Shri Gomanteshwar Devasthan Temple is situated at Brahmapur near Ela in Old Goa. It was a colony of Brahmins that existed since ancient times. It was dedicated to Lord Shiva in the name of Gomanteshwar or Goveshwar.
Tradition has it that it was built by Madhava Mantri in the 14th century. He was one of the celebrated ministers of the Vijayanagar Empire. Mahadev was worshipped during the Kadamba dynasty in Goa. The temple also has a tank known as the Madan Tirtha Goraksha Math which is named after him. In the 16th century during the early period of the conquest of Goa the Portuguese destroyed this temple along with thousands of other Hindu temples. During the brief spell in 1775 when investigation was suspended the worship of deity, Goveshwar was allowed to be renewed. Hence temple was once again re-built in 1947 AD. The main festival celebrated at the temple with great devotion and religious fervour was the birthday of Lord Shiva known as Mahashivratri. Soon after, the Viceroy, Dom Federico Guillermo de Souza, destroyed the temple and the deity again on June 6, 1779 under orders from the Queen of Portugal. The temple is in ruins now and the present temple is a simple structure with tiled roof.
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