Relics of Buddhism and jainism at Bandivadadem

Goa saw the rise and fall of Maurya, Satvahan, Shilahar, Kadamba, Yadav, Bahamani, Vijayanagar, Adilshahi and portuguese rule. It seems from the relics found in the village of Bandiwad or Bandivadem taht the Buddhism was once florescent in this area. One idol of Buddha is lying nearby the palace of Sunda prince. The ruins of a building in the surrounding of the temple seems to be of a Buddh0Vihar or Jain Mandir. On account of the nameof the plot, which is known as 'Pira-Malla' where this building is lying, many people believe that it was a Masjid. However this impression is wrong. It is not a Masjid but a scared place of Buddhism or jainism. One mutilated idol of Mahavir is also found here. Fr. Heras had discovered an idol of Buddha at Colvale and he had concluded that the Buddhism was prevailing in Goa. From those relics found in this village, one can safely conclude that the Buddhism and Jainism were once prevailing in this territory as elsewhere in India and this village was an important place in the past.

From an inscription of King Tribhuwanmalla, dated 1099 A.D., it is learnt that this king has given a gift of land to Shri Nagesh of Pirel (Priol). However, the eminent archaeologist Prof. P. Pissurlekar is of the opinion that this king is not Tribhuwanmalla but Guhaldeva III, son of Jaikeshi I. because, in that year, Guhaldeva was ruling the kadamba kingdom. This deity was, perhaps, founded by the Priolkar family, who are the worshippers of Shri Nagesh of Bandivadem, or they named after the Siva-ling existing in that village, as they were residing in it and were Kulkarnis of the Gram-Saunsthaence. Similar instances have occurred at Konchadi, near Mangalore, and at cochin. The Konchady and mallya families, who are worshippers (Kulavis) of Shri Nagesh, have constructed small temples. for their convenience and worship, at those places respectively.

Antiquity of the temple

From the above referred inscriptions, it infers that this temple was existing long ago, even before the arrival of Portuguese in Goa. While the inscription of Vijayanagar takes us back to 1413, the copper plate of Savai-Verem is of 1299. The inscription of Priol dates back even to 1099 A.D.

One stone Idol of Uma-mahesh and one of Ganesh have been found in the compound of the temple, From the style of the sculpture, the archaeologists are of the opinion that they are of the VII and VIII centuries respectively. and therefore, it is beyond doubt, that the temple existing here since or before VII century. However, it is a matter for the experts to decide over.

Relations with the Village of Nagvem

There is an impression is some quarters, that this deity was migrated from nagvem village in salcete taluka, during the wave of destruction of Hindu temples by portuguese rulers, in the XVI century. This misunderstanding may be the result of similarity in both the names. but that is not correct. Prof. Pissurlekar has published a list of temples destroyed by the portuguese in Salcete, IIhas and Bardez talukas, from the portuguese records. According the deity Shri Nagesh was existing in the villages of cansaulim, cavorim, sarzora and verla. The temples which were demolished at Nagvem belonged to Sateri or Bhagavati and Ishwar. They were migrated Ankola in karwar. At that place there is one Nagesh but its origin is unknown. There is absolutely no relation between those destroyed Nagesh Temples and that of Bandivadem and its clear proof is seen in the inscription above referred.