Devaki Krishna Temple is lies 17 km from Panaji in Ponda taluka about 3-km away from Banastari Bridge on the Panaji-Ponda road. Marcel has temples of more than 15 deities of the Hindu pantheon. Here is found India’s only temple where the presiding Deity is Sri Devaki-Krishna, which is Sri Krishna and his mother together in Deity form. Sri Devaki and Krishna are together in the temple by Bhumika Devi, Laxmi Ravalnath, Mallinath, Katyayani, Chodaneshwar and Dhada Shankar. The Garbha Griha contains the beautiful idol of Devaki and Lord Krishna. The idol of Devaki is in standing posture with a child.
The village of Mashel (also spelled Marcela) in Goa holds a unique distinction: it is said to be the only site in India where Krishna is worshipped alongside his biological mother, Devaki. The origins of this unusual practice are lost in the mists of antiquity.
What we know is that an ancient temple of Devaki-Krishna was the pride of the nearby island of Chodan (Chorão). After it was sacked by the Portuguese soon after their arrival in the early 16th C, the idol was squirreled away by the hapless villagers to the hamlet of Mayem. Eventually it found a safe haven in Mashel where it was reconsecrated around the year 1560.
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Festivals
The Devaki-Krsna Deity is offered regular worship by Atri, Kasyapa, Vatsa, Kaudinya, Vasista, and Bharadwaj gotras. Ramanabami and Gokulastami are celebrated here on grand scale. The palakhi is taken in Shukla and Trayodashi (except in Chaturmas). The major festival is Malni Purnima from Paush Vadya is celebrated over here with great fervour and excitement during January-February. The pilgrims from all over India would be visiting Devaki-Krishna temple on the Malin Purnima. This is the main festival of this temple that attracts the devotees from everywhere. The three anniversaries of the temple as well as Navarathri festival are celebrated annually. Shri Chandika Yajna is also organized annually.
Best time to visit
October to April.
Accessibility
By Air:
The nearest airport was Dabolim airport.
By Rail:
The Nearest Rail head is at Margao.
By Road:
Ponda is served by regular buses from Panjim and Margao, and lies on the main route east to Karnataka. The Kadamba Bus Stand is on the main square, next to the auto-rickshaw rank. There are many buses and private vehicles available to reach the temple of Devaki-Krishna temple.