The presiding deity of the Sindhudurg region is Sateri, whose temple is found in almost every village of this area. The anthill (warul) is considered her symbol. There are 79 famous temples of Goddess Sateri in the district. Renuka, the mother of Parashuram, is also regarded as a village deity, and her association with the anthill is narrated in several stories. It is said that Renuka was born in an anthill and disappeared into one as well. Experts believe that the tradition of worshipping the anthill in the southern Konkan may have originated from this belief. Scholar Mahadev Shastri opined that Sateri might be one of the Saptamatruka or a collective form of these mother goddesses. The worship of mother goddesses in India was initiated by the non-Aryan (Dravidian) communities, and this tradition remains unbroken even today. Sateri is also referred to as Mauli in some places. ... About 2 km from Vengurla city, Sateri temple is located in the Parabwadi area of the Camp locality. The temple is within calling distance from the main road. All buses traveling from Vengurla to Kudal pass through this camp area, and there is also constant rickshaw service available. Vengurla is a well-equipped town, and its village deities are Rameshwar and Goddess Sateri. This temple predates the establishment of Vengurla city and is believed to house the primordial power of Shiva, who manifested as Sateri at Ansur. The temple dates back to the era of Shivaji Maharaj, and its management is handled by the Parab family. Inside the sanctum is an anthill, which devotees believe is the abode of Goddess Sateri. The anthill itself is worshipped as the idol of the goddess. In this region, offering cooked rice as Prasad is a way of communicating with the deity, and it is believed that the goddess swiftly resolves the problems of her devotees. Alongside the anthill, the sanctum houses several beautifully carved idols. Later, Sateri became the chief authority in the village of Rahat, holding power over local governance. Many devotees offer Prasad (kaul) to the goddess to seek solutions to their problems. Every day, devotees make offerings of “oti” (a traditional offering for goddesses) while presenting their concerns to the deity, and it is believed that within a few months, their issues are resolved. Because of her reputation as a deity who fulfills vows, the temple witnesses a large crowd of devotees, especially on Tuesdays and Fridays. Worshippers from surrounding areas also visit in significant numbers, making this one of the most revered and vibrant places of worship in the Konkan region.
© Suresh Nimbalkar