Shantadurga Temple Ponda Goa

Shri Shantadurga Temple is a large temple complex 33 km from Panaji,   in Ponda Taluka, Goa. Initially, mud shrine was built and the deity was installed here. This mud-shrine was converted into a beautiful temple whose foundation stone was laid in 1730 and the temple was completed in 1738 and renovated in 1966.

The temple is dedicated to Shantadurga, the goddess who mediates between Vishnu and Shiva. Local legends tell of a battle between Shiva and Vishnu The battle was so fierce that the god Brahma prayed to Goddess Parvati to intervene, which she did in the form of Shantadurga. Shantadurga placed Vishnu on her right hand and Shiva on her left hand and settled the fight.

Shantadurga is shown as holding two serpents, one in each hand, representing Vishnu and Shiva. Apart from this battle, local legends often say that Shantadurga had gone to Sankhwal, a village in Salcette Taluka to kill a demon named Kalantak that was harassing the Brahmins. As a reward, she was given the name of Vijaya.

Shri Shantadurga is the Kuldevi (family deity) of many Goud Saraswat Brahmins (Konkan region of Maharashtra and Goa).Temple is Private.