Devaki Krishna Mandir, Goa, IN

Deities: Lord Krishna and his mother Devaki
Location: Marcel, Ponda taluka, Goa
Significanse: The only temple in India with the presiding deity of Devakikrishna
Best time to visit: May to September
STD Code: 08343

Shri Krishna Govinda Hare Murare, He Natha Narayana Vasudevaya.

An India pilgrimage tour remains incomplete without visiting Sri Devaki Krishna Temple. Goa temples are symbols of ancient Indian culture and heritage. They form an indispensable part of India pilgrimage tour. Naturally, forms part of any Goa temples tour.

Three Kilometers away from Banastari Bridge on Panaji-Ponda road, you will reach one of the notable Goa temples named Sri Devaki Krishna Temple at Marcel. The Garbha Griha contains the beautiful idol of Devaki and Lord Krishna. The idol of Devaki is in standing posture with a child.

The temple with a man sized idol of Sri Swamy Ravalnath was consecrated in February 1974 by Sri Srinivasa Prabhu the oracle of the temple. In a separate temple a man sized stone idol of Sri Devaki holding the baby Krishna has been installed and it was consecrated by H H Srimad Sudheendra Thirtha Swamiji in 1981. The oracle is organised every full moon day. The idols of the temple were carved by the famous sculptor Renjal Gopal Krishna Shenoy.

Devaki- Krishna Temple displays the eternal love of mother. The Garbha Griha contains the beautiful idol of Devaki and Lord Krishna. The deity is the idol of Devaki is in standing posture with a child Krishna, sitting astride her. This is one of the rare sculptures found in India. Pilgrims on India pilgrimage tour will appreciate the posture with mother Devaki standing and Krishna on her hips. Could the Baby Jesus and his Mother, Mary, represented in so many of the neighboring churches here have given this temple its inspiration, or is it simply an astonishing coincidence of the overlapping of Western and Eastern traditions?

The uniqueness of the Devki Krishna temple lies in the fact that it is the only temple in India with the presiding deity of Devakikrishna, a confluence of Lord Krishna and his mother Devaki.

Apart from the chief deity of Devakikrishna, the temple enshrines the deities of Bhumika Devi, Laxmi Ravalnath, Mallinath, Katyayani, Chodaneshwar and Dhada Shankar. Originally located at the Chorao Island, all the deities were moved to Mayem in Bicholim to escape the wrath of the Portuguese rulers. They were finally established at the present location at Marcel.

In response to his mother's wish, Lord Krishna once again assumed the form of his childhood, climbed up the laps of Devaki as she was churning curds, sucked her breast-milk, broke pots of curds, swallowed lumps of butter, and stood up with the churning rod in one hand and the churning rope in another, after snatching them away from his mother's hands. Devaki's joy knew no bounds, as she witnessed this sport of the Lord. Rukmini, who also sighted this childhood posture of the Lord, requested him to get an image of it carved out in Shaligrama Shila for her daily worship. When Krishna departed from earth at the close of Dwapara Yuga, this rare image was deposited by Arjuna at a holy spot called Rukmini Vana in Dwaraka. In the course of the Kali Yuga, a merchant carried this image as merchandise from Dwaraka, mistaking it for a clod of Gopichandan in which the image lay hidden. The ship was wrecked near the sea-shore of Vadabhandeshwar (near Malpe port) Madhvacharya came to know the wreckage of the ship by intuition, got the image dug out of the ship, kept it immersed for a few days in the holy tank of his mutt, and installed it for worship on an auspicious Makara Sankranthi day, nearly 700 years ago. Hence forth, Lord Krishna became the presiding deity of Udupi. He is the source of happiness and salvation of all good people. Madhva installed this image of Krishna with the avowed purpose of removing all obstacles and relieving the pains, which beset His devotees on their way to salvation.

Festival:
The major festival is Malni Purnima from Paush Vadya is celebrated over here with great fervour and excitement during January-February. The pilgrims from all over India would be visiting Devaki-Krishna temple on the Malin Purnima. This is the main festival of this temple that attracts the devotees from every where. The three anniversaries of the temple as well as Navarathri festival is celebrated annually. Shri Chandika Yajna is also organised annually.

Prime Attractions:
Dona Paula
Aguada Fort
Archaeological Museum & Portrait Gallery
Archives Museum Goa
Bondla Forest
Miramar Beach
Sri Kamakshi Temple
Sri Mahalakshmi Temple
Sri Manguesh Temple
Sri Saptakoteshwara Temple
Sri Shantadurga Temple at Kavalem
Sri Vithal Temple

How to reach:
By Road: Ponda is served by regular buses from Panjim and Margao, and lies on the main route east to Karnataka. The Kadamba Bus Stand is on the main square, next to the auto-rickshaw rank. There are many buses and private vehicles available to reach the temple of Devaki-Krishna temple.
By Air: The nearest airport was Dabolim airport.
By Rail: The Margao is nearest railway station.

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