Shree Betal temple
Shree Betal temple is a Hindu temple in Amona village, Bicholim taluk, Goa, India. The main deity is Betal, a warrior form of Lord Shiva. Normally the Betal idol stands inside the temple, but during festivals it is carried on horseback through the village. Betal is the village deity (gram devata) of Amona.
There is also a Betal temple in Gorli village, Pauri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand, which has a Shiva Pindi and its gana.
The Amona temple was built before 1950 with funding from the late Shri Vithal Jagannath Telang, and his name is carved on the floor. A water well lies about 50 metres away from the main temple.
The temple is dedicated to Purvas Vetal, the warrior god. Betal is seen as a fierce Bhairava who embodies the roaring storm, and many local stories speak of his bravery and wisdom.
The original temple site in Amona has been rebuilt and maintained over time (jeernoddhara) and is believed to be centuries old.
Prayers at the temple are offered by the Boyini Betaiah family and six cousins, and the priesthood has stayed in this family for generations. The deity is believed to be the patron god of several communities across India, including the Marathas, Kalavants, Goud Saraswat Brahmins, Rajapur Saraswat Brahmins, and Daivadnya Brahmins.
Devotees commonly bear surnames such as Parab, Sinari, Gawas, Fadate, Salgaonkar, Dhond, Shet, Palankar, Telang, among others, with some adopting modern spellings like Prabhugaunkar, Prabhu Dessai, or Amonkar.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 16:48 (CET).