Welcome to Shrimahalasa.com

the official site of the restored temple of Shri Mahalasa in Verna, Goa.

Shri Mahalasa Narayani is the powerful Kuladevata (family deity) of many Hindus, especially in western and southern India.

Shri Mahalasa is another name for Lord Vishnu's famous avataar (incarnation) as Mohini, the enchantress. Mohini is the Raj Kuladevata (Nation's Presiding Deity) of the world's only Hindu nation, the Kingdom of Nepal.

Shri Mahalasa's main temple is located at Mardol village in the western Indian state of Goa. However, other temples are known to exist in the states of Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra.

Shri Mahalasa of Verna is one of the most important Devasthanas in Goa. Before the advent of Portuguese, it was the largest, richest, most exquisitely embellished and fortified temple; especially noted for providing shelter to the Hindu widows escaping the dreaded Sati custom, as is recorded by the Portuguese missionaries. In their fanatic zeal to spread Christianity by suppressing idolatry, they destroyed all the temples in Goa including this one (1567).