Goa, Part 6: The Temple Tour (And historic, Portuguese house)

It was a big splurge on my part, but I hired my own, private taxi driver for 8 hours one day, and we set out to explore as many temples as we possibly could in that period of time.

It was exhausting but thrilling!

There were similarities to all of them, but each also had its own, unique style... mostly seen in the architectural construction.

The similarities included: multiple chambers of the temple interiors, with the revered deity (called a "murti", or statue) located in the innermost one; the etiquette of shoe removal and conservative dress (I wore my lovely punjabi on this tour); stalls outside the temple gates, selling flowers and other, traditional offerings to present to the deity as a form of worship; an inner chamber ritual, being performed by the temple priests (often including chanting and washing of/decorating the deity); the forbidding of photos inside (I snuck a few in when I could!); amazing, colorful artwork, inside and out.

Oh, and let us not forget... the requisite cows hanging around outside of the temple gates! (See my blog on "animals" for more about this!)

It was EXCEEDINGLY difficult to whittle down the hundreds of photos I took to just a handful of my favorites. That "handful" is still quite a few, so hope you don't mind your "armchair tour" of what I am about to share!

TEMPLE #1: Sai Baba of Shirdi-- A famous saint, much revered throughout India. The day I visited, there was a big ceremony of some sort going on: a feast (called a bandara) was being prepared; a group of Brahmin priests were performing a yajna (sacred fire ceremony) in an outer courtyard; the temple was filled with many people flowing in to pay their respects. It was a delightful scene, and a beautiful temple.

TEMPLE #2: Trimurti-- combination of 3 gods-- Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. This is the description I found: "Three of the most significant forms of Brahman are Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. These three gods are key aspects of Brahman, the Ultimate Reality. The word 'trimurti' means 'three forms'. In the trimurti, Brahma is the creator, Vishnu is the preserver and Shiva is the destroyer." I was able to sneak a photo of this deity triad because the priest overseeing the temple was sitting off to the side, on HIS cell phone...go figure!! (So much for "no phones, no photos"...!!)

The wonders of technology: So the temple visitors could witness the priests' ritual in the innermost chamber, it was being broadcast live on the screens you see here! I thought rather tacky, myself.. but, there you have it!

Many of the larger temples have their own "bathing ghat"--for cleansing body and spirit in sacred waters.

TEMPLE #3: Cannot recall the deity, if I ever knew it. Dismayingly, my driver was worthless in this regard. Born and raised Roman Catholic--like many of the Indians in Goa-- he was clueless about the Hindu religion and its gods. Weirdly enough, I was explaining them to HIM! "I am just a driver", he said by way of apology. And yet, he takes people on temple tours all the time, because he knows where all the famous ones are in Goa. He COULD learn about them, doncha think?!!? I would have tried to find someone knowledgeable, if I had had any clue that HE was so clueless!! So it goes...

I am including this temple below because it was pretty, and also because--like several we visited-- it had a wedding taking place there. I found this odd, because it was a Tuesday! Still, it was a popular day for weddings... I think we must have come across about five during our visits. I never DID find out why a weekday was a good day for a wedding!

To say that Indian weddings are "lavish" is an understatement! From these sort of decorations adorning the entrance to the temple hall--where the wedding takes place-- to the lovely and colorful sarees of the women, tributes to their prefered deities (in this case, Krishna and Radha), and so on, every detail is exquisitely beautiful. Sadly, I never saw the couple or wedding party; I had to content myself with these wonderful displays outside.

A bit out of focus...but trust me, these two made a handsome couple, indeed!

Krishna: traditionally shown as blue, with his iconic flute...seen here with his beloved Radha

All the guests pass through this ornate entry way, en route to the hall where the wedding takes place.

Looking back out the other way: A lovely framed view of the main part of the temple.

Real flowers adorned the bride and groom's car... After the wedding, they will drive off to where the reception will likely go on for the next 3 days (at least!)

TEMPLE #4: Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and abundance... a very popular deity widely worshipped throughout India...

Hanuman, the monkey god... often a protector and guardian of different temples.

TEMPLES #6 & 7: Ganesh (elephant god) and another, unknown deity...

These sorts of towers are outside most of the temples...no idea why, or what it respresents... again, sure wish I had had a knowledgeable driver/guide!

And, FINALLY, NOT a temple...rather, we ended our long days' journey at a tour of an old, beautiful Portuguese mansion that had been handed down for several generations before being turned into a museum. Unfortunately, it was rather dark inside, so hard to photograph...but there were some wonderful relics. I believe the house--and the items in it--were approximately 200 years old, but I cannot recall for sure. The original owner was a lawyer... hard to understand how he was so very wealthy. There was probably an explanation in there which I didn't catch. The "tour guide" was an ancient, scratchy recording played over loudspeakers throughout the house! There you have it-- the tour "guide", Goan style!

The family of owners

An amazing collection of Ganesh murtis, owned by the owner's caretaker, who was Hindu. (The Portuguese were Roman Catholic, which is why, even today, so many Goans are also Roman Catholic.)