Everything You Need To Know About Ancient Chandreshwar Bhootnath Temple In Goa

Chandreshwar Bhootnath temple is one of the oldest temples in Goa. This is a temple that lent its name to the ancient capital of Goa – Chandrapur, which is now called Chandor. The temple itself is located in Paroda.

# Legends of Chandreshwar Bhootnath

Chandreshwar means that the lord of the Chandra or moon, another name of Shiva as he wears a crescent moon on his forehead. The mural of Sagar Manthan or Churning of the ocean at the entrance of the main temple indicates the origin of the moon. It came out as one of the many things that came before the Amrita or nectar came out.

Goa has other moon connections too. Krishna and Balram fought Jarasandh in Gomantak hills. Krishna’s conch or Shankh is supposed to be from this region. As we know Krishna is Chandravamshi.

Incidentally, many rulers of Goa were named after Chandra like Chandragupta Maurya and Chandraditya. The temple is attributed to Bhoja king Chandravarman. Now if the kind lent his name to the deity or the deity lent his name to the kind and his capital is anyone’s guess. The temple finds mention in the oldest copper plate inscription of the region dating back to 5-6th CE. This means the temple was built at least in the 4th CE.

I am told it is also mentioned in the Sahayadri Khand of Skanda Puran, though I am yet to read it.

# Visiting Chandreshwar Bhootnath Temple

Temple is located in the Quepem Taluka in South Goa about 26 km from Margao. The Mahadwar or the temple arch is visible right from the main road, and this is where one has to take a detour. Mahadwar is beautifully adorned with Murtis of different deities like Bhairavas, Skandhas, and the Shiva himself on top. It is lit in the evening, making it visible from a long distance.

# Shankh Bhairav Temple

After crossing the Mahadwar, the first temple you see is the Shankh Bhairav Temple. It is built in a typical Goan style and is dedicated to Shankh Bhairav who is worshipped in the form of a Shivalinga.This temple is closed on Purnima and opens only for morning and evening Puja on other days.

# Siddha Bhairav, Kaal Bhairav, and Kamandalu Tirtha

After reaching roughly midway up the hill you reach a place where there are marled parking slots next to a big building. This is a part of the Chandreshwar Bhootnath temple complex. It is the place for the devotees to stay and eat. Here you can see an old Tirtha or a temple tank next to two small but very old temples. The temples, literally a small room each standing next to each other are the two Bhairav temples called Kaal Bhairav and Siddha Bhairav. The tirtha is called Kamandalu tirtha. Water from this Tirtha is used for the Abhishek of Chandranath.

# Bhairav Temple and Tea Shop

Midway on the staircase, you find another small Bhairav temple with just a stone in the shape of a linga. It is an open temple with just a canopy on top. Fresh flowers, an oil lamp, and incense sticks tell me that regular worship is performed here.Opposite it a modern-day pump house.The teashop next to it is a popular stop to recharge oneself. However, at this point in time, it was closed primarily due to a smaller number of visitors’ courtesy pandemic.

# Main Temple

From the highest point where you can take the car, you still have to climb about 100 odd steps. It is not difficult to climb but it is good to be aware of it.After the steps, you reach a small arch in bright yellow color. Do not forget to look at its base, you will see the base of an old stone door. Step inside and you see a typical Goan temple on your right-hand side.

On the left are two large tin sheds that I would later discover are the parking slots of temple chariots. Temple is famous for its chariots with horses and elephants, and the silver horse. An old banyan tree with a small Deepastambh next to it stands on one side of the temple. Next to it, some newly carved stone statues were lying, I assume they are a part of some new project. Next to it, there is a huge boulder and a covered Yagnashala, which was closed when we visited.

# View from the Chandranath Hilltop

Walk around the temple and lookout, for you are on the highest point in Goa. You will get a breathtakingly beautiful view of nature’s blessings that Goa has. The hill is surrounded by valleys on all sides, which in turn are surrounded by layers of hills. You can look at them for a long time. Being on top, the air is always there.

Chandranath hill is huge and I have a feeling in the good old days, people may have done parikrama around it. It is full of thick foliage. I was told that you find a lot of herbs on this hill. Let’s hope someone designs a botanical trail to identify these herbs and wild plants. I am sure there are many wild animals as well, but we found only monkeys jumping around.

# Chandreshwar Temple

The main Chandreshwar temple is a beautiful temple with colorful wood carvings all around the mandapa. The main temple has a Shivalinga which is covered so you only see the cover. Linga is Swayambhu that is self-manifested. Behind is the Murti of Chandranath. Surrounding the main temple are the stone Murtis of Navadurga, Ganapati, Vishnu, and Mahalakshmi.

# Bhootnath Temple

Bhootnath temple is located right next to the Chandreshwar temple but in a room of its own. This temple is closer to the original temple with a tall triangular stone still worshipped as Bhootnath. It is surrounded by a wood-carved frame. Bhootnath is a Gana of Shiva. A hookah is placed next to the deity and lovely bright brass lamps hang around. Behind it the Trishul or trident of Shiva.

# Tulsi Chaura and Old Stone Murtis

The other side of the temple that you see when you do the parikrama has a large Tulsi Chaura. Close to it is an old Shivalinga and fragments of an old stone temple. A small ancient Hanuman Murti in stone is embedded on the wall of Tulsi Chaura.Beneath a tree in the corner, I found an ancient Nandi broken into two pieces.Temple celebrates festivals like Shivaratri, Navaratri, Shravani Somvars and Dussehra.