The
origin of Goa or Gomantak as it is also known, is lost in the mists of time.
In the later Vedic period (c.1000-500 BC), when the Hindu epic Mahabharat was
written, Goa has been referred to with the Sanskrit name Gomantak, a word with
many meanings, but signifying generally a fertile land.
The most famous legend associated with Goa, is that of the mythical sage Parashuram
(the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu), who several thousand years ago created
the entire stretch of Konkan coast by ordering the seas to recede. The Sea God
gave up the lands on the the banks of the two main rivers of Goa viz. Mandovi
and Zuari (then called Gomati and Asghanasini) for the settlement of the Aryans
accompanying Parashurama.
Another legend, less well known, states that the coastal area of Konkan enchanted
Lord Krishna, who was charmed by the beautiful ladies bathing in the area. The
ladies in turn, were so taken up by the melodious music coming from his flute,
that they kept dancing forgetting their daily chores. Lord Krishna, then named
the land Govapuri after the cows (gov) belonging to the locals.
The history of the sacred land of Gomantak, 'land of the Gods' is well described
in Sahyadri Khand of Skandha Purana, the ancient text of Hindu religion. According
to this story narrated in the Chapter Shantiparva of Mahabharat, a Brahmin from
the Saraswat family, Parashuram, annihilated the entire community of the warrior
tribe Kshatriyas and gifted the conquered land to a sage named Kashyapmuni.
Unfortunately,
the Kshatriya annihilation meant that the land was left unadministered and fell
into anarchy and chaos. The worried sage Kashyapmuni, requested Parashuram to
leave the area and settle elsewhere. Parashuram came south and reclaimed new
land by ordering the sea to recede and give up the coastal land. This land known
as "Aparant" or "Shurparak" is spread between the Sahyadri
mountains and Sindhusagar.
Goa which was liberated on 19
th December, 1961 alongwhh Daman and
Diu from 451 years Portuguese Colonial Rule, became the 25
th State
of the Indian Union when it was conferred Statehood on 30
th May,
1987.
Although, Goa joined national mainstream only after 14-years of the country's
independence, tourist traffic to Goa registered such phenomenal growth that
from 2.00 lakhs tourists in 1975 the figure has shot up to 11.26 lakhs in 1996
of which domestic tourists comprise 8.88 lakhs and foreigners account for 2.37
lakhs including almost 73,000 through charter flights from U.K. Germany. Switzerland,
Finland.
