LEGENDS AND LORE... THE QUEEN'S CURSE

The memory of the last attack by Mohammad Bin Tuglak on the Kadambas is still kept alive by legends and beliefs in the lives of the people of Chandor.

Dr. Olivinho Gomes, in his book, ‘Village Goa,’ refers to the famous historian, Dr. George M. Moraes’ Kadamba Kula, in this regard:

“The people of the city were happy and prosperous, when suddenly one night the city was invaded by the enemy who murdered the King and many of the inhabitants. The princesses and the ladies of the Court destroyed their jewels and committed suicide by throwing themselves into the river, which, it is popularly believed, still leaves gold powder on the shore. The tradition associated with the Fort is that the Queen who was absent in some other part of the Kingdom, visited the city one day, but found it in desolation and was given the sad news of her husband’ demise. As a sign of her grief she removed her jewels, crushed them and threw them all over the place, and cursed the women of Chandor, wishing them all to be like herself. She came out of the fortress and, stamping her feet four times, said she would not take away any thing, not even the dust of her feet from the city…”

The stone bearing the anklet-prints is located near the Chapel of St. James, at the entrance of the fort area. Mr. Joaquim Pereira, owner of Juliet General Stores in Chandor-Kott, and an elderly villager, informs that the curse of the ‘Xrapacho Fator,’ as he calls it, is still dreaded by the villagers of Chandor, as it is believed to be striking a particular caste of Chandor-Kott. It has not affected the population of other castes in this village.

Village Goa informs us that many women of this caste are widows before old age has set in. The fear of the curse goes to such an extent that it is understood that several landlords of this caste have taken up residences in Margao or elsewhere and their palatial houses are deserted.

The curse of the Queen, as taken from one of the old residents of Chandor-Kott and transmitted through generations by word of mouth, is believed to be worded somewhat as follows according to Dr. Gomes:

                                    “Kadam(b)as…

                                                Chandra ganv padd zanv

                                                Vhoiloleank borem zanv

                                                Haddlolim randd zanv.”

In English:

                                    “Kadambas…

                                                Let Chandor village perish

                                                Their outgoing women be blessed

                                                Incoming women widows become!”

 The curse of the Queen thus makes a fascinating, frightening and an intriguing story.

(A Version of this article appeared on GOA PLUS, a weekly supplement of the Times of India and the Economic Times, dt: January 19-25, 2007)

CHANDRAPUR: THE FORGOTTEN CAPITAL

Present day Chandor was once the ancient city of Chandrapur, which served as the capital for the Bhoja and the Kadamba dynasties.

A temple site in the middle of Chandor Kott is known as ‘Isvorachem.’ In 1930s Fr. Henry Heras, SJ excavated the site and unearthed a 11^th century Shiva temple and also a Nandi bull. Dr. Olivinho Gomes in his book, ‘Village Goa,’ informs that the Nandi bull is, “said to be the biggest in India after that of Mysore, which latter it resembles in its art but not in size. The Muslims cut out a large part of its stomach to see if it contained diamonds, pearls, or other precious stones, broke its mouth to see if there was any treasure hidden in it, chopped off the tail to see if they could find any precious stones in its arms. Seeing that it did not have anything in it, they broke its legs, dislodged it from the seat of stone and turned it up-side-down, to see if there was something underneath it, but without success.”

After the 1930 Heras excavation, interest was lost and as a result huge trees grew around it. In 1974, the Archaeological Survey of India intervened and began excavating, under the direction of superintending archaeologist, S. R. Rao. According to a Navhind Times, dated 8^th April 1974 report, the discovery of the 1500 years old temple complex consisted of a Garbhgriha (sanctum), surrounded by Pradakshinapatha (circumbulatory passage), a large Sabhamandapa (assembly hall) and a medium sized Mukhamandapa or porch.

While a few finds of the Fr. Heras excavation were taken to his museum at Mumbai, the remaining were lodged at the museum at Old Goa. Today all that one finds at Chandor Kott is a severed Nandi bull, a silent and solitary witness to a glorious port-town that Chandrapur was, once upon a time. 

(A Version of this article appeared on GOA PLUS, a weekly supplement of the Times of India and the Economic Times, dt: December 8-14, 2006)