Talk:Shantadurga

Merge with Saibini

 * Support. Both articles are the same. a redirect will be sufficient. --Deepak D'Souza (talk • contribs) 09:31, 24 July 2008 (UTC)
 * Disagree, both articles need to be given a different emphasis. Shantadurga be developed with reference to it being one of the five temples of the 'Panchayatan' or five deities, sacred to all Saraswat Brahmins. Sabini be developed about the Goddess and her following. AshLin (talk) 05:48, 27 October 2008 (UTC)

Shantadurga is sanskritsed version of the folk deity Santeri,,I wanna create another article for Santeri-the anthill deity,whose worship is still common in Goa,Maharashta n Karnataka who has not yet been Sanskritised. How can I do it? Nijgoykar (talk) 06:01, 4 April 2015 (UTC)
 * Nijgoykar, Santeri and Shantadurga are normally considered synonyms in the present day as per my info. However, I agree that books do suggest that they were distinct deities. Santeri, the anthill deity, is now the folk form of the Sanskritised Shantadurga. Probably, a section in this article about Santeri should suffice IMO. Can you provide references that Santeri is still worshipped as a distinct deity? -- Redtigerxyz Talk 05:16, 7 April 2015 (UTC)

Yes I can,there are many temples where deity is just called as Santeri who are worshipped by a particular people,the name Shantadurga is more common amongst the temples that belong to the so called upper caste.And above mentioned word Saibin is not really common in Goa anymore,its exclusively used to refer to mother Mary.I think I will add another section to the article,which would include worship of Santeri by non-brahmin priest,worship that includes sacrifices,specific rituals now absent from Shantadurga temples,and generally Santeri is connected to Ravalnath,and Betal in some places.Whereas in Shantadurga temples she is a concert of Shiva. Nijgoykar (talk) 02:34, 8 April 2015 (UTC)

Santeri
''Almost all of the temples in Goa and Goan temples across the coast of Karnataka and Maharashtra worship Shantadurga; either as a Kalash, Ant hill or idol. Prior to the Portuguese and Muslim invasions Shantadurga was worshiped in several different names. According to Rui Gomes Pereira, in North Goa - Tiswadi - Santeri was worshiped in the form of Durgavati/ Durga Devi and was later renamed as Navdurga, when shifted to Madkai. In Nagoa and Divar, Santeri was venerated as Mahamaya and tagged on to the same name while being shifted to Ankola (Karnataka) and Khandola respectively. At Benaulim, Santeri was known as Katyayani. At Anjediva Island and Madgaon as Arya devi. In South Goa, Santeri was referred to as Chamundeshwari. In parts of Salcette, Sancoale, Nagoa & Quellosim; Santeri was worshiped as Santeri, Mahamaya, Bhagvati- Bhumika, Vaizari/Oizari/Vijayi. It can be speculated that the suffix 'Durga' was added later on by the Goan Brahmins to impose their superiority over the locals residing at Antruz- Ponda and to stay anonymous about their whereabouts to the Portuguese. ''

The above information sounds dubios.Many deities like Durga of Gauncim,Katyayani of Benaulim,Arya durga of Anjediva,Bhagavati of Aldona etc might not be ant hill deities at all.There were other cults in Goa as well.for example Bhagavati was a deity venerated by the guilds of merchants(irrespective of the caste,refer to copperplates of the kadambas).Aryadurga is again mentioned in copper plates of Kadambas only as Aryadevi.Katyayani might have connection to some other cult,as many historians relate the deity Katyayani with worship of a widow.The word Katyayani refers to a widow in red robes.Durga again is a vedic deity of protection.Mahamaya though in some places worshiped in Pthe form of anthill is also a Tantric deity and remnant of Tantric religion found in Goa(for more info see Malini Purnima rituals performed by Shets of Goa,that include offering of fish,meat,liquor,Mudra (pancha makara) which is still performed in sattvic form by many families).

Other deities like Kamakshi are again of Tantric nature,other form is Kalika.Whereas Gajantlakshmi,Bhaukai,Vandevta were usually worshiped in the form of a semi-circular stone,the mode of worship of which was sanskritied to a very early period and the stone was replaced by a semi circular stone on which a sculpture of Gajalakshmi was carved.(which is again related to primitive earth worshiped overlapped with worship of the Yakshinis(also with some jain influence),and worship of vedic Sri and puranic Lakshmi.Mahalakshmi was also worshipped during shilahara period as mentioned int he copperplates.

I own a copy of Hindu temples and deities it does not mention Navadurga,Bhagavati,Arya durga worshipped in the form of anthills.If so please provide citations.

So its not correct to connect all Goddeses of Goa to anthills. Nijgoykar (talk) 11:35, 18 June 2015 (UTC)