It is stated that when Parvati was in search of Shiva, she was scared at the site of a tiger that was Shiva himself and shouted for help from him. However, instead of saying "Trahiman Gireesh" she said: "Trahimangeesh!!" out of fear and nervousness. The Gomantak Kshetra Mahatmya reports the second avatar of Shri Mangireesh in Goa in the same fashion. His temple at Kushasthal was a place of pilgrim
age till the Portuguese took over this part of the territory in Goa in 1560. On the site of the temple now stands a church. In 1560, anticipating the onslaught of the Portuguese, the devotees had moved Shri Mangesh Shivalinga from Kutthal to a safer place under a Hindu prince. Surrounded by hillocks and covered by forests, the Shivalinga was kept at a place, which now is known as Mangeshi. The Peshwas donated in 1739, the village of Mangeshi to the temple on the suggestion of their Sardar, Shri Ramchandra Malhar Sukhtankar, who was a life-long devotee of Shri Mangesh. Since then this little village on the Panaji-Ponda road has become a place of pilgrimage for the followers of the Lord and an attraction for the tourists from rest of the country and outside. Known for its natural beauty and pleasant surroundings, Mangeshi is still a hamlet with about 1,000 families. But it is a center of culture and the musicians from this place have earned countrywide reputation as master singers for several generations. Subsequently, the temple might have been built around 1744. It was supported by wooden pillars which have been preserved. The devotees enriched the temple and it is probable that ancillary temples were built thereafter over a period. This temple was a source of inspiration to many for spiritual pursuits. Towards the end of eighteenth century, Naik Swami, who was resting in the temple on his way to Kashi, dreamt that Mangeshi was nothing else but Kashi itself. He accordingly spent the rest of his life in Mangeshi itself to serve the Lord. Among the numerous books written by him mention may be made of the poetic translation in Marathi of Shri Shiva Gita. Incidentally, the major festivals in the temple are celebrated at night. The night probably provides a better opportunity for displaying the human skill and imagination in arrangement of lights and grandeur. As one enters the temple, he finds himself in a room called Mandap. From here, the drum is beaten to inform everybody in the hamlet that the Lord is ready to meet them in congregation. This happens at noon and at night before the AARATI starts or the PALAKHI is taken out. Following the adoption of the constitution in 1885 for the management of temple and its properties, the plan for constructing the present temple by raising funds from the devotees was conceived. The work commenced in October 1888 and the temple was ready in 1890. The temple is a modern piece of architecture blended with traditional Hindu pattern. The entrance to the temple bears an image, which wards off every thing impure from the inner precincts of the temple and maintains its sanctity. I hope you will like it.
