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 had left everything behind in Goa to escape the religious persecution by the Portuguese, their Devi in whom they had immense faith stayed with them. Our community would not have survived without the selfless and large hearted donations by some of the the resident families. As did many others during that time, Devi Mahalasa’s resident kulavi in Kumta, the Pai family donated the land where the current temple is situated.
Structure and Architecture:
The temple is very ornate and has exquisitely carved doors covered with silver. The ceiling has delicate floral and geometrical patterns in wood carried out by local artisans called Gudigars. Kavi paintings on the walls depict mythological figures .They speak volumes about the painstaking mural paintings done in ochre. These mural paintings are a form of a rare art called Kavikale (Kavi which means ochre + Kale means art). This form of art is very unique to our temples in the Konkan coast.
The idol at the temple is four armed and her upper right hand holds the trishula (trident) while the lower one has the khadga (shield) as well as the crest of Mundasura. Similarly, the upper left hand has the pot of nectar and the lower one holds the head of the demon whose blood is being sucked up by a wolf. The deity stands on Chandasura. The idol is decorated both as male and female and it is believed that the goddess appears as a little girl in the morning, as an enchanting young lady at noon after the maha pooja and as a devout wife at sunset.The idol is made of five alloys. The circular disc behind her is inscribed with verses in her praise.
The other deities in the temple premises are Shanteri, Grampurush, Bhagavati, Dadshankar, Laxminarayan and Kalabhairav.
Photo Courtesy: Kumta local Baba Prahlad Pai whose family oversees the administration of the temple.
Special Facilities and Events
The temple has accommodation facilities and a large hall for any ceremonies.
An important feature of the temple is the appane prasada wherein tender leaves of a sacred plant are pasted at 32 spots all over the deity and the problem of the devotee is placed before her. As an answer to the prayer the tender leaves fall off or move on the deity. Special significance is attached to the movement of these leaves and the solution is deduced accordingly.
Listen to Mahalasa stotra and bhajans here