Migration from Gowd Desh to Gomantak

Migration takes place by

1. Invitation
2. Invasion by enemies
3. In search of Water and food.
4. Fight between families.
5. Attack by deceases. Etc.

On the invitation of Lord Parasuham, the ten Gotra Saraswat Brahmins belonging to the Gothras such as -

- BHARADWAJA
- KAUSIKA (KUTSA)
- VATSA
- KAUNDINYA
- KASHYAPA
- VASISHTA
- JAMADAGNI
- VISWAMITRA (KAMSHA)
- GAUTAMA AND
- ATHRI

from Gowd Desh moved to Gomantak State along with their Kuladevatas. Subsequent years, other Gowda Saraswath Brahmins came and settled in Goa Parashuram made Agrahars (settlement place for these Brahmins) in 2 places for the 96 families. 1. Thees Wadi – 30 families were staying 2. Sashashti – 66 families. Total 96 families. They are called as SHENVI BRAHMINS. i.e. 96 (shennav) brahmins by others. Some Saraswath brahmins came from Gujarat (Dwaraka), Rajastan side. They brough Devaki-krishna kuladev and called in by others as DWARKEs (from Dwaraka)

Our Kuladevathas

Kuladevatha – is also known as family deity which is worshipped from the time immemorial right from the Moola Purusha (the first man from our family) to whom se are all descendents. For all religious and cultural rituals like marriage, brahmolpadesam, child naming ceremony, pooja, homa, tarpana etc the Kuladevatha is remembered and prayed. Kuladevata consists of a God/Godess along with Parivar God/Godesses known as Panjista Devathas (5 entities include shakti purushas). That is why a Kuladevatha is not one entity. It is always more than 5 entities. This is the reason why the Kuladevatha is more powerful. Essentially the Kuladevatha is a combination of Shiva & Shakti + spirits. We are identified by our Kuladevatha during the time of alliance. Kuladevatha followers are called as “Kulavis”. A Kuladevatha and a Kulavi are inseplerable. All our Kuladevathas with us ever since we settled on the banks of River Saraswati. Wherever we have migrated, we carried our Kuladevathas with us.

Kuladevatha Migration From Gomantak

In Kaliyuga – many dynasties have ruled Gomantak state fully or partially. Muslims and Christians also ruled Goa. During the time of Portugese invasion, the Hindu people and Hindu temples fell as victims. The Portugese aggression and the harassments against Saraswat Brahmins and temples + Social harassments caused the migration to other places. Portugese govt thought that Hindus and especially brahmins are weak to face the harassment and they can be easily converted in to christanity. Under pressure, they are going to yeild to any extent. Hence first they tried with plundering (robbing) the temple gold, silver, precious stone ornaments, idols (gold sheathing) etc. Second thing they did was by passing a govt. order to close the front doors of the temple and allowed devotees and archaks to function from back door. Thirdly they started disfiguring the stone and pancha loha idols and vahanas like garuda, hanumanth, shesha, crocodile (makari) etc in order to pain the devotees.. Fifth they used to put the beef and pork meat in the temple wells and domestic wells – so that people don’t drink that water. On drinking that water, the Brahminism (purity) will lost and their brahmatwa. Sixth they burnt the temples and destroyed the temple structures so that people don’t have meeting place (where they get good knowledge, support and a kind of unity.) Seventh, they manually harassed Brahmins by cutting their head tail (shikha/shendi) and Yajnopavita (sacred thread). Eighth, they confisicated the properties of widows having no issues (children) and put them in the Christian seminaries. Ninth, they burnt all konkani litratures and our religious scripts. Tenth – any converted person talks to or goes to the place of his relations, he will be burnt in public by tieing to a Cross (like Jesus Christ).…..and many more.

Those who tolerated the harassment and yielded remained there. Others decided to leave the place by taking the Kuladevatha idols etc transfering the Pprana Shakti in Kalasha, on linga, stone, coconut etc and fled in the boats during nights.

Those who stayed have once again made the idols, temple requirements and restarted worhsip of Kuladevatha.

Sri Devaki Krishna Kuladevatha in Chodna (Chore)

Oue Kuladevatha is Devaki Krishna with subdivision like Ravalnath, Mallinath and Daad Shanker. Chodna is an island. Lord Parashuram called this place as “Maha Kshetra” or Chorem is a spiritual place in Teeswadi bhatagram in Goa. ) it is one of the islands out of 17 islands in goa. Chodna is important for Saraswat Brahmins as the first migrants from Goud desh (Bengal) came to Gomantak have settled here. Chodna became a famous Sanskrit university. Many Kuladevathas were installed in and around Chodna. The name Chodna has come from the Sanskrit term “Choodamani” also known as “diamond island” - meaning a place where precious stones (like navaratna) were thrown on that place by yashodha (mother of lord Krishna). Chodna is also known as Nobel Island – a place where nobel people lived. The Devaki Krishna temple shrine installed in Chodna had the following worshipable gods/godesses

1. Ganesha
2. Ravalnath
3. Bhaukadevi,
4. Devaki krishna
5. Mallinatha
6. Bhagavathi
7. Santa-purusha
8. Barazan
9. Narayan
10. Kantheswar
11. Chandeshwar
12. Daddsakal.

In Chodna, there were other temples like “Gaja Laxmi & Ravalnath” near the forest areas. This kuladevatha is also known as “Vana Devatha” (this vana devatha is now shifted to Hiregutti Ravalnath temple, Uttar Kannada Panjista devata

1. Bhagavati
2. Chodneshwar
3. Maha dev
4. Laxminaryana
5.Katyaayinee.

(these stone idols and lingas are installed on the outer circle of the temple. Ganas: a number of ganas (subordinates of ravalnath) like santeri, baarajan, purushaas etc are installed on the surroundings of the temple (All the above dieties, parivars, ganas etc were shifted to Hiregutti & Kagal in North Kanara district )

First Migration from Chodna to Kagal & Hiregutti

In 1967, our elders at that time thought of leaving goa along with kuladevatas, family members and moveable assets in boats. They left in the night quietly down south on the coast line in small boats. They rowed in the back waters of Arabian Sea near to the banks of river for quick land services to carry and run with idols if the Portugese boats chase them. Almost at that time, other kuladevatas also have been shifted from their original stations. Some of them were packed and hidden in the forest and such other secret places. Other kuladevata’s also moved to north kanara / karwar side like,

1. Katyayini Baneshwar (aavarsa)
2. Laxminarayan mahamaya (ankola)
3. Arya durga (Ankola)
4. Kundhodhari (ankola)
5. Shantheri kamakshi Ramanath (Kumta)
6. Mahalasa (Kumta)
7. Ganapath- Mahamaya (Shirale). Etc

Second Migration - fromChodna to Mayem

After the original dieties, idols and worshipable things are shifter to Hiregutti and Kagal of Uttar Kannada, those people who stayed slowly built the damaged structures and replaced all idols and parivar Gods/Godesses. Portugese Government further intensified their harassment. Hence those who were in Chodna shifted the dieties to another island called Mayem another island so that the dieties can be protected. Mayem is the most beautiful island with good landscape sceneries.

Third Migration from Mayem to Marcel

Portugese Christian Missioneries and the Government further intensified their punishment and harassment to Saraswat Brahmins. Those Kulavis thought that there is no point in sticking on to Mayem. They shifted a place called Mashell (Maha Shaila – big hill). This was under the domain of Sonde Samstan. As usual, the Kulavis shifted their dieties to Marcel.