The Seven Sisters of Goa: A Journey into the Heart of Goan Mythology
The Seven Sisters of Goa: A Journey into the Heart of Goan Mythology
INTRODUCTION
Once upon a time seven sisters and a brother came to the land of Goa riding an elephant.They reached at mayem village. the eldest sister Kelbai sends the brother to fetch fire to cook food. He takes a long time, so Kelbai sends Lairai, the other sister to look for him. Lairai finds her brother Khetoba playing with the kids. In anger, she kicks the brother waist with her foot and he felt hurt and refuses to come back with her. Khetoba decides to go to Vainguinim village. When Kelbai finds this out, she feels responsible for it So, she decides to go to Mulgaon. Lairai also feels hurt and decides to go to shirgao. Morjai decides to walk on into the water on the shore.Ajadipa decides to go to an island called anjadipa close to karwar. Shitlai decides to leave the earth and enter the patal.mirabai goes to mapusa. Mahamaya goes to mayem. These where they continued to leave and are worshiped till today
Devi morjai
Devi morjai temple Is situated in morjim. It has an elegant look as the temple walls are decorated with "kavi art ". The original mukhmanpad and its window grills also have various floral patterns.
Devi morjai is often seen holding two Banana flower in the hand sometimes surrounded by elephant. Tha main festival celebrated in the temple Is the "kalas utsav" . Which is celebrated once in every year which last for one month .The festival begins from "phalghun shudh panchami";and concludes with a big religious and cultural affairs in which large number of devotes gather in large numbers to seek blessings.
Devi lairai
Shirgaon village is known as home to devi lairai. Lairai devi is worshipped in the form of a pot know as "kalash". At the center of the Garbhgriha is the kalash that is decorated to look like devi . it also represents the womb it is decorated beautifully during rituals . it is said that the kalash is the adishakti roop of devi that is worshipped here . A painting of devi lairai shows is a woman wearing a green sari within the kalash keeping one hand on her chest it is also that mogra flowers are favourite of devi lairai
As told by the villagers the lairai jatra is the most significant festival celebrated . It is said that after the "savsar padva" the people of the village remain veg for five days. Along with other peoples . In the jatra "Homkhand " which is a Wooden lock is set on fire. Thousands of devotees known as "Dhonas" walk on the fire after the kalash is brought back to the place of Homkhand and the devi runs from the fire . It is taken to each one's house to give blessings known as " kaul" and the Dhonas remain completely separate from their house cook food on their own and stay in a shelter where they stay in a " moto".
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Devi kelbai
Kelbai is the eldest sister and had a large temple at mulgao. She is worshiped in different avtars like "Mahamaya, mmhai and kelbai". She is worshiped in her murti form holding two Banana flowers in her two hands and is surrounded by two elephant with rich jewelry. She is also form of goddes "Gajalakshmi". The Banana flower in her hand symbolizes fertility and elephant symbolize power and protection.
The main festival celebrated in the temple Is the "pethechi jatra" . The peth is taken to mayhem and is brought back in two days. The jatra of devi begins from "shetra shukra pamchanmi". Large number of devotes from different villages come to seek blessings or "kaul ".
The temple has a "Deepa stambha" or oil lamp that is referred to a spiritual symbols which is lit up with "diyas" during jatra or other occasions.
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Devi mahamaya
Mahamaya temple is a small temple in the village of mayem . Mahamaya murti refers to the sculpture of the goddess Mahamaya often depicted as a fierce form of Durga with multiple arms holding weapons like a sword,trident and shield usually seated on a lion .
According to the legend it is known that during the battle between the gods on one side and the asuras on the other , lord Indra the king of gods , fought against the mighty mahishasura . In the battle the demon overwhelmed lord Vishnu & lord Shiva got angry and combined their power and created "Mahamaya" a goddess with all the good qualities . Mahamaya was later known as Durga or jagdamba or jagatdhari . She symbolizes strength, wisdom and maternal care . The temple celebrates a variety of festivals including shivratri and navratri during which devotees go through to the temple to offer prayers and seek divine intervention as a form of shakti Mahamaya is believed to be both the creator and destroyer of the universe.
Dev khetoba
Khetoba is the small brother of the seven sisters . God of vaiguinim village . Who protects the people . The temple is located in vaiguinim village
Our lady of Milagres
In Goan folklore, "Milagres saibinn" (also Called as "our lady of Considened the miracles") is one of seven sisters, with belief that she was Converted Catholicism by the portuguese, making her a tike link between Hindu and Catholic traditions and the story oftes is volves a symbolic exchange of gifts between the sisters dur dusing their respective festivals
highligting the inter-religious harmony is Gora. During the feast day, two statues are displayed in the church for veneration one statue is used for the oil bath, traditionally performed by Hindu devotees, while the other is adorned with flowers, Candles and other offerings mabe by catholics. It is belived that on the feast dai "Lairai" lends a pot of coconut oil to milagres and a few days later, milagres "Lends" a basket of jasmine flowers to her sister Laizai during zatra more information