Sri Damodar Bhagwan in Mormugao, Goa

 The history of Sri Damodar Bhagwan in Mormugao, Goa, blends centuries-old migration with a miraculous 19th-century intervention.

The Origins: Shifting from Margao to Zambaulim

While "Damodar" is traditionally a name for Lord Krishna, in Goa, Lord Damodar is uniquely worshipped as an avatar of Lord Shiva in the form of a Shiva Lingam. 

The original seat of the deity was located in Margao (where the Holy Spirit Church stands today). In 1567, amidst temple destruction during the Portuguese rule, devotees secretly smuggled the sacred deity out of Margao. They relocated the main shrine to the safety of Zambaulim (Quepem taluka), where it remains nestled on the banks of the Kushavati River.

The 1896 Plague and Migration to Mormugao

The presence of Lord Damodar in the port town of Mormugao began much later due to a health crisis:

The Epidemic: 

In 1896, a deadly plague broke out in the crowded port town of Mormugao, claiming numerous lives daily.The Divine Intervention: Desperate for a cure, a prominent local devotee traveled to the primary temple in Zambaulim. He brought back a sacred, blessed coconut as a divine symbol of Lord Damodar's protection.

The Miracle: 

Devotees installed the coconut in Mormugao and initiated non-stop prayers. Shortly after, the plague miraculously subsided, completely ridding the town of the disease.

The Establishment of the Mormugao Mandir

Following the town's salvation, a leading local citizen from the Joshi family permanently donated a section of his ancestral home on Swatantra Path to house the deity. The sacred coconut was installed there, establishing the revered Shree Damodar andir of Mormugao Port City of Goa.

The Legacy: Saptah

To commemorate this historic healing, the town observes the world-famous Saptah festival annually during the holy Hindu month of Shravan (usually July/August). This week-long festival features a non-stop 24-hour chanting of bhajans, a procession to immerse the previous year's sacred coconut into the Arabian Sea, and the installation of a fresh anointed coconut to guard Mormugao for the upcoming year.