Quelossim) in Salcete; in 1566, as the Portuguese destroyed temples there, devotees carried her across the Zuari to Kavlem. The present temple, built between about 1713 and 1738 with the support of Naroram Mantri, a minister of Chhatrapati Shahu, has pyramidal roofs and a dome, a large tank, a lamp tower and long Agrashala (pilgrim lodging) wings.
Timings
- Temple open (approx.): Morning to night with an afternoon break; a 2020 Navaratri notice gave 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM and 2:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Check the official site.
- Live darshan: The Saunsthan streams mukh darshan and aarti on its website.
Darshan types and costs
- General darshan – Free
Sevas and costs
- Dhulbhet – Nominal (coconut, banana and a small offering) (On arrival)
- Abhishek and Naivedya – Check at temple office (Mornings)
- Prasad Kaul – Check at temple office (Most days, except Panchamis, Ashwin Shukla 1–10, Magha Shukla 1–6 and Phalgun Krishna 1–6)
- Laghurudra / Navchandi / Shatchandi – Check at temple office (On booking)
- Kumkumarchan Sahasra – Check at temple office (On booking)
- Tulabhar – Check at temple office (On booking)
- Deep Aradhana on the deepastambha – Oil at market rate (32 litres) (On booking)
How to book darshan
Rooms, prasad and donations can be booked through the Saunsthan website; pujas are booked with the Kamavisdar at the temple office.
Shree Shantadurga Saunsthan website
Dress code
Enforced: no shorts, short skirts, sleeveless or tank tops, low-rise jeans or short T-shirts. Guards ask such visitors to wear a shawl provided by the temple committee (The Goan, July 2022).
Best time to visit
October–March. Panchami days and the Magha Jatra show the temple at its liveliest; monsoon (June–September) is quiet and green.
How to reach
- air: Goa International Airport (Dabolim) is approx. 30 km; Mopa is approx. 60 km.
- rail: Madgaon (approx. 25 km) and Karmali (approx. 25 km).
- road: About 30–33 km from Panaji and roughly 4 km from Ponda town; buses and taxis from Ponda.
Festivals
- Jatra (Magha Panchami) – Magha (January/February)
- Navaratri Utsav – September/October
- Panchamis – Every Shukla and Krishna Panchami
- Other festivals – Through the year