Mahadev Shiva Temple in Goa which survived Islamic and Portuguese destructions

A temple was built during the Kadamba rule in Goa in what is now a small village named Kadambi Surla dedicated to Shiva.  This was deep into the forest for most of the past years.  It consists of garbhagriha, antarala and a pillared Nandi mandapa.

And, that is why it seems to have survived the destruction that happened in Goa under the Islamic and the Portuguese invasions.  Although there are instances in the temple of attempts by someone to destroy it.  For example,

• In the centre of the mandap, the Nandi is headless
• There is a three-tired tower which surrounds the mandap and inner sanctum, which is now without a roof.  Which was dismantled as well.

The temple is built with Basalt stone, which was brought all the way from the Deccan Plateau.  It is roughly 65 kilometres (40 mi) from Panaji, the capital city at the foot of Amodh Ghat near the Karnataka border.

Kadamba Shasthadeva started the Kadamba dynasty.  He was appointed as the Mahamandaleshwar of Goa by the Chalukya king, Tailapa II and he conquered Chandrapur from the Shilaharas and started the rule in 960 BCE.  The port of Gopakapattana was the main port and commercial hub for the Kadambis.  It was attacked and looted by  Khalji general Malik Kafur.  The Kadambas moved to Chandor, which was attacked by Muhammad bin Tughluq!  Interestingly, in 2005, the then Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee opened India’s giant western naval base INS Kadamba in Karwar, Karnataka.

References:

Hall, Maurice (1995). Window on Goa: A History and Guide. Quiller. p. 214. ISBN 9781870948982.

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