Chari Mandrekar

Chari Mandrekar family belongs Vishwakarma Brahmin community of Goa popularly known as Chari. Though Chari is the surname of all the community member of Vishwakarma Brahmin community of Goa. The word Chari is corrupt version of the word Acharya meaning teacher of religion. Though similar surname they can be distinguish & categorized from the place where their family deity situated & place name is added to as per the Konkani culture. As per the tradition prevailing different Kuladevata means different gotra. Their matrimonial relation are controlled by these surnames.

Etymology of Mandre.

Mandre is the largest village in the Pedne taluka. It is surrounded by three village i.e Morji, Parse, Korgaon & one side with Arabian Sea The word Mandre has derived from the word Mandarak meaning dwelling place of people extracting liquor. Though exact etymology is not available. In olden times Mandre was the abode of Arabi Muslim who were settled in Mandre & were basically the traders. Later they were thrown away from the village. The village deity is Shree Bhagwati Sapteshwar Ravalnath. Temple present at Deulwado and is a sacred place for all the Mandrekar

Settlement

Chari Mandrekar family are the some of the original settler of the village. Though the Mandre village is the largest village in the Pedne taluka we find very few people staying in Mandre whose family deity is Bhagwati Sapteshwar. Chari Mandrekar family is one of them.

There are no means to trace the date for their exact settlement. It seems that total four families had settled in the village. Since Chari were basically Carpenter & blacksmith by profession so the during the establishment of any village these artist community was specifically invited to give their services for the villagers as the carpenter & blacksmith. Village Gaunkari or community were allotting a Tax free land against the service rendered. This tax free land was called Namshi. Chari were given land in the name of Vinaniche Namshi. Apart from Namshi this family was given land having name Vinan Bhati, Vinan Bhatle, vinanicho malo etc. Vinani in old Konkani means Blacksmith. In Mandre we do not find the records of who were the original Gaunkar of the village. It seems that Chari were one of the member of Gaunkar of Mandre.

Chari Mandrekar family is one of the important community when village deity Bhagwati Sapteshwar is concern. Chari being the traditional carpenter of the Goa region & in konkan's religious tradition Carpenter plays an important role. It is the one of the caste whose Kulpurush  has been accommodated in the family of deities in konkan region. Kulpurush is known as Rampurush or Sutardev in local dialect. So in Mandre too there are important religious activities that are performed by this family. Sapteshwar Palkhi can only be held by this community. Ravalnath Taranga that is taken out in procession during Dussera festival can only held by this community. 

Sapteshwar Palki

Originally the dwelling place for this family was as at Vinanbhati, the present Madhalamaz. It is said that the due to Muslim settlement in the village the place was abandoned & families were shifted to the present Vinan bhatle i.e present Mestwado, Dandoswada. Earlier settlement of the family can be traced from the fact that God’s Tarangthat is taken out in procession during the Dussera Festival visit all the community related to the temple. But do not visit the Chari at dandoswada. So it feels that earlier the Taranga were passing through the Madhalamaz where the Chari originally staying.

Family deity of this family is same as village deity i.e. Shree Bhagwati Sapteshwar Ravalnath. But as per the tradition of this Vishwakarma community of Goa, family deity was used installed in the vicinity of the place where this community stays. This is found in most of the families of Chari. The reason could be to avoid the any contention between two communities on religious supremacy or any in differences.

So this family iestablished their Kulpurush i.e. Rampurush in a small temple along with the other important deities. Rampurush is the important deity in the Konkan’s  religious tradition. Rampurush is also known as Sutardev & represents Chari in Konkans Temple’s deities. Rampurush depicts as a horse rider with sword in the right hand. We do find the such images  across Gomantak region.

Mulpurush

Rampurush

 Along with the Rampurush on 30^th April 1992 their Mulpurush was established  in the temple. This temple is known as Shree Kuladevata Temple & not Rampurush temple. Along with these two deities temple has Bhagwati or Mahalaxmi, Ravalanth, Linga, Ganesh, Nitkari, Purvachari, etc.

Mahalaxmi/Bhagwati

Ravalnath

There is old image of Lord Vishwakarma t. It is said that the image was installed by the His holy Swami Padmanabhacharya, 64^th pontiff of Shree sansthan Lohamath the Gurupith of Goan Konkani Vishwakarma Brahmin. He visited the temple 100 years back. Performed some religious rituals & established the Vishwakarma image.

 

Lord Vishwakarma image

The temple is known as Kuladevata Devastan & not with the name of any specific deity. Temple has now a big hall. 

Temple in 1960

Temple in 1960

Temple in 1992

In the sanctum sanctorum have above deities. The room vicinity to this we see a beautiful image of Lord Vithoba & Rakhumai. This Vithoba is carved out of Wood. This idol is more than 100 years old & was carved by late Bhikaji Ghuraji Chari. 

Shree Vithoba with Rakhumai

 The procession of this deity is taken out at the time of Kartiki Ekadashi.  The procession goes to the Sapteshwar temple. This is  Mandre saptah which one of the important festival in Goa. Mandre saptah has history more than 100 years. The procession of Vithoba Rakhumai is take through the Wooden carved Ratha. Till now there were all together three Rath that were made. Present Rath was made in the year 1992. 

 

Rath

Eminent personalities.

Late Bhikaji Ghuraji Chari.

He was one of the good artist on wood. Many things about his artistic excellence is not known. He carved present Vihoba Rakhmai idol in wood which is more than 100 years old. 

Late. Atmaram Chari.

One of the great artist. He specialized in the preparing brass idols & other ornaments of Gods. Even master in preparing Guns. But his artistic ligancy did not continued there was no heir for him. His artistic excellence & demands for his work can be determined from the rich old house still seen in Mestawado. Only work of his known to us is the image & idol of Shree Sapteshwar & hand paw & kalash on both Bhutnath & Ravalnath tarang & Bhagwati Tarang respectively. 

Late Dattaram Balkrishna Chari

He was grandson of late Bhikaji Chari. One of master artist ever know. His artistic excellence is still remember with a great respect in the village. He was versatile artist. A good metal worker, wood carver, painter, good technician & very social man always ready to help the society by sacrificing & utilizing his own things.

His artist work includes a Mahalaxmi idol at Khalap house Mhapsa, cement elephant present at Mhapsa Garden. Brass statue of vasco da gama which was later destroyed by the people after getting liberated from the Portuguese regime.

His metal work excellent was at such a stature that a German Engineer was so much influenced with to see the modern workshop of this laymen. When he actually visited his house he was amazed to see that Dattaram is doing his without any modern advance machinery but all the perfection what he is achieving is his engineering mastery.

Dattaram B Chari

Cement Elephent at Mapusa Garden

Old picture with Portuguese Soldier

Old Picture

Late Vithu Tanaji Chari

Like Dattaram he was versatile artist. His work is still seen the Churches of Shikeri & Calagute of Bardez taluka. He was master carver & metal artist. He was fine gun maker too. Master in making Violin used in the churches. Once he was arrested due to some false information pass on to the police. But this artist could wastes time in the jail. With special permission from the Jailor he got the wood in the jail & prepared fine carved bed & stick & gifted the same to the senior Police who visited the station. After witnessing such master work he order his junior police to immediately release Vithu saying that such fine artist cannot be a theft. 

Vithu Tanaji Chari

Diploma Certificate issued by Portuguese

Late Bhagwan Uttam Manjrekar.

Mumbai based Chari Mandrekar family member. Died at very younger age. He was trained under the guidance of ustad Fakir Mohammad. At very young age he mastered the art. But unfortunately at very young age he suffered from kidney failure & had to take leave from this world.

Mr. Namdev Mestry. 

Mumbai based Chari Mandrekar family member. A classical Singer. He was trained under the guidance of Ustad Inayat Kha sahib. He is one of the Guru of great singer Pt. Suresh Wadkar.

Vithal Chari Mandrekar

Information & his decedent is not known to us presently. He participated in the industrial Exhibition organized by the Portuguese in the year 1860. One of the first of its kind organized in Asia. He was awarded a bronze medal for his revolver.


Celebrating 25 years anniversary of the reestablishment of deity(Vardhapan din)

Invitation in 1992

Invitation in 1992

View of the main gate.

Temple View