Shri Venkataramana Temple, Kapu

For online darshan check out this video by Youth of GSB and documentary by Spandana channel History and Background: Kapu (also called Kaup or Rakshanapur) is a coastal town that has several points of historical significance. The GSBs in this region flourished under the reign of the Keladi Nayakas who ruled over parts of Tulunadu after … Read more

Nagdo Betal: The Mysterious Naked Guardian of Goa’s Folklore

My Early Impressions As a child, the name betāla(बेताळ) conjured up one very specific image: the ghostly figure perched on King Vikramaditya’s back from the show Vikram and betāla. Pale, eerie, and whispering riddles, he was the stuff of bedtime chills and blanket-clutching nights. betāla also regularly appeared in the stories and conversations I heard … Read more

Kavi Kala – A Konkan art form fast disappearing

Update: Many years since I last did this post, I have a happy update. Thanks to the guidance of Shri Vidyadheesh Tirtha Swamiji of Gokarna Partagali Math, Kavikala has been used to decorate the Gokarna Partagali Math project led by Dr. Janardhan Havanje!! Look forward to seeing more such revival of our ancient forms. Long … Read more

Mahalasa Narayani Temple, Kumta

ॐ देवी महालसायै नम:।। Website: http://kumta.mahalasa.org/ Phone: +91 8386 222119 Check out this Spandana TV channel coverage of the temple here History: The year was 1565 AD (16th century), approximately 450 years ago when Devi Mahalasa’s idol reached Kumta. Her kulavis had somehow managed to escape with her idol hidden in a pot. While they … Read more