Nagesh Maharudra Temple

Getting there

• By road

  The temple is about 800 m from Farmagudi on the Farmagudi-Kavlem-Ponda road, and about 4 km from the Ponda bus stand.

Book and check

Official pages only. We do not sell darshan passes or tours.

• Schedule of sevasshreenagesh.org

Rules to know

• The temple has recently banned entry of foreigners, citing objectionable dressing and conduct.

Why devotees come here

Nagesh Maharudra Temple stands in Bandora, in Ponda taluka of North Goa district. It is dedicated to Shiva in his self-manifested form, and mountain ranges surround it on three sides.

Shree Nagesh Maharudra is a self-manifested form of Shiva, and the temple's official site calls it a swayambhu shrine known for its myths. A legend says a cowherd noticed that a cow from his herd went to the spot each day and gave its milk there. That led to the discovery of the shivlinga.

Traditional accounts in the Sahyadri Khanda date the linga's installation to the time when Parashurama settled the Dashagotri Saraswat clans in Goa. A 1222 AD copper plate from Savoi-Verem refers to the deity as Shree Nagnath of Bandivade. An inscription in front of the temple dates from the reign of Vijayanagara king Veera Pratap Devaraya in 1413 AD.

The present shrine was rebuilt in 1702 Saka (1780 AD) by one Shri Wadiye from Kumbarjuvem, on behalf of two widows. The main shrine faces west. The tank in front mirrors the Nagesh idol and the lamps of the inner sanctum, and an ancient stone idol of Shiva and Parvati, estimated to date from the 7th century, is kept here. Pilgrim rest houses were built around the perimeter in 1781 AD.

Festivals

• Chaitra Shukla PurnimaMahaparvani Mahotsav

  The main yearly festival. It ends at dawn the next day with a grand chariot procession.

• Ashadha Shukla DashamiVisit of Shree Mahalakshmi Devi

  Shree Mahalakshmi Devi is said to visit the temple every year on this day.

• Regularly through the yearNavratri and Bhajani Saptah

  Community celebrations, including weeks of devotional singing.

Tips for your visit

• The doors close once the daily programme is over, so arrive before the last slot starts.
• The morning routine includes unveiling the linga and removing nirmalya.

Questions people ask