Historic Navadurga Temple Madkai, Fonda, South Goa

Durga Devi is the presiding deity of the Shakta sect, and her nine forms, each possessing distinct characteristics, are worshipped. Since there is a tradition of worshipping nine qualities in a single idol, she is addressed as Navadurga. The worship of the three deities—Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati, and Mahakali—in their gentle, moderate, and fierce forms is also performed as Navadurga. An ancient and famous temple of this Navadurga is located in the village of Madkai in Goa. As the neck of this deity appears slightly tilted, the Goddess is also addressed by the name Vakragriva. Devotees believe that this Goddess is ‘Jagrut’ (awakened) and grants their prayers.

It is said that this temple is about seven hundred years old. A popular legend states that the Goddess originally belonged to the village of ‘Gavanshi’ and was first taken to Redi during the Portuguese era, from where she arrived here. However, no concrete information is available regarding this. The Archaeological Department has examined this idol, and according to them, this idol made of Gandaki stone is seven hundred to eight hundred years old.

This temple is situated in the seventh ward of Madkai village. There is a welcome arch on the road leading from the village to the temple. The road from this arch to the temple is winding and sloping. There is a large entrance gate in the fortification wall surrounding the temple premises. Since this entrance is higher than the road, one enters the temple courtyard by climbing seven steps. There are safety railings on both sides of the steps. There are two platforms on either side of the entrance. Each platform has two ornate circular pillars. On the cornice above these pillars, there is an idol of Goddess Gajalakshmi in the center. There are lion sculptures on the left and right sides of the cornice. In the paver-block-covered courtyard of the temple, adjacent to the fortification, are the Bhakta Niwas (pilgrim accommodation), dining hall, temple office, and residences for the temple staff. There is a Grampurush assembly hall in the courtyard. Cultural programs and wedding ceremonies are organized here. In front of the temple, there is a seven-tiered octagonal lamp tower (Deepmal) on a three-tiered pyramidal platform. At the top of the lamp tower is a spire (Shikhar) and a finial (Kalash). There are two Tulsi Vrindavans next to the lamp tower. There is also a freshwater well in the courtyard.

The temple structure consists of a Sabha Mandap (assembly hall), a main Sabha Mandap, an Antaral (vestibule), and a Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum). In front of the temple is a Rangamandap with a tin roof. The semi-open Sabha Mandap has stone benches for devotees to sit. The Sabha Mandap has four rows of seven circular pillars each. The outer pillars are part of the stone benches. All pillars stand on square bases. Above these pillars is the cornice of the upper floor. The floor between the pillars in the middle rows is a few inches deep, which is a characteristic of the Konkani architectural style. The pillars are decorated with paintings in the Kavi style. Further ahead is the entrance to the closed main Sabha Mandap, which is about three feet high. There are four steps in front of the entrance. There are guardian (Dwarpal) sculptures in the niches on both sides of the entrance. The door frames of the main Sabha Mandap are adorned with floral carvings. The entrance to the Antaral is about one foot higher than the main Sabha Mandap. There are guardian sculptures on both sides of the entrance. The door frames have floral carvings, and there is an idol of Ganapati on the lintel (Lalatbimba). The Antaral has two rows of circular pillars, and the pillars in each row are connected to each other by crescent-shaped arches. All pillars stand on octagonal bases. On the walls of the Antaral, there are relief-style sculptures of deities such as Gandevi, Damini Shani, Yaksha, Pandurang, Devahuti Kapil, Surya, and Varuni-Varun.

Since the entrance to the Garbhagriha is higher than the Antaral, there are two steps to the entrance. The front walls of the Garbhagriha are covered with silver sheets. There are guardian sculptures in the niches on both sides of the entrance and floral carvings on the door frames. There is an idol of Mahishasuramardini on the lintel. There are guardian sculptures at the bottom of the door frames. Inside the Garbhagriha, on a Vajrapitha (diamond pedestal), is the four-armed idol of Navadurga Devi in the form of Mahishasuramardini, carved from Shaligram stone. The Goddess has placed her foot on the body of Mahishasura and has struck him with a trident and a sword. In one of her hands, the Goddess holds a drinking vessel. With her other hand, the Goddess is pulling the divine form out of the body of Mahishasura. Adorned with various garments and ornaments, this Goddess has a crown on her head and a gold mask on her face. The lion, which is the vehicle of the Goddess, has attacked Mahishasura.

Regarding the gold mask on the idol, the legend is that about one to one and a half kilometers away from the temple, a girl was born in a goldsmith’s house due to the Goddess’s grace. When that girl turned ten years old, the goldsmith made a gold mask of the girl’s face and offered it to the Goddess. After that, the girl passed away, which caused the goldsmith great sorrow. Then the Goddess promised the goldsmith, “I will come to stay at your house as your daughter for one day every year.” Accordingly, even today, the idol of the Goddess is taken to this goldsmith’s house for one day every year.

Regarding the tilted neck of the Goddess, the legend is that in ancient times, when a devotee of the Goddess from the state of Karnataka was suffering from a serious illness, he vowed to offer a thousand Sonchafa flowers to the Goddess for the restoration of his health. When he came for the Goddess’s darshan, the flowering season of Sonchafa had passed, so he could find only one flower from the gardener. He paid the price of a thousand flowers to buy that one flower from the gardener and offered it to the Goddess. However, feeling remorseful that he could not fulfill his vow, he gave up food and water and sat before the Goddess. He took a vow that he would not rise from his place until the Goddess herself said that his vow was fulfilled. Then, pleased with his devotion, the Goddess turned her neck, signifying that his vow was fulfilled. Since then, it is said that the neck of the Goddess remains tilted.

The main Sabha Mandap of the temple has an octagonal tiled roof. At the top of the roof is an Amalaka and a Kalash. On the sloping roof on both sides of the Antaral, there are two Kalash, one at the back and one at the front. On the roofs of both entrance halls, there are square-shaped spires that taper towards the top. On the roof of the Garbhagriha, there is a two-tiered spire. The lower tier of the spire is octagonal, and the upper tier is a circular dome. At the top of the spire is a Stupika, and above it is a Kalash.

Sharadiya Navaratri is the main annual festival here. However, a unique feature of this temple is that Ghatasthapana is not performed here. During the Navaratri festival, Navachandi Yajna and Homa-Havan are conducted, and on the day of Navami, nine banana stalks are worshipped. For nine days, the Goddess is adorned in a decorated shrine (Makhar) seated upon different vehicles. On this day, the Goddess is seated in a palanquin and taken on a procession around the village. The Navaratri festival concludes at dawn with an Abhisheka performed on the Goddess using the rays of the rising sun. On the day of Kartik Krishna Ashtami, the idol of the Goddess is taken to the goldsmith’s house, which is considered her maternal home. From there, the Goddess returns in a palanquin amidst music and celebrations to be re-installed in the temple. The next day, the annual temple fair (Jatrotsav) of the Goddess is celebrated with great enthusiasm. On this occasion, rice, Vade, vegetables, Bhakri, and lentils are served on twenty-eight large leaves in front of the Goddess and offered to her. This is known as ‘Uphan’.

On Kartik Krishna Navami, the annual chariot festival (Rathotsav) of the Goddess is celebrated. During this time, the Goddess is seated in a chariot and taken on a procession around the village. All the villagers together pull the chariot. The Rathotsav marks the conclusion of the Goddess’s Jatrotsav. During the Navaratri and Jatrotsav festivals, thousands of devotees from the surrounding areas visit the temple for the Darshan of the Goddess and to fulfill their vows. Apart from this, all other festivals and celebrations like Chaitra Padwa, Dussehra, Diwali, Kojagiri Purnima, and Kartik Purnima are also celebrated in this temple.

Sacred History & Spiritual Significance

This sacred temple stands as a testament to deep spiritual devotion, ancient architectural grandeur, and rich local cultural traditions.

Temple Sanctum & Architecture

The sanctum sanctorum houses the divine idol consecrated according to ancient Vedic traditions, surrounded by serene courtyards and traditional temple architecture.

Sacred Darshan Gallery