
Shanta Durga Temple

Shri Shantadurga Saunsthan is a private temple complex belonging to the Goud Saraswat Brahman Samaj, located from Panaji at the foothill of Kavalem village in Ponda Taluka, Goa, India. 
H.H.Shrimad Swamiji of Shri Kavale Math is spiritual head Of Shree Shantadurga Saunsthan, Kavale.
Shree Shantadurga is the Kuldevi (family deity) of many Goud Saraswat Brahman families.
On 4 December 2016, (Margashirsh Shuddh Panchmi). Shree Shantadurga Devasthan,Kavale has completed its 450th year of existence.
Deity.
The temple is dedicated to Shantadurga, the goddess who mediates between Vishnu and Shiva. The deity is also called 'Santeri' colloquially. 
Purana talks of a battle between Shiva and Vishnu The battle was so fierce that the God Brahma prayed to Goddess Parvati to intervene, which she did in the form of Shantadurga. Shantadurga placed Vishnu on her right hand and Shiva on her left hand and settled the fight.
Shantadurga is holding two serpents, one in each hand, representing Vishnu and Shiva.
Temple.
The original temple at Quelossim (Keloshi) in Salcete was destroyed by the Portuguese in 1566. The goddess was shifted to Kavalem and worship was continued there. The site on which the original Temple of Shantadurga stood at Quelossim (Keloshi) is known as "Deoolbhata" and it is in the possession of the Shree Shantadurga Saunsthan Committee,Kavale.
The current temple was constructed during the reign of Maratha Empire King Chattrapati Shahu Maharaj of Satara during the period from 1713 AD to 1738 AD. Naroram Rege Mantri originally from Kochara village in the Vengurla Taluka,(Konkan) was a "Mantri" (Minister) in Chattrapati Shahu Maharaj Ashtapradhan Mandal at Satara (Grandson of Chh.Shivaji Maharaj).Due to his efforts, the village of Kavalem was bequeathed to the Temple by Shrimant Baji Rao I Peshwa in 1738.
The Temple reconstruction started around 1730s.
The temple complex is on the slope of the foothills of a mountain chain, surrounded by lush vegetation. There is a main temple and three smaller temples of other deities which have been built on three sides of the temple. The temple consists of a collection of pyramidal roofs with a dome. The pillars and floors are made of Kashmir stone. The temple has a huge tank, a Deepastambha and "agrashalas" (guest houses).
Many renovations have been completed over the years to the main temple and the temples of the other deities as well as to the "agrashala". The temple has recently banned entry of foreigners into the temple citing objectionable dressing and conduct as the reason.
Architectural Styles.
Its pyramidical shape 'shikaras' rising on the roofs of the facade (entrance hall) and the 'Sabhamandap' (the main hall), its roman-arched windows, some of which have the stained-glass window panes of deep red, yellow, blue, green colours, its chandeliers, its gate posts, balustraded flat dome, the maroon-peach-white colour paint of the temple gives the temple a serene beautiful look.
The highlight of the temple is its golden palanquin (palkhi) in which the deity is carried on festive occasions(only 5 Mahapanchmi).
History.
In 1957, an Inter-Missions Bible School Committee was formed by four Christian denominations in Sierra Leone: The Missionary Church of Africa (MCA), United Brethren in Christ (UBC), and the American Wesleyan Methodist Church (AWM) now called the Wesleyan Church of Sierra Leone. This committee formed from the identified need for training pastors and administrators for the Christian churches of Sierra Leone.
During the transition from colonial rule which was finalized in 1961, the committee requested from British government to obtain land for a campus. The British government granted the land and buildings of a former military barracks located on the Jui Peninsula 10 miles east of Freetown, Sierra Leone’s capital city.
On October 12, 1964, the Sierra Leone Bible College was founded and begun offering both diploma and bachelor’s level degrees.
The campus was initially led and run by western missionaries, predominantly from the United States. The missionaries, and their sending denominations, provided funding for all the operations of the campus.
During this time, the enrolment year to year varied between ten and thirty students.
In 1979, the Baptist Convention of Sierra Leone was added as a proprietary body.
In 1998, the Countess of Huntington Connexion was added as a proprietary body and the Missionary Church of Africa (MCA) withdrew its proprietorship.
In 1999, the campus officially changed its name to The Evangelical College of Theology (TECT).
During the Civil War.
When the civil war escalated in the 1990s, the western missionary leadership of the college gathered several alumni who were then in positions of church leadership in Sierra Leone. The missionaries informed the Sierra Leoneans that they were withdrawing both their personnel and financial support of the campus and handed full leadership to the Sierra Leoneans.
This presented a challenge to the new national leadership. Enrolment and tuition of ten to thirty students each year did not financially provide for the needs and upkeep of the campus. As a result, additional programs were initiated and the enrolment was grown from thirty to over 200 students each semester at the main campus in Jui outside of Freetown.
Current programs.
TECT now offers diplomas and degrees in the following areas: