Chandreshwar Bhootnath Temple

This site is a fun and active way to start your day visiting the cluster of temples that are south from Ponda, in the neighbouring taluka of Quepem. Lord of the Moon, Chandranath or Chandreshwar is another name for Lord Shiva. You might have observed a picture of him with a crescent moon on his head as an ornament. According to Indian mythology, during the event of samudra manthan or churning of the ocean by gods and demons, many ratnas or gems emerged besides poison and the originally sought nectar of immortality. These ratnas were distributed between the two sides. One of these gems was Chandra or the moon, who accepted Lord Shiva as his lord and adorned his head in a crescent form. Since then Shiva is also referred to by this unique name.

Incidentally, Chandreshwar was the patron deity of the ancient Bhoja dynasty of Goa. The kings even named their capital city after him as Chandrapur. This city in Salcete taluka after the Portuguese rule came to be known as Chandor and is about 10 km from this site in Paroda, Quepem. As such, the temple's age is thought to be 1500 years or so during the reign of Bhoja kings. The ancient and historic temple, with a sculpted painting depicting the manthan on its modern entrance, is located on a hill and involves climbing a few steps. The inner sanctum has a Shiva Linga that is supposedly illuminated by moon's rays on a full moon night. An adjacent altar to this main temple is devoted to Bhootnath, quite literally translated as the Lord of the Ghosts, yet another name for Lord Shiva, who is seen with a garland of skulls in a some forms.