m ... A glossy booklet circulated by the Sangh Parivar seeks to establish that an important Hindu temple was destroyed by the Portuguese and a church built in its place ... VHP wanted to take out an all-India march from the island of Diwar in October 1999. The plan never got off the ground but Diwar has remained a fixation for VIIP leaders. The booklet quotes Jesuit historian Fr Francisco da Souza, author of Oriente Conquista, as saying: "Diwar was as much venerated by the Hindus as the Holy Land is by us on account of a temple of many indulgences and pilgrimages, and even at present on a certain day of the year. the Hindus hopefully flock there to bathe themselves."

The VHP booklet says: "The temple on the island is relocated at Narve in Bicholim taluka after the original was destroyed by the Portuguese. It was rebuilt by Shivaji in 1668. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva as Shri Sapta Koteeshvara. The holy lingam, made of an alloy of seven metals and consecrated by seven sages, was believed to grant freedom from sin by sight and salvation by touch. Thus, the tradition of pilgrimage is traced to unknown antiquity." Combining its argument "with the tradition of Vedic and Sanskrit learning recorded in arious copper plates", the literature concludes that "Goa is equal to Kashi as a centre of pilgrimage as well as learning" ... (Source: The Times of India, 21 October, 2000)