His Story of Goa
From the Sahyadris he beheld the azure of the Arabian waters wherever his eyes reached below, only punctuated by small dry islets. Parashuram was pleased by the panoramic view but he needed to sit somewhere in seclusion, and water certainly wasn't what he was searching. So, he pulled out an arrow, quickly adjusted it in his mighty bow, and let it fly from the misty heights. The arrow traveled, slicing the silent air, and landed gently in what is now known as Benaulim or Bannavle--bann (arrow) plus halli (village)--on the placid coast of South Goa, transforming magically the small parcel of sodden earth into a carpet of glorious green. Looking around the marvelous place, to perform his fire sacrifice, Parashuram's' godly strides took him quite far away, northwards past Majorda, Velsao, Vagator and Siolim. He soon reached Pernem, marking Goa's boundaries from North to South. Of course, few of our elders can confidently assert whether it was at Morjim, Mandrem or Arambol that he eventually made his abode. Rumour has it that Parashuram played a quiet role or rather quite a role during the Opinion Poll against Goa's merger with Maharashtra. However, Parashuram must have regretted his choice of earth, considering how much the political gods and builders, who invaded Goa several centuries later, have polluted the purity of his chosen land and the sanctity of his sacrifices. Bhagvant Parsekar, said to be the oldest Goan…at least in Pernem, believes that one day Parashuram will take his bow and quiver, and wage a war against these desecrators, to either purify them or condemn them to some godforsaken desert. Bhagvant fears that 'Kolngut', which means a black rock, may have to bear the brunt of Parashuram's ire in North Goa, in case the prophecy comes true anytime in the future. Legend also has it that if Parashuram's original arrow is ever found and consecrated, Goa will regain her pristine place as a paradise on earth. Banaulikars need to make a little note of this legend when they excavate their paddy fields or sands to raise concrete jungles. They may still have a chance to save Goa. Ah! Goa was then a haven of the gods. Parashuram's land conversion had worked wonders which has now left him wondering of his wonder. * * * Returning to his story. Among the gods, it came to be known popularly as Parashuram's Paradise Resort. The first god to holiday at Parashuram's Paradise Resort (PPR) happened to be none other than god Siva, who after a game of dice had lost all his possessions to his wife, goddess Parvati. Siva wanted to getaway from it all, from the high heaven, and come down-to-earth. When he arrived here, Siva was truly fascinated by Parashuram's Paradise Resort. The awesome landscape and glittering seascape were just perfect for him to escape from his tribulation after losing the game to goddess Parvati. However, Parvati soon got wind of Siva's blissful sojourn at Parashuram's Paradise Resort. One is not sure whether it was a result of female intuition or a whisper from the naughty, "Narayana, Narayana" chanting god Narada. Anyway, she promptly descended on PPR and quickly reconciled with Siva. Lord Siva's ecstasy was complete when he found beloved Parvati by his side. Pair-o-dice truly became Paradise. It is written in the holy books that they lived happily ever after. * * * Next
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Legend also
has it that if Parashuram's original arrow is ever found and
consecrated, Goa will regain her pristine place as a paradise on
earth. Banaulikars need to make a little note of this legend when
they excavate their paddy fields or sands to raise concrete jungles.
They still have a chance says ALEXYZ.
ONCE upon a time when time itself almost stood still,
god Parashuram, who is the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu,
according to a popular legend, created Goa. The story runs that in a
war of the gods Parashuram's father got killed. Quite naturally,
Parashuram got terribly perturbed. He needed badly to offer a
sacrifice. In a huff, he left heaven and traveled down to the
Sahyadri Mountains, lacing the present Karnataka and Goa border, in
search of a pure land to perform the sacrifice.