We begin the New Year by invoking Ganesha.
The Ganapati temple in the tiny Goan village of Khandola (also spelled Candola) is important to Goans and to Goan history. The original temple was located on the island of Divar at the site of what is today the cemetery adjoining the Church of Our Lady of Piedade. After it was destroyed by the Portuguese around 1540, the idol was squirreled away to Khandepar in Ponda taluka and later to Narve in Bicholim taluka. It was to endure still more turmoil in the years following before finding a stable home in Khandola sometime around 1750.
In 1969 the ancient idol was retired and a new one installed for active worship. But the plan to inter the old image through the process of visarjan was foiled by the Lord Himself. During the prasad ritual, He demanded a permanent spot in the garbagriha (sanctum sanctorum) to the left of and 1 foot higher than His new doppelgänger.
Now a few words about the photograph. For entry into the inner sacred space, the Khandola temple rules call for a ritual bath and appropriate attire. After some back-and-forth a compromise was struck: I agreed to wear the dhoti but the purificatory cold shower from the temple well at 6 in the morning was waived. And so – balancing my camera and tripod while holding on to a slippery dhoti, I came to photograph the ancient Ganapati of Khandola.
This Ganesha sculpture is suggestive of the Hoysala style and is thought to date back to the 13th century CE.
![13th C Ganesha of Khandola, Goa 13th C Ganesha of Khandola, Goa](https://blog.parrikar.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/old-ganapati-khandola.jpg)
13th C. Ganesha of Khandola, Goa
5D Mark II, 85L II
![Flower lady at Khandola temple Flower lady at Khandola temple](https://blog.parrikar.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/flower-lady.jpg)
Flower lady at Khandola temple
5D Mark II, 85L II
The palm must be a new fitting. The right hand was broken when I visited the temple in 1977. The new Ganesha sculpture was already in place.
Dear fellow GanapatiBappa Devotees,
With Anant Pranams to Ganapatti Bappa, I would like to inform you that there yet another temple in Karnataka which has lineage with Khandolla Bappa. the Temple is in Asanoti Bhagawat wada Gram of Karwar Taluka in Uttar Kannada Dist. It is about 12 Kms from Karwar on Karwar Joida Road. Here the main Diety is Dashabhuja Ganapati Vigraha which has come from Goa along with our Ancestors as also Ravalnath. Mahamaya, though was accompanying Ganapati Bappa the Nirakar Sheela was found locally and was installed on directions of Oracale. Dushara, Marghasheer Vanabhojan, Magh Ganesh Chaturti, Phalgun Shesha Utsav, etc are celebrated. If you happen to come to Karwar Please visit the temple. With Regards to you all
Shailesh,
As per the earlier pontiff of Kaiwalya math, the temple of Shantadurga or Mahamaya from Golti got relocated near Nageshi. It is located past the temple pond at Nageshi. The same one that goes with Nagesh Mahalaxmi.
Fantastic work Parrikarmaam. The Golthi Mahamaya is Shirali and Khandola. Possibly who stayed back in Goa, regrouped at Khandola..Who proceeded southwards reached Shirali…So Shailesh Please contact Bhatmaam @ Khandola Ganapathi Temple. Prashanth you are actually telling about Shanatadurga @ Kavlem..moved from Keloshi.
BTW there are more than 10 Shantadurga..So we can lose enough hair on our head if we search all our doubts..
😀
as told to you by Mr. Sheshagiri above that Shirali Has MGM temple, my family are actually followers of Shantadurga or Mahamaya …. hence do you know of Shantadurga / mahamaya temple at Golti on Divar Island????
Please revert back
Thank u very much Rajan. Sri Maha Ganapathi of this temple is the KUL DEVATAHA of our family. When the Portuguese attacked our ancestors they ran for their life and settled in karnataka. Later they build a new temple in Shirali(Bhatkal) Karnataka.
I am planning to visit this temple soon. I request you to please let me know the Phone No of this temple if u have. And also Please let me know the way of reaching this place.
Thank you.
Sheshgiri. udupi. karnataka
Happy New Year!
The palm of the Ganesha of Khandola seems different from the texture of the rest of the surface. Any idea why?
-Arun
elegant and beautiful pictures as always.
Keep them coming.
Happy new year to you!
Rajan-bab,
A picture of your goodself in a dhoti clicking the Bappa’s picture would be a treat in itself 🙂
HAppy new year to you!