Sacred Groves in Goa
Sacred Grove at Mharinganachi Rai
In Goa, sacred groves are known by various names such as Devrai, Devran or Pann. The best preserved sacred groves of Goa are situated in Keri village of Sattari.
90 sacred groves have been documented in the state. Durgah and Rashtroli are the deities to which the sacred groves are dedicated in Goa.
Panels of village deities are lying inside Nirankarachi Rai
Ceylon Oak, Red silk cotton tree and Pipal tree are among the most commonly found plant species in the sacred groves.
The tribes of Goa – Gavda, Kunbi, Velip and Dhangar-gouli – worship various forms of nature. They maintain the tradition of sacred cows, sacred goats, sacred banyan trees, sacred hills, sacred stones, sacred ponds and also sacred groves. A unique feature is the offering of terracotta animals in the groves.
Paikapann of Saturli
List of Sacred Groves in Goa
S.No. | Name of the Grove | Village Name | Taluk |
Devachi Rai | Ibrampur | Pernem | |
Devachi Rai of Hankhane | Ibrampur | Pernem | |
Rashtrolyachi Rai of Tembwada Hankhane | Ibrampur | Pernem | |
Pirapeth of Angodwada | Ibrampur | Pernem | |
Devachi Rai | Varconda | Pernem | |
Nagardeshwar | Virnoda | Pernem | |
Zalmyachi Rai | Paliem | Pernem | |
Devachi Rai | Cudnem | Bicholim | |
Barazan | Cudchirem | Bicholim | |
Sidhdachi Rai of Vadaval | Latambarcem | Bicholim | |
Barazan | Mencurem | Bicholim | |
Dad Devachi Rai | Mulgao | Bicholim | |
Saterichi Rai | Sarvona | Bicholim | |
Nirankaryachi Rai of Vathadev | Sarvona | Bicholim | |
Kontinchya Ajyachi Rai | Surla | Bicholim | |
Pach Amyachi Rai | Ambeli | Sattari | |
Devachi Rai | Anjunem | Sattari | |
Devachi Rai | Birondem | Sattari | |
Devachi Rai | Buimpal | Sattari | |
Ajobachi Tali | Carambolim Brahma | Sattari | |
Devachi Rai | Carambolim Buzruco | Sattari | |
Holiyechi Rai | Caranzol | Sattari | |
Karalyachi Rai | Caranzol | Sattari | |
Devachi Rai | Choraundem | Sattari | |
Devacho Hudo | Codal | Sattari | |
Poshyachi Rai | Codvol | Sattari | |
Devachi Rai | Compordem | Sattari | |
Devachi Rai | Cudcem | Sattari | |
Devachi Rai | Dabem | Sattari | |
Nirankarachi Rai | Dabem | Sattari | |
Dhoopachi Rai | Derodem | Sattari | |
Sidhdachi Rai | Golauli | Sattari | |
Devachi Rai | Gonteli | Sattari | |
Devachi Rai | Gululem | Sattari | |
Mharinganachi Rai | Ivrem Buzruco | Sattari | |
Nirankaryachi Rai | Maloli | Sattari | |
Devachi Rai | Mauzi | Sattari | |
Sidhdachi Rai | Morlem | Sattari | |
Ghotgachi Rai | Morlem | Sattari | |
Devachi Rai | Naguem | Sattari | |
Vandevatechi Rai | Naneli | Sattari | |
Devachi Rai | Nanorem | Sattari | |
Devachi Rai | Pale | Sattari | |
Mharinganachi Rai | Pissurlem | Sattari | |
Pezali Devichi Rai | Pissurlem | Sattari | |
Devachi Rai | Ponsuli | Sattari | |
Devachi Rai | Poriem | Sattari | |
Devachi Rai | Quelaudem | Sattari | |
Ajobachi Rai | Querim | Sattari | |
Pishachi Rai | Querim | Sattari | |
Maulichi Rai of Vagheri | Querim | Sattari | |
Baldyachi Rai | Querim | Sattari | |
Comachi Rai | Querim | Sattari | |
Bheryachi Rai | Rivem | Sattari | |
Sidhdachi Rai | Saleli | Sattari | |
Thevanyachi Rai | Saleli | Sattari | |
Devachi Rai | Satrem | Sattari | |
Devachi Rai | Surla | Sattari | |
Zunya Gaokadchi Rai | Surla | Sattari | |
Pach Amyachi Rai | Surla | Sattari | |
Devachi Rai | Xelopo Buzruco | Sattari | |
Devachi Rai | Xelopo Curdo | Sattari | |
Devachi Rai | Zarani | Sattari | |
Devachi Rai | Zormen | Sattari | |
Paika Pann | Bati | Sanguem | |
Paika Pann | Cumbari | Sanguem | |
Paika Pann Khachkon | Molem | Sanguem | |
Paika Pann | Naiquinim | Sanguem | |
Paika Pann | Netorli | Sanguem | |
Devachi Rai of Brahmani Maya | Surla | Sanguem | |
Paika Pann | Tudou | Sanguem | |
Bhui Pann | Verlem | Sanguem | |
Jaita Pann of Salgini | Verlem | Sanguem | |
Devadongor | Rivona | Sanguem | |
Vaghrya Pann | Rivona | Sanguem | |
Paika Pann | Morpilla | Quepem | |
Paika Pann | Cazur | Quepem | |
Betala Pann | Barcem | Quepem | |
Vaghrya Pann | Barcem | Quepem | |
Gadgya Pann | Barcem | Quepem | |
Shiva Pann | Barcem | Quepem | |
Sidhda maddi | Barcem | Quepem | |
Devi Pann | Barcem | Quepem | |
Mahadeva Pann | Barcem | Quepem | |
Durgadevi Pann | Barcem | Quepem | |
Devati Pann | Bendordem | Quepem | |
Paika Pann | Mangal | Quepem | |
Partagal | Poinguinim | Canacona | |
Nasa Pann | Gaodongarim | Canacona | |
Avali Dano | Cotigao | Canacona | |
Kuske Dano | Cotigao | Canacona | |
Badde Dano | Cotigao | Canacona | |
Paika Pann | Tudal | Canacona |
Source: Rajendra Kerkar – Sacred Groves in Goa