Goddess in the Mine

Sunday, October 25, 2009

In the village of Shirgaon in Goa’s Bicholim taluka lies the old temple of Goddess Lairai, a form of the Mother Goddess. The annual jatra (festival) associated with this shrine features unusual customs & rituals drawn from the area’s tribal past. Lairai-devi and Milagres Saibinn (Virgin Mary) of nearby Mapusa are recognized as sisters by Goan Hindus and Catholics, an illustration of Goa’s syncretic ethos.

In recent years, Shirgaon, alas, has been laid to waste by unchecked mining activity. To the environmental assassins on the loose in Goa, nothing is sacred. They have reduced this once-beautiful village to a dust bowl, destroyed its forest cover, and plotted to turn villager against villager.

If the photograph below does not betray the surrounding ugliness, it is only because I have framed the composition to exclude the devastation. In truth, the Lairai temple shot was taken from a vantage point located in the mine enveloping it.

Temple of Goddess Lairai in Shirgaon, Goa<br>5D, 24-105L

Temple of Goddess Lairai in Shirgaon, Goa
5D, 24-105L

 
Aniconic representation of Goddess Lairai<br>5D, 24-105L

Aniconic representation of Goddess Lairai
5D, 24-105L

 

Category: Goa, Landscape, Photography, Places, Religion Tag: , , , ,

by Rajan P. Parrikar

11 comments

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December 8, 2009 - 11:16 am

Venantius J Pinto - What struck me about this image is that the colors as seen in this “spectra” may be experienced almost exclusively in India. The energy emanating from the scene as captured in the image is very impressive.

A thought: It may be worth considering images; something that you may already have photographed — to show the threat that mars the balance and serenity of spiritual sites. How these incursions via lack of focus and planning creates unenlightened resonances of mind and spirit. I am not suggesting that you sacrifice your central focus, and believe you have other images that reveal the mine. This is a broad thought and not meant to exhort you towards acting on it.

I believe this is another way that awareness builds up. Perhaps not exactly in our life time though.

November 17, 2009 - 4:34 am

sameer - Liked the dramatic effect of the Panjim Church

October 26, 2009 - 8:37 pm

Arun - “…are bothers and sisters”.

May I never be a bother to anyone :) And may the Mother of Jesus and Lairai Devi work jointly or separately to preserve Goa! I have never seen Goa, but Rajan’s photography shows its great beauty.

October 25, 2009 - 6:28 pm

Mario Goveia - Notwithstanding Fr. Ivo’s narrow-minded objection, I think the Milagres Saibinn would be quite pleased to be recognized as the sister of Lairai Devi. Having a foster sister from another religion takes nothing away from HER exalted position as the Mother of Jesus. Such conceptual relationships is what made the camaraderie between Hindus and Christians so special and unique in Goa, until the fanatics, who think they have a special claim on “the truth”, come along to bollix it all up.

October 25, 2009 - 1:42 pm

jc - As a practising Roman Catholic, I a appalled by Fr. Ivo’s comments.I ask Fr Ivo on what basis he makes those comments. Is it also inaccurate for me to say that Hindu and Christian Goans are bothers and sisters.

October 25, 2009 - 9:59 am

Bosco - Your choice of a vantage point in most of your photos is FANTASTIC!! Brings the best out of the object of the photos.

October 25, 2009 - 7:46 am

Ivo da C.Souza - I liked the photos. This brings to our mind the diversity of representations of divine power. The only point that I must correct in the write-up is that the Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus, cannot be sister of godess Lairai. Catholics cannot maintain it. Anyway, we must work for the welfare of all. All religions should be for our integral human development.

October 25, 2009 - 4:36 am

Xanno Moidecar - Hi Rajan

What a beautiful sight. You must have photographed this sometime in the monsoon.

I remember landscapes like this. In my memeories.

Regards

Xanno Moidecar

October 25, 2009 - 3:26 am

Shrikant Barve - Jatra season in Goa starts with Madkai Jatra in Oct/Nov and ends with Shirgao Jatra in May.

Shirgao jatra is also know for Homkund (Fire pile) where in Dhond (deciple of Goddess Lairai) after 10 days fasting run on fire.

October 25, 2009 - 1:39 am

sunny nazareth - Fantastic picture with full environmental consciousness. Excellent write-up too!. Could we have some more pictures and articles of other fabulous Goan places?. Sunny Nazareth,President Kuwait Goa Foundation,NGO based in Kuwait.

October 25, 2009 - 1:11 am

gaspar almeida - Excellent picture with write-up. Very informative indeed.

Gaspar Almeida
Moderator, Gulf-Goans e-Newsletter (since 1994)
http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/gulf-goans/

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