The village of Mashel (also spelled Marcela) in Goa holds a unique distinction: it is the only site in India where Krishna is worshipped alongside his biological mother, Devki. The origin of this singular practice has its own story in Goa.* An ancient temple of Devki-Krishna was the pride of the nearby island of Chodan (Chorão). After it was sacked by the Portuguese following their arrival in the early 16th century, the idol was squirreled away by the distraught villagers to the hamlet of Mayem. Eventually it found a safe haven in Mashel where it was reconsecrated around the year 1560.

Devki-Krishna is the family deity of the Parrikar clan.

*When Sri Krishna and Balarama found themselves in Chodan, they met Devki there. Upon seeing what was now a grown Krishna, she was taken aback, scarcely recognizing her little Balakrishna. Sensing his mother’s predicament, Sri Krishna immediately assumed the form of a child, jumped on her lap, and granted her the special privilege of reliving all the pastimes of his childhood. The idol in Mashel depicts this moment of Sri Krishna ensconced in Devki‘s lap and the deity is referred to as Devki-Krishna.

The small town of Marcel is the location of the temples of more than 15 deities of the Hindu pantheon. Marcel lies 17 km from Panaji in Ponda taluka about 3 kilometers away from Banastari Bridge on the Panaji-Ponda road.

The unique feature of this temple is that this is the only temple in India where Lord Krishna is worshipped alongside mother Devki as Devkikrishna.

The main Deities Devkikrishna and affiliate deities of Bhumika Devi, Laxmi Ravalnath, Mallinath, Katyayani, Chodaneshwar and Dhada Shankar were originally located at Choodamani island (known as Chorao island today).

To avoid persecution during the Portuguese Inquisition they were taken to Mayem in Bicholim and from there shifted to the present location at Marcel.

The Garbha Griha (inner sanctum) of the temple has the beautiful idol of Devki and Lord Krishna. The idol of Devki is in standing posture with a child Krishna, between her legs.

This particular pose is considered to be unique. The idols are beautifully carved in black stone.

The palakhi is taken in Shukla and Trayodashi (except in Chaturmas). Ramanavmi, Gokulastami are celebrated on a grand scale. Limited accommodations are available. The major festival is Malni Purnima from Paush Vadya which is celebrated over here with great fervour and excitement.