[1] The idol of Mahaganapati (Ganesha, Vinayaka) and Mahamaya (also referred as Durgadevi and Shantadurga) were located in Ella, Tiswadi, Goa along with Gomanteshwar and its affiliates.
During the Muslim invasion in Goa (13th century), the temple in Ella was destroyed and the idols were transferred to Goltim-Navelim (Golthi-Naveli) on Divar Island.
On account of the hostile religious policies pursued by the Portuguese rulers around 1560, the devotees left Goltim-Navelim after the destruction of the temple there.
Unable to take the idols with them, they invoked the ‘saanidhya’ or the presence of the deities in the silver trunk of the elephant-headed Ganesha and the mask of Mahamaya.
It is estimated that currently the Shirali Maha Ganapathi and Mahammaya temple has 125 Kulavis (family with specific kula devata), with a total of 6000 persons.