Mythological History
                       In the mythological history of Goa it is believed that the Konkan coastline was created by saint parshuram the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

Lord vishnu required a virgin stretch of land to perform a yagna (fire sacrifice), and shot an arrow into the sea from the peak of the sahyadri ranges. The arrow was endowed with super natural powers and pushed the sea backwards, resulting into reclamation of land known as "Gomant". The place where the arrow of Parshuram struck is the Benaulim village and Pernem is the site where saint parshuram settled along with 96 brahmin families.

History

Goa was earlier referred by various names like Gomanchal, Gopakapattam, Gopakapuri, Govapuri etc.

The powerful Mauryas ruled Goa in 3rd Century B.C. after that the neighbouring ruling family of Kolhapur occupied Goa in the first century A.D. followed by the mighty Satavahanas dynasty, it was during their rule that Goa emerged as an international trading centre as the satvahana's traded with countries of middle-east, Africa and also the Roman empire.

In the 2nd Century the Bhoja Dynasty took over and made chandrapur as their capital their reign was over three centuries and Goa witnessed an increase in trade and commerce during this time. Goa eventually passed to the Chalukyans of badami, who took over from 580 AD to 750 AD.

Later, came the shilaharas of Bali, who held on power for the next two hundred years. In the mid 11th Century Kadambas gained power and provided stability to the region. The kadamba rule is considered to be one of the most glorious chapters in the Goan history. The yadavas of Devagiri succeeded Kadambas in the latter half of the 13th Century.

Goa fell to the Muslims in 1312, but were forced out by harihara of vijaynagar empire in 1370. They had hold over goa for nearly 100 years and its harbors became landing place for ships, which carried Arabian horses to Hampi (Capital of Vijaynagar empire).

In 1347, Bhamani Sultans of Gulbarga, conquered Goa and were later thrown out of Goa by the powerful Vijaynagar empire in 1370. The state was under the vijaynagar empire for the next one hundred years and also regained its position of being an important trade and commerce centre under the vijaynagar emperors. The Bhamani Sultans recaptured Goa in 1472 but their success did not last long as the Bhamani empire broke into four parts and thus the area passed to Adil Shahis of Bijapur. Yusuf Adil Shah was the last ruler before the Portuguese set foot on Goa.
* ( The present secretariat Building in Panaji is the former palace of Adil Shah.)

The discovery of sea route to india by Vasco da Gama in 1498 led to the start of portuguese expeditions coming to india. In 1510 under the command of Afonso De Albuquerque with the help of the emperor of Vijaynagar, attacked and captured Goa.

The Portuguese consolidated their position and continued to rule over the territory for the next 451 years, except for an interlude, during the latter half of the 17th Century, when Shivaji Maharaj of The Maratha Empire conquered a few areas in and around goa, The Marathas were eventually routed in 1739 and thereafter there was no further threat to the portuguese rule.

The Portuguese were also possessed with the strong desire to spread Christianity.
*(Jesuit Missionaries led by St. FRANCIS XAVIER arrived in 1542).

Goa was an ideal base for the seafaring Portuguese, who carried spices from the east, The fortunes made from spice led to Goa's Golden Age.

Portuguese became the state language and every sphere of Goan life from religion to architecture, cuisine to art was affected. Goa came to be known as the "Lisbon of the East". Portugal was the oldest colonial power in india and the last one to leave the Indian Soil.

Goa reached its present size in the 18th century after a series of annexation. In 1763, the province of Ponda, Sanguem, Quepem and Canacona were added followed by Pednem, Bicholim and Satari in 1788.

Freedom dawned on the Goan sky and on 19th December 1961, as the portuguese surrendered to the Indian troops without any resistance. on March 5 1962 Goa was made a composite Indian union territory.

Goa attained state hood on 30th May 1987.