Shri Mahalaxmi Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu's consort Mahalaxmi, is situated in the village of Bandode (also called Bandora or Bandivade), about 4 kms east of Ponda and 22 kms from Panaji. The temple is considered as the abode of the original Goddess of the Shakti cult and its unique feature is that the Devi wears linga on her head. The idol of Mahalaxmi with four arms holding a sickle, a club, a dagger, and a vessel containing prasad and flowers, has a close resemblance to that of Mahalakshmi idol at Kolhapur. Besides the main black granite stone idol, there was another idol of the devi made of panchloha (five metals). Apart from the two idols of Mahalakshmi, the temple houses 18 wooden images of Lord Vishnu and idols of deities such as Shri Ravalnath, Shri Baleshwar and Shri Narayan Purush. The temple is believed to have been shifted from Colva in Sasasthi (Salcette taluka) in the 16th century during the inquisition, to save it from destruction by the Portuguese.