The Yati expounded to Muddana the manner in which the Saraswats settled in the eight agraharas and twenty-three kshetras granted by Bhargava, along with the traditions of their gotras, kulas, and sacred scriptures (Agamas).
1. "O foremost among ascetics (Tapasa-shreshtha), by your grace I have comprehended this exalted history. Now, kindly enlighten me as to which gotras Parashurama settled and nurtured by granting which kshetras and agraharas in that Konkan region, and where and how many kulas he established in that land." When Muddana requested thus, the Yati spoke: ||1||
2. "Listen, O Viprottama: Kashyapa, Vatsa, Atri, Gautama, Vashistha, Kaushika, Kaundinya, Bharadwaja, Shankhapimgalaka, and Gargya—these are the primary ten gotras (dasha-gotras). To these, eight more were added: Sankhyayana, Angirasa, Naidhruva, Dhananjaya, Kautsa, Mudgala, Jamadagni, and Vishvamitra, making them eighteen in total. ||2||
3. In Central Konkan (Madhya Konkana), for the tender-hearted people belonging to five gotras and six kulas—including Vatsa, Kaushika, and Bharadwaja—who were granted Mathagrama (Margao / Madgaon), the foundational agrahara sharing the same name alongside Sasashti (Salcete), Bhargava bestowed and established Mahalakshmi, the chief queen of Sri Damodara, as their Kula-devata. ||3||
4. The divine presence (sannidhya) of the deity there was extraordinary: diverse musical instruments, ceremonial drums (bheri), sacred dances, devotional songs, recitations of Puranas, Harikathas, and spiritual night vigils (jagarana) were conducted. During the ritual bath (abhisheka) and worship, if one listened intently, the resonant blast of a sacred conch (shankha-naada) could be heard echoing directly from the Linga, and two drumsticks would beat upon the drum on their own accord! ||4||
5. The second agrahara is Verem (Verana). In ancient times, to distribute the divine nectar (amrita) obtained from the churning of the cosmic ocean between the Suras and the Asuras, Goddess Mahalasa took her seat here. Her divine form is wondrous. To protect her devotees, she fashioned a sacred lake atop the hill, enthusiastically making the anklet bells (gejje) on her feet jingle. ||5||
6. Hearing that resonant jingling with astonishment, the cowherds watered their cattle and carried the news to the town. Struck with wonder, thousands of people came running, prostrated at her feet, and humbly pleaded for protection; thereupon, a disembodied celestial voice (ashareeravani) was heard by them. ||6||
7. Casting down a stone boulder, the celestial voice commanded: 'Fashion a beautiful, divine icon within eight ghatikas (approx. 3.2 hours)!' Accordingly, the sculptors set to work. As the eight ghatikas elapsed, blood and milk began to flow from that stone. Washing it, they consecrated the icon. Day and night, with instruments, music, and dance, they conducted worship with immense festive joy. ||7||
8. There, people of five gotras—including Bharadwaja, Atri, and others, as well as people of various other gotras—worshipped Goddess Shanteri amidst the majestic resonance of parasols (chhatra), whisks (chamara), banners (patake), and diverse ceremonial drums and conches. ||8||
9. 'Kudatari' (Curtorim) is the third agrahara. People of four gotras, including Bharadwaja, dwell there, worshipping Durga-Shanteri. The spiritual glory of that holy site is immense; the festive pageantry, instrumental music, and devotional hymns there are beyond compare. That Goddess, ever bound by love for Her devotees, fulfills all their individual desires. ||9||
10. The fourth agrahara is 'Banaavalli' (Benaulim). Lord Baneshwara residing there is the protector of the humble; the sacred site bears the names 'Bhairava Kshetra' and 'Ishupaaka'. People of three gotras, including Atri and Kaushika, reside here, devoutly worshipping Ishwara alongside Goddess Katyayani. ||10||
11. The fifth agrahara is 'Shankhavali' (Sancoale). Here, worship is conducted across three sacred sanctums. At the confluence of the rivers with the ocean of Vijayadurga, diverse varieties of sacred conches (shankhas) are found; hence it acquired the name Shankhavali (Sancoale). Lord Lakshmi-Narasimha arrived from Vaikuntha and took up His permanent abode here to protect His devotees. ||11||
12. Among the seven gotras, people belonging to the Shankhapimgalaka branch, Kaushika, Bharadwaja, Jamadagni, and Vatsa gotras, render devotional service and meditation unto Him with boundless piety; day and night, washing away their sins, they worship Him continuously in great assemblies. ||12||
13. 'Rayatura' (Raia) is the sixth agrahara. Here stands the temple of Goddess Kamakshi, inhabited by the descendants of the Kaushika and Atri gotras. While touring Loutolim during her circumambulation of the earth, Mother Kamakshi had stayed in the village of Kaavoor. ||13||
14. When she revealed her divine form to a Vipra there, he escorted her towards his own village. Night fell, and she halted in the neighboring village named 'Rai'. When the Vipra attempted to lift her at dawn to take her swiftly to his village, she would not move; she stood firmly rooted right there—and within that short span, she had performed numerous miracles! ||14||
15. People from both villages—Rai and Lotali (Loutolim)—arrive here, singing devotional hymns to the accompaniment of various musical instruments. Performing numerous righteous deeds, through constant prayer and contemplation, they attain an auspicious state (sadgati). ||15||
16. The seventh agrahara is 'Lotali' (Loutolim). Here, people of the Vatsa and Kaundinya gotras have reposed their faith in Ramanatha-Shanteri. This is a peerless holy center; its miraculous divine grace is incomparable. Sumptuous feasts (mrishtanna) are served here continuously to the devotees. ||16||
17. The eighth agrahara is 'Nagoa' (Naga / Nagave). Here, Shanteri Bhagavati is worshipped according to the sacred Agamas by the descendants of the Vatsa and Bharadwaja gotras. Daily celebrations take place with great fanfare, and all the cherished desires of pilgrims are fulfilled. ||17||
18. Thus have I detailed the deities of the eight agraharas and the Vipras of various gotras dwelling within them. Now I shall recount the sacred kshetras. The first among them is 'Govapura' (Goa Velha); people of the Bharadwaja and Vatsa gotras reside there as devout worshippers of Lord Saptakoteshwara. The second kshetra is 'Vele' (Velim), where Lord Gananatha abides. ||18||
19. People of the Bharadwaja and Vatsa gotras dwell there. The third is the kshetra named 'Saanga' (Sanguem); in this kshetra, there are people belonging to four gotras—Bharadwaja, Atri, Vatsa, and Vashistha—all of whom worship Goddess Durga. The fourth kshetra is 'Jimbala'; here, descendants of the Vatsa and Kaushika gotras devoutly worship 'Bhagavati'. 'Joshi' is the fifth kshetra. ||19||
20. There, the Kaushika and Bharadwaja gotras worship Goddess Lakshmi. The sixth kshetra is 'Nevare' (Neura); here, people of the Kaushika gotra place their faith in Madhava. The seventh is 'Talavali' (Talaulim), where the Vatsa and Kaundinya gotras are devoted to Govinda. The eighth is 'Narave' (Narve); there, people of five gotras—Gautama, Vatsa, Kashyapa, Bharadwaja, ||20||
21. and Kaushika—worship Goddess Shanta-Bhagavati and Narayana, who is easily accessible to devotees. The ninth kshetra is 'Malaara' (Malar); there too, the aforesaid five gotras worship Kali-Kalabhairava and Narayana. The tenth kshetra is 'Naveli' (Navelim), where the five gotras worship Gajanana. ||21||
22. The eleventh kshetra is 'Golati' (Golaulim / Goltim); there, the aforesaid five gotras worship Bhagavati Shanta. 'Divaganvi' (Divar / Devanaki) is the twelfth kshetra; there, people of all gotras worship the Sun God, Divakara. The thirteenth is 'Bandode' (Bandora); there, the Vatsas and Kaushikas worship Srinatha. 'Adakau' (Adcolna / Madkai) is the fourteenth kshetra; there, the Bharadwajas and Vatsas— ||22||
23. —worship Goddess Durga and Ravalnatha. The fifteenth is 'Kudayi' (Cudnem / Kudne); the Gargyas and Atrijas worship Goddess Durga and Ravalnatha there as well. The sixteenth is 'Chhatagrama' (Chorao / Satari); there, people of fourteen gotras—including Kashyapa, Bharadwaja, Atri, Kaundinya, and Vatsa—worship Devaki-Krishna and Ravalnatha. The seventeenth kshetra is 'Dambone' (Dhabdhabe / Dabose); there— ||23||
24. —people of the Bharadwaja, Naidhruva, Kashyapa, and Vatsa gotras worship Paramamriteshwara, Durgavetala, Shanteri, and Ravalnatha. The eighteenth is 'Mantrorji' (Marcaim); there, the Atrijas ever worship the Kshetrapala. In the nineteenth kshetra, 'Panchavadi' (Panchwadi), the Bharadwajas— ||24||
25. —are engaged in the worship of Siddheshwara. In the twentieth kshetra, 'Rishivana' or 'Arivanapura' (Rivona), people of the Kaushika gotra are engaged in singing praises to 'Vimaleshwara'. In the twenty-first kshetra, 'Kuradi' (Curdi), descendants of the Kashyapa gotra propitiate 'Someshwara'. In the twenty-second kshetra, 'Vilane' (Velinga / Veling), people of three gotras— ||25||
26. —worship 'Moolaveera' of Girijaveshwari. In the twenty-third kshetra, 'Kholagrama' (Cola / Khola), the Vatsas continuously worship Lord Narayana. Thus have I detailed the twenty-three kshetras. Now I shall instruct you regarding the sacred traditions of the villages of Sasashti (Salcete),' said the venerable Muni to the noble Vipra. ||26||
27. 'In the village of 'Kushasthali' (Cortalim), people of the Kaundinya, Vatsa, and great Jamadagni gotras worship Lord Manguesha Mahaprabhu (Aghuvirama Mangesha Maharudra). The spiritual glory of that holy site is supremely unique: during the ritual bath (abhisheka), the sound of the 'Singi' (horn trumpet) is heard without fail. A continuous stream of pilgrims arrives daily, and people revere this kshetra as equal to Dvaravati (Dwaraka). ||27||
28. In the village of 'Keloshi' (Quelossim), Mother of the Universe Shanta-Durga abides. She is worshipped by the noble Vishvamitra gotra. A man of the Vatsa gotra from a neighboring village came to Keloshi and, through the grace of the Mother, became capable of giving his daughter in marriage (kanyadana); from that day, descendants of two gotras render service there. ||28||
29. A learned Vedic scholar (shrotriya) named Panandikar of the Bharadwaja lineage became the third by worshipping her with a heart free of envy. In the village of 'Giradoli' (Girdolim), the Bharadwaja, Vatsa, Kaushika, and Vashistha gotras worship Mahamaya; in the village of 'Vadeya' (Vada / Vadi), descendants of the Vatsa gotra have worshipped Shanteri without any deficiency from ancient times. ||29||
30. In the village of 'Shikhali' (Chicalim), all gotras worship Shanteri; in the Mahakhajana, the Kaushika gotra worships Ravalnatha; in the village of 'Khede' (Khed), all gotras worship Shanteri collectively; and in 'Ankhavade' (Ankole / Aquem), descendants of the Kaushika gotra devoutly worship Ravalnatha and become recipients of his grace. ||30||
31. In the village of 'Kholavadi', people of the Gautama lineage have propitiated Kalabhairava with steadfast faith. In Mandrem (Maandre), the Jamadagni, Vatsa, and Atri lineages join together to worship Satyeshwara endowed with the presence of Mahalakshmi. The miraculous quality of this site is that any venom is cured here! In 'Koragav' (Korgao), descendants of the Kaushika and Kashyapa gotras worship Kamalesha. ||31||
32. In 'Shirode' (Shiroda), people of the Kashyapa, Bharadwaja, Atri, and Vashistha gotras; in 'Hadole' (Hadcolna), the Vatsa, Jamadagni, and Vashistha gotras; in 'Ponturpe' (Ponda / Ponduro), the Vashistha, Kashyapa, and Atri gotras; ||32||
33. in 'Salaganvi' (Saligao), all three of the aforesaid gotras worship Varavetala and Saptakoteshwara. In 'Aniganvi' (Anjuna / Aldona), descendants of the Jamadagni, Atri, Kashyapa, Vashistha, and Vatsa gotras worship Ravalnatha; while for the villages of Moyida, Nautanole, Poonale, Hanazhana, Kaundooli, Yookasye, Bhumigatikasaba, Bardez, and Meesu, their respective gotra deities (gotra-devatas) serve as the objects of worship. ||33||
34. In 'Kasabakasora', the Atri and Bharadwaja gotras join together to worship at Malpe; the Shankhapimgalaka and Atri gotras worship Moolaveera, Gomatheshwara, and Bhagavati Devi; in 'Parasa' (Parsem), they worship Bhagavati; and in 'Dargali' (Dhargal), two gotras including Kaushika worship Dhareshwara day and night. ||34||
35. In the village of 'Chancharde', people of the Bharadwaja and Atri gotras worship Ravalnatha; in 'Sheeme', they worship Vetala; the same gotras worship in 'Machakamurali' as well. In 'Valavali' (Walaval), the Jamadagni and Vatsa lineages worship Narayana; in 'Nerooru' (Nerur), the Kautsa and Bharadwaja lineages praise Kamaleshwara. ||35||
36. In 'Dharmapura' (Rajapura), descendants of the Vatsa and Kaushika gotras worship Bhagavati; in 'Parule' (Parule), four gotras—Sankhyayana, Bharadwaja, and Dhananjaya—devoutly worship the deities Veeravetala, Ravalnatha, Adinatha, and Kanakaditya. ||36||
37. In 'Pathagrama', Dvijas of the same gotra worship Chamundi; in 'Tendoli', Bhadrakali; in 'Vetore' (Vengurla / Vetore), the Kaundinya and Kaushika gotras worship Shanteri; in 'Khanavali', the Gargya, Bharadwaja, Kaushika, and Vatsa gotras worship Siddheshwara; and in 'Ajaganvi' (Azgaon), they worship Vetala. ||37||
38. In 'Mahoola', the Atrijas; in 'Mapanotti', the Vatsa and Kashyapa lineages; in 'Dabori', the Bharadwajas; in 'Golarva', the Kaundinyas; in 'Malganvi', the Atri and Kashyapa lineages; in 'Kojale', the same gotras bound by friendship; in 'Chandavana', the Bharadwajas; and in 'Masure' and 'Govire', they worship Vetala. ||38||
39. A territory extending sixteen yojanas—Central Konkan spread around Gomachala (Goa). Among the sixteen villages here, in a village named 'Bhata' (Bhatagrama / Bicholim), a noble Brahmin arrived exhausted from the village of Pali. There, they honored him and gave a maiden in marriage (kanyadana). In gratitude, he settled right there, bringing his family deity Ravalnatha from Pali and consecrating him in this village. ||39||
40. A dispute arose between the inhabitants of Mahakhajana and Giradoli over a piece of land situated between their two villages. The complaint was brought before the assembly of mahajanas. The people of nearby Panchavadi accepted a bribe and bore false witness. A severe, rotting leprosy afflicted all those who aided this false claim, and every one of them perished! ||40||
41. Learning their lesson the hard way ('wisdom after ruin'), the people of Panchavadi who took the bribe abandoned that land. The disputed land was acquired by the people of Kudatari (Curtorim) from both parties. But even to this day, not a single blade of grass grows upon that ground—it lies desolate, and the people of Panchavadi have been left with sparse progeny. ||41||
42. Wherever people from the village of Mandrem (Maandre) may be on this earth, if they simply contemplate Goddess Lakshmi and offer a sip of water, snake venom or any deadly poison is instantly neutralized! This can be witnessed directly, and those who establish marital or familial ties with them also attain this miraculous power (siddhi). ||42||
43. Eight villages in Gomanchala, eight in Mahamangeshawadi, thirty in Adhika-Tiswadi, five in Pedne (Pernem), twelve in Bardez, and four in Dveepavadi (Divar / Islands)—thus, for a total of sixty-seven villages, the collective name Sasashti (Salcete) became established in customary usage. ||43||
44. There are certain other villages as well. Because they merged into Kudala Desha (Sawantwadi / Kudal), they became distinct. Due to ancient contact with foreign rulers (mlecchas), their original counts and names have changed, making it difficult to identify them as before; yet, if scrutinized with precision, their ancient names and characteristics can still be uncovered. ||44||
45. The people of Keloshi acquired Bandode (Bandora). To the people of Bandode fell the cluster of Vilane villages, Kuradi, and Rivona; to the people of Khola fell Mandrem; to the people of Shikhari (Chicalim) fell Madkai and Balerdava; and to the Joshis fell Tendoli, Kholagrama, and Vyaghravadi. Thus, through enterprise and capability, the number of villages acquired by them increased. ||45||
46. First there were eight agraharas; from there, the expansion of villages spread outward: sixteen villages including eight in Mangeshawadi, seven villages of Goa, fifteen of Divaganvi, four in Dveepavadi from Tiswadi-Narve to Golati, along with Kasabaka, Soradi, and Pancha-Pedne; ||46||
47. twelve in Shiroda, and extending beyond Bardez, when eighteen villages from Valavali were annexed, it became Kudala Desha. Thus was the detailed account of villages compiled. Certain new villages were also incorporated; since immense time has elapsed, such developments naturally occur. ||47||
48. I have explained the reasons for the discrepancies between ancient and modern times. The sixty-seven villages gifted in accordance with sacred injunctions remain as they were, while several other villages and territories were incorporated; observing thus, many more villages were integrated into Kudala Desha. ||48||
49. Concerning the sixty-seven Sasashti villages granted by divine grace, the eight agraharas, the twenty-three kshetras, the sixteen villages, Tiswadi, Dveepavadi, Mangeshawadi, Pedne, Kudala Desha, Bardez, and the gotras and Kula-devatas of the Dvijas, I have expounded everything in exhaustive detail by the grace of Lord Vasudeva Ramesha." ||49||
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