Lord Shiva is worshipped as Shri Mangesh at the famous Mangeshi Temple at Ponda, Goa. The story of Shri Manguesh begins with a game of dice played between Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
Legend has it that Shiva once lost in a game of dice to Goddess Parvati. In a fit of rage, Shiva left Kailash and took refuge in the jungles in Ponda.
When Goddess Parvati came looking for him, he decided to play a prank and turned himself into a tiger to frighten her.
When Goddess Parvati came looking for him, he decided to play a prank and turned himself into a tiger to frighten her.
A sacred Goddess Parvati called out – Trahi Mam Girisha – O Lord of Mountains Save Me.
Shiva immediately left the form of tiger, took his original form, and consoled Goddess Parvati.
Since then Shiva is also known as Mam Girisha.
Mam Girisha overtime became ‘Manguesh.’
Years later devotees discovered a Shivling here and the temple came to be known as Manguesh.
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