Parshuram's creation of Goa

[Guest guest]

indicjournalists, "Ashok Chowgule"

<ashokvc wrote:

 

Parshuram's creation of Goa

By Rohit Phalgaonkar

The Navhind Times

4th January, 2007

 

An ancient temple of Kaatyaani Baaneshwar existed in Benaulim till the

16th cent AD.

 

Legend has that Shri Parshuram (Shri Vishnu's sixth incarnation)

shot

an arrow in the Arrabian Sea from the peak of the Sahyadri. This arrow

hit Baannaavali (Benaulim) and made the sea recede, thus reclaiming

the

land of Goa.

 

An ancient temple of Kaatyaani Baaneshwar also existed in

Baannaavali

till the 16th cent AD. V S Dhume points out a temple of Shri Parshuram

on Saalher (Sahyadri hill). Two rock hewn footprints in a pose of a

man

standing to shoot an arrow are seen near it. Today the ancient temple

of

Shri Parshuram that 2550-2350 BC given by Dr.Pusalkar corresponds to

the

period of the Sahyadri Khand, opines V S Dhume.

 

The Sahyadri Khand states that Shi Parshuram along with 10 sages from

Trihotr (Bihar) settled in Gomaanchal (Goa). They were Bhaardwaaj,

Koushik, Vatsa, Koudimy, Kashyap, Vasisht, Jamadagni, Vishwaamitr,

Gautam and Atri. They settled in 8 villages that is Mathhgraam

(Madgaon), Vrney (Verna), Kudtari, Shankhaavali (Sancoale), Raaichuri

(Raai), Lotli, Naagve and Baannaavali.

 

The families of these sages settled in 66 villages called Saasashti

(Salcette). This is evident from the line "Shat-Shadteshu Graameshu

Kulaani Sthaapitaani" of the Sahyadri Khand. Ten families settled in

Chudamani (ancient Chorao); 8 more in Dipvati (Diwar) and 12 families

in central Goa. This formed the ancient Tiswadi. In total 96 families

were established. From this it is inferred that the Goan surnames

'Shennai' is a corruption of 'Shaannavi' meaning 96.

 

The Sahyadri Khand also mentions a Yadny (fire ritual) performed by

Shri

Parshuram in Goa. It is said that vestige of this Yadny is the

'Bhasmaacho Dongor', a small hillock facing he sea in Arambol. Pernem.

Arambol is a corruption of Harmall, which appears to have derived

from

'Hari Mall' (Shri Vishnu's land). The soil on this hillock resembles

ash. Surprisingly a natural rock formation in the shape of a 'Yadney

Kund' (provision made to light fire) is seen on its peak. One can also

see an ancient laterite shrine nearby.

 

>From this it appears that Shri Parshuram was a historic figure, which

lead a group of people helping them to settle in Goa by reclaiming the

land; perhaps by bunding waterlogged areas.

 

Temples of many 'Vir' or 'Purush', reclaimed flooded lands by bunds

are

found in Goa, shows that the art of land reclamation was also known to

the aboriginal inhabitants of Goa.

 

One cannot totally dismiss folklore and mythology, which are the

traces

of history. Unique churches, temples of Goa give it a different

character, which needs to be conserved.

 

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