Maruti Mandir

It was in 1968 citizens of Aquem area felt necessity of a temple in the area and to decide the same a meeting was called at Kiran Hall, Aquem under the Chairmanship of Late Prabhakar Dessai. Meeting was well attended by locals and decided to have a Datta Mandir or Maruti Mandir and accordingly Late Madhukar Hede a expert person from Communidade was entrusted the responsibility to search for the land for the same.

As years passed Late Datta Virginkar was in process to setting up a canning factory in that area and he started construction of the same. Incidentally one day while fixing tiles a catholic fitter got a Maruti image tile, he gave it to his supervisor Mr. Prabhu. Since the project was of fish canning it was decided not to fix in the said factory premises so Mr. Prabhu asked the tile fitter to fix the same to Davne (resting for people carry load) a prominent place on way to Davorlim.

Our senior citizens from that area were having Sunday-katta there, noticed people (Rakhne) were worshiping the Maruti tile with flowers and agarbattis. Among them present at katta Late Gangadhar Shirwaikar and Late Hari Manerkar offered to perform Bhajan. Thus every Saturday bhajan started with Late Gangadhar Shirwaikar, Hari Manerkar, Bapla Gaonkar, Rama Verenkar, Appa Ghodge etc.

Further, slowly, the developments took place and Devshibhai Patel helped the erect shade, Late Dr. Suresh Virginkar donated Maruti Idol (murti), Late Dattatraya Ghodge donated bhajan equipments etc. Late Ramnath Naik was asked to look after managing activities along with Late Datta Virginkar and Late Madhukar Acharya.

Thus activities of Maruti Mandir was going on smoothly till 1982, but then some incidents made to form a Trust to run the activities of temple. Adjacent plot was taken from Mr. Mascarenhas to construct the temple. There were several efforts made to build the temple, but did not materialised.

In 1989 the senior trustees of the temple thought to meet Late Mr. Ananat N. Naik who was then little free from political life due to lost in election and insist to shoulder the responsibility of temple construction. He took one week to decide, it seems this was his first of kind a temple project in his life to accept, so he took his kuldev’s prasad which was positive. He accepted and plunge into action whole heartedly. He made his efforts to visit each and every house of Margao and nearby areas. It was surprising that he was saying Madgaonkars never sent him empty handed, donations were pouring in till 1992 and the mandir construction was completed and HH Vidhyadhiraj Tirth Swamiji of Partagal performed the Maruti murti’s pratisthapana. The Swamiji was convinced that construction of the temple was timely completed due to single handed efforts taken by Late Babu Naik.

The original trustees were Late Ramnath D. Naik, Datta V. Virginkar, Madhukar Acharya, Dattatraya V. Ghodge, Ganagadhar P. Shirwaikar, Hari Manerkar, Ramesh Prabhu Azgaonkar, Devshibhai Patel, Rama Verenkar, Damodar Kanekar, Radhakant Pai Kane, Surendra Padyar, Ramesh Nagvenkar, Vishnudas Kunde, Mahableshwar Borkar and Anant N. Naik.

We celebrated 25^th year celebration of pratisthpana day in 2018 in grand manner. HH Vidhyadhiraj Tirth Swamiji along with his Shishya of Partagal Math performed the religious rituals. We also had Bhagwat Saptah by Shri. Makarandbuva Ramdasi.

Today Maruti Mandir Trust has a Temple Hall at ground floor with 200 chairs for small Marriages, Thread Ceremonies, Fulans, 1^st Birthday, Name in ceremony etc. Also has a multipurpose AC Hall called Babu Naik Hall with 500 chairs for Marriages, Birthdays, meetings etc. The ground floor is for dining purpose with 150 chairs. Both the halls can use temples parking facility.

Present Managing Committee consist of Mr. Pandurang Anant Naik, Chairman, Mr. Jagdish G. Shirwaikar, Secretary, Mr. R. S. Kamat, Treasurer. Members Mr. Avdhut Zuvarkar, Mr. Ramesh Azgaonkar, Mr. Devshibhai Patel, Mr. Vinai Virginkar.