Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 11 congratulated the Goa Government on renovating the historic Shree Saptakoteshwar Temple. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant inaugurated the renovated temple on February 11. The temple was constructed by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj over 350 years ago at Narve Village, North Goa.
“The renovated Shree Saptakoteshwar Devasthan, Narve, Bicholim will deepen the connection of our youth with our spiritual traditions. It will also further boost tourism in Goa,” PM Modi tweeted.
Shree Saptakoteshwar Devasthan has been restored under the Goa Archives and Archaeology Department to retain our glorious history, and cultural identity and celebrate the unwavering faith of our people, an official statement read.
The historic temple was inaugurated in the presence of a descendant of Shivaji Maharaj and MLA from Satara, Maharashtra, Shivendra Raje Bhosle.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on February 12 also congratulated the Goa Government on the reopening of the
Shree Saptakoteshwar Temple after its renovation and said that it would draw more tourists to Goa from all over the State.
Taking it to Twitter, Amit Shah said, “Congratulations to the Goa government on the reopening of the historic Shree Saptakoteshwar Temple after renovation. After being attacked by multiple invaders, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj rebuilt the temple. As a major pilgrimage site, it will draw tourists from all over India.”
Goa Chief Minister, in his series of tweets said that he was honoured to be a part of the occasion of the temple’s reopening after the renovation of Narve, Bicholim.
He said that the temple would be dedicated to the people after the religious rituals are performed in the presence of descendants of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
“Shri Saptakoteshwar is the ‘Raj Daivat’ of Goa. The history of temple, originally situated at Naroa, Diwar, Tiswadi, goes back to Kadamba Dynasty rule. It was desecrated by Bahamani rulers, rebuilt during Vijayanagara rule. It was again destructed by Portuguese rule in 1540,” CM Sawant tweeted mentioning that the temple’s renovation has been conducted by the Goa Archives and Archaeology Department.
“Fearing the destruction, the temple was shifted to Narve, Bicholim, at present location. The Present temple was built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1668. His successful campaigns put a check on Portuguese brutalities and religious conversions in Goa,’ his tweet read.
During the renovation, the ‘Kaavi’ art form of wall decoration is being executed to revive the art, he added.
‘Kaavi’ art form is being revived with its use in the wall decoration of the restored Temple. A booklet depicting the thorough history of Shree Saptakoteshwar Temple, written 90 years ago by Shri Jayvant Sardesai was republished at the event on February 11. Descendants of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his Sardars were honourably felicitated on the occasion.
Chief Minister Sawant attended the reopening event of the temple in the presence of MLA Satara Shrimant Shivendra Singh Raje Bhosle, who is also a descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and commenced the rituals for the dedication of the restored Temple of the ‘Raj Daivat’ of Goa, Shree Saptakoteshwar with a ‘Jalabhishek’.
For the ‘jalabhishek’, the required water was brought in from places of historical and devotional importance in Maharastra and Goa.
Emphasising the significance of the temple in the religious glory of Goa, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadanavis also extended their wishes and were delighted on occasion.
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