When A Mythical Arrow Marked The Land

Lisa.Monteiro
In the Salcete taluka, southwest of Margao lies the coastal village of Benaulim. Tucked between the villages of Seraulim, Colva and Varca, River Sal provides a natural boundary east of the village.
According to mythological history of ancient India and the Konkan region, Banespor and Banavli refer not to the axe but to Rama’s arrow that was shot from the Sahyadri Mountains and landed in the sea at Banavli.The arrow is believed to have landed in Kamlam Tallem. The main temple in the village was dedicated to Banespor, the Lord of the arrow. According to Hema and Kishor D Nadkarni in the essay ‘Benaulim Old Deities at Ankola, North Kanara’ in the book Fourth Century Saint John the Baptist Church Benaulim, “An order of the Portuguese government prohibited repairs and construction of new temples thus creating fear in the minds of the Mahajans that they would collapse (given the fury of the monsoons in the region). This prompted them take the deities away to safer destinations in the nearby region under Adilshah or further down South. ‘Konkanakhya’ (history of Konkani) written in verse published in 1721 mentions the deitiedes that were transferred from their original sites and among these are Katyayani and Baneshwar of Benaulim village which are today in Aversa, Ankola. It seems several other deities of Benaulim were also moved to Ankola.”
Opusculo Historico de Benaulim by N S Dendo states that the gaunkars of the village were Pereira, Miranda e Melo, Azavedo, Correira e Furtado, Mesquita, Pereira, Silva, Campos e Vas, Fernandes and Clemente. The village has a population of 11,919 people according to the 2011 census.
The village has become more significant after January 14, 2015, when Pope Francis canonized son of the soil St Joseph Vaz in a solemn ceremony in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Vaz was born in his mother’s village of Pulvaddo originally called Porbu Vaddo on April 21, 1651, to Cristovao Vaz and Maria Miranda. He was baptized on April 28, 1651, in the presence of his godparents Sebastiao Vaz and Esperanca Miranda at a baptismal font that can still be seen at St John the Baptist church. In Fr Cosme da Costa SFX book, Life and Achievements of Blessed Joseph Vaz, he writes. “When he grew up his father sent him to a school at Benaulim to learn Latin as preparation for his priestly studies. Joseph’s stay in Benaulim was a time of great joy, since he could exercise better his love for prayer, charity and altar. He participated in the Mass every day, frequented the Sacraments, recited the rosary on his way to the church, loved to follow processions and take part in the Stations of the Cross…”
The village’s first parish was St John the Baptist erected in 1581 or 1583. The gaunkars of the comunidade of Benaulim granted land on Dongari hillock for the church to be constructed by a resolution on October 21, 1596. Construction began in the last months of the year with the alms of Christians. The church completes 420 years this year.
Renowned Residents
Rafael Antonio Pereira studied medicine in Portugal and returned to Goa. He served as director of Escola Medico Cirurgica
Froilano de Mello served as director of the Escola Medico Cirurgica and director of health services. He played a large role in eradicating tuberculosis and due to his efforts the leprosariums at Macasana and St Inez were set up. In 1926, he was elected as a member of parliament to represent Portuguese India in Lisbon and also served as mayor of Panaji
Victor Froilano Bachmann de Mello, son of Froilano de Mello completed his 90^th birth anniversary in May. He studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and went on to become a world-renowned geotechnical engineer concentrating on embankment dams, dam foundations, subway and tunnels after moving to Brazil
Octaviano Loiola Pereira graduated from Escola Medico Cirrurgica in 1929 where he studied radiology. He practiced in Mumbai hospitals and specialized in leprology and dermatology. He went on to hold the post of director of leprosy of the leprosarium at Macasana
At A Glance
During the Portuguese regime, some deitiedes like the Katyayani and Baneshwar of Benaulim village were transferred from their original sites and are today in Aversa, Ankola
Gaunkars of the village were Pereira, Miranda e Melo, Azavedo, Correira e Furtado, Mesquita, Pereira, Silva, Campos e Vas, Fernandes and Clemente
Sarpanch speaks
Our main problem in Benaulim is that of garbage. Despite collecting dry waste four times a week, once a week from each ward, people don’t cooperate and continue to dump waste by the side of the road and in front of the panchayat office
Remedius N Fernandes, Sarpanch
Locals Speak
Preserving nature | Benaulim is a unique village in so many ways. It has the coast, beautiful fields and is one of the few coastal villages in South Goa to have a monte (hill) too. Till date we have only extorted its natural resources for our benefits. Now we need to restore the village to its former glory. We need the right people to do the right planning. We’re excited about the biodiversity management committee in the village through which we want to preserve its natural wealth. Many traditional occupations including that of toddy tappers and coconut pluckers are dying. We want to train more people who will continue these occupations. Today housing projects in the village are also a major concern and the government must ensure that development is in sync with the growth in population. The village doesn’t receive adequate water or electricity supply
Royla Fernandes, architect and panch member, Benaulim