Mangeshi


Mangeshi is a village in Priol, Ponda, Goa, India. Mangueshi/Mangueshim are other variations for the same name.

Main Attraction

The temple of Shri Mangesh is set amidst natural surroundings. Mangeshi, which is a little village along Goa's Panaji-Ponda road is a point of pilgrimage for hundreds of tourists from all over India and abroad.
The temples of Shree Shantadurga located at Kavale village, Navadurga at Madkai, and theShree Mangeshi, are three revered patron deities of GSB families in Goa are a must visit for any devotee/ tourist coming to Goa.

History

The original site of Sri Mangeshi temple is Kushasthali or Cortalim in Salcette Taluka. To avoid the increasing Portuguese missionary activities in Goa, the GSB community was afraid for the safety of the temples and idols. Hence the families worshipping Shree Shantadurga and Shree Manguesh, on a moonless night, leaving their homes and hearths crossed over the Zuari River to a safer region which was under the rule of the Muslim King Adilshah.
After remaining in the house of a temple priest for sometime, the deity idol was finally installed at its present site in the village.
The territory of Ponda was not under Portuguese rule in the 16th Century and hence was seen as a safe haven by the Hindus fleeing persecution by the Jesuits and Portuguese. The forests of Ponda were ideal places for Hindus to form makeshift temples with the Idols they had salvaged from the broken temples of Sashti.

Mangeshkar Family

The famous musical family of the Mangeshkar's belong to this village of Mangeshi. Their father, Deenanath Mangeshkar was born in the village of Mangeshi then in Portuguese India to a temple priest and handmaiden of the deity Mangesh. His mother language was Konkani. His father was Brahmin and mother belonged to Gomantak Maratha community of Goa.
The family's last name used to be Hardikar; Deenanath changed it to Mangeshkar in order to identify his family with his native town - Mangeshi.

Reaching Mangeshi Village

By Air

Mangeshi is 37.92 km from Dabolim Airport.
Goa Dabolim Airport is well connected from all major cities of India & abroad.

By train