Sri Chirakkakavu Bhagavthi Temple
Sree Chirakkakavu Bhagavathi Temple is one of the oldest Devi Temples in North Kerala.
The presiding deity of this temple is the goddess Kaali, who is worshipped in three forms, or Thrigunaathmika. The temple was built by the king of Kolathiri- Chirakkkal Raja after the swayambhoo of the goddess in Koduvally River, and so became renowned as Sree Chirakkakavu.
According to established belief, the goddess Kaali appeared in the azhimugham of Vamal with her parivaras(retinue), in the palace where the river meets the sea. She assumed the form of a divine fish. The place is now known as Vamal, the Sree Moolasthana of Sree Chirakkakavu Bhagavathi.
Chiirakkal Raja visited the palace and bowed to the goddess. The king then built the temple on top of Illikkunnu, believed to be the thapovan of an earlier era. The temple is surrounded by kavu or groves of trees.
Other deities (Upadevathas)
Guntur Kotta vaanavar, Ilankarumakan and Poothadi are in a single shrine near the temple. Outside the Nalambalamt there is a Sarppakkavu (Snake Shrine) in the south-west corner of the temple which contains Nagaraja, Nagakanyaka and Chithrkoodam.
Festival
The temple festival is celebrated every year on days 9-12 of the month of medaom which usually falls on 22 to 25 April.
On Medom 9th the thantrik poojas and Uthsavabali is observed. In the evening the Uthsalva kolam (Thidambu) is taken out of the temple as Ezhunnallathu by the temple priest. This occasion is the only time where the goddess comes out of the temple in full alankaras in Ulthasava Thidambu.
Theyyam
This is the next three-day festival. The four manifestations of the goddess, Chorakalathil Bhagavathi, Puthiya Bhagavathi and Cheriya Thampuratty, are the daughters of the mother goddess and Valiya Thampuratty. Guntoor Kotta vanavan, Ilankarumakan, Poothadi are the other male Theyyams here. On Medom 10th the Nattathira is celebrated here. On 11 th Medom Ariyalavu is observed. This is a practice of giving rice, pulses and coconut oils to the all concerned communities to the kavu. This custom recalls the riches of bygone times.
In the olden days, the Temple owned land from Vamla To Kali. In the morning of 11th medom Valaiya Thampuratty visits all devotees in the village (hosuses comes under Anchukandy Parambu) and blesses the devotees.
Kalasams come from various parts of the villages to make offerings to the devi. Motha Kalasam and Vaikalasam have the right to enter the temple first. By the early hours of 12th Medom the Theyyams start to come to the Thirumuttam in this order: Guntoor Kotta Vanavar, Chorakalathil Bhagavathi and Puthiya bhgagavathi. It is considered a blessing when a few drops of rain sweep through as Chaorakalthil bhagavthi theyyam appears on the courtyard of the temple. A Mulla Mala (Jasmine garland) is the traditional offering to Chorakkalathil Bhagavathi.
Thirdly comes the Theyaam of Puthiya Bhagavathi (Theethira), The theyaam comes with the fire as ornaments and blesses the devotees.
By the morning of 12th Medom the theyyam of Ilankarumankan and Poothadi appears on the courtyard of the temple. The theyyam is of divine war between the two.
Then Thampuratty comes out into the courtyard. The Aattam of Thampuratty with her divine sword is a very rare sight which gives her devotees a life’s blessings. Then the Cheriya Thampuratty appears on the courtyard of the temple with beautiful white hair and other decorations. Then the Thampuratty with Thirumudy and her daughter, Cheriaya Champuratty travel around the temple, followed by the kalasalams and devotees in procession.
Important days of the temple
Chingam- Uthradam - Nira Aaghosham Navarathi- Saraswthi Pooja, Grantha Pooja, Vahana Pooja, Vidhyarambam. Dhanu 9- Mandala Pooja- Chuttuvialakku Makaram- Prathishta Dinam Medom 9-12 Uthsavam- Thira Mahothsavam
Temple timings
Morning 5:30 Shrine opens, then Abhishekam 7:00 Usha Pooja 11:30 Ucha Pooja 12:30 Temple closes Evening 5:00 Temple reopens 6:00 Deepaaradhana(around dusk) 7:30 Athazhapooja 8:00 Shrine Closes. Every day At Vamal the Sree Moola Stanam Kalasam is celebrated after the Uchpooja.
Renovation
The temple structure is believed to be at least 800 yrs old. The Sreekovil was renovated recently. Punaprathishta was done with Astabandha Kalasam in the year 2000
References
Religion Hinduism
11°46′11″N 75°28′39″E / 11.7696°N 75.4774°E / 11.7696; 75.4774
- v
- t
- e
- Kurattikadu Mutharamman Devi Temple
- Mannar Thrikkuratti Mahadeva Temple
- Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna
- Manakkattu Devi Temple, Pallippad, Harippad
- Chakkulathukavu
- Chammanad Devi
- Cherthala Devi
- Chettikulangara Devi
- Evoor Major Sri krishnaswamy temple
- Haripad Sree Subrahmanya Swamy temple
- Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple
- Kuttikattu Sree Bhadra Kali Devi
- Mannarasala
- Mullakkal
- Nalpathaneeswaram Sree Mahadeva
- Padanilam Parabrahma Temple
- Pattambalam
- Valiyakulangara Devi
- Cherai Gowreeshwara
- Dakshina Mookambika Temple North Paravur
- Chottanikkara
- Eravikulangara
- Iringole Kavu
- Kalamassery Mahaganapathy
- Kurumbakkavu Bhagavathy
- Panekavu Bhagavati Shastha
- Sree Bhavaneeswara
- Sree Poornathrayesa
- Sree Venugopala
- Thamaramkulangara Sree Dharma Sastha
- Thrikkakara Temple
- Thiru Nayathode Siva Narayana Temple
- Chelamattom Shree Krishna Swami Temple
- Andalur kavu
- Sree Vadeswaram
- Azhikode Palottukavu
- Chenankavu
- Chala Bhagavathi
- Sree Annapoorneswari
- Sree Chovva Shiva Temple
- Edappara Chamundi
- Hanumarambalam
- Sree Jagannathan
- Kandanthalli
- Keecheri Palottukavu
- Keezhur Mahadeva
- Kottiyoor Vadakkeshwaram
- Kunnathoor Padi
- Madayi Kavu
- Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathy Temple
- Vadukunda
- Mamanathambalam
- Manakulangara
- Mariamman Koil, Pilakool
- Mavilakkavu
- Muneeswaran Kovil
- Oorpazhachi Kavu
- Padavil Sree Muthappan
- Panoonneri Shiva
- Parassinikkadavu Muthappan
- Payyannur Sree Subramanyaswamy Temple
- Peralasseri Sree Subramaniaswamy Temple
- Pillayar Koil
- Neeliyaarkottam
- Rajarajeshwara Temple
- Sree Andalurkavu
- Tiruvangad
- Talap Ambalam
- Trichambaram
- Thrikkapalam Shiva
- Vasudevapuram Tavanur
- Places of worship in Kannur district
- Ammachiveedu Muhurthi
- Anandavalleeshwaram Sri Mahadevar Temple
- Ashram Sree krishna Swamy
- Kadakkal Devi
- Kodimoottil Sri Bhadrakaali
- Kottankulangara Devi Temple
- Kottarakkara Sree Mahaganapathi Kshethram
- Kottarakkulam Sree Mahaganapathy Kovil, Kollam
- Oachira Parabrahma Temple
- Panakkattodil Devi Temple
- Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada Temple
- Pulimukham Devi Temple
- Paravur Puttingal Devi Temple
- Sasthamcotta Sree Dharma Sastha Temple
- Sree Indilayappan
- Sree Maha Ganapathy
- Vayalil Thrikkovil Mahavishnu
- Vaikom
- ThiruVazhappally Sree Mahadevar
- Ettumanoor Mahadevar
- Thirunakkara Sree Mahadevar Temple
- Kidangoor Subramanya Temple
- Chirakkadavu Sree Mahadevar
- Kaduthruthy Mahadeva Temple
- Neendoor Subrahmanya Swami Temple
- Perunna Subrahmanya Swami
- Kavinpuram Devi
- Morkulangara Devi
- Kadamuri Narasimhaswamy Temple, Kadamuri
- Moozhayil Sankaranarayana Temple Anicad
- Kodungoor Devi Temple
- Elamgulam Sree Dharma Shastha Temple
- Anicad Sree Bhagavathi Temple
- Pullattukunnel Temple, Elamgulam
- Nethalloor Devi
- Panachikkadu
- Paippad Puthenkavu Bhagavathi
- Pundareekapuram
- Puthiyakavu Devi Temple
- Brahmeeswaran
- Chinakkathoor
- Karimpuzha Sree Ramaswamy
- Killikkurussimangalam
- Kodikkunnu Bhagavathy
- Manapullikavu
- Malamakkavu Ayyappa Temple
- Meenkulathi
- Sri Nellikulangara Bhagavathi
- Thirupuraikkal
- Valliya Aarattu – Karnaki Amman
- Vayilyamkunnu Bhagavathi
- Viswanatha Swam
- Panniyur Sri Varahamurthy Temple
- Aranmula Parthasarathy
- anikkattilammakshethram
- Gurunathanmukadi
- Kaviyoor Mahadevar
- Mahadeva
- Mezhuveli
- Muringamangalam Sreemahadevar
- Panayannarkavu
- Pattupurakkavu Bhagavathi
- Rektha Kanda Swamy
- Sabarimala
- Sree Bhuvaneswary
- Sree Vallabha
- Sreenarayanapuram
- Sri Chirakkakavu Bhagavthi
- Thazhoor Bhagavathy Kshetram
- Thrikkovil Sree Padmanabha Swami Kshetram
- Thrippara Shiva Kshetram
- Thumpamon Vadakkumnatha
- Valiyakoikkal
- Arattupuzha Temple
- Ammathiruvadi Temple
- Avanangattilkalari Vishnumaya Temple
- Annamanada Mahadeva Temple
- Chembukkavu Bhagavathy Temple
- Chemmanthatta Mahadeva Temple
- Chiravarampathukavu Bhagavathi Temple
- Choorakkottukavu Bhagavathy Temple
- Guruvayur Temple
- Ivor Madom
- Kanimangalam Sastha Temple
- Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple
- Koodalmanikyam Temple
- Kootumuchikal amma
- Kottekkad Temple
- Kuttankulangara Sri Krishna Temple
- Kuttumuck Siva Temple
- Laloor Bhagavathy Temple
- Mammiyoor Temple
- Mithrananthapuram Trimurti Temple
- Muthuvara Mahadeva Temple
- Pallimanna Siva Temple
- Panamukkumpally Sastha Temple
- Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple
- Poonkunnam Siva Temple
- Punkunnam Seetha Ramaswamy Temple
- Shatrughna Temple
- Thriprayar Temple
- Sree Maheswara Temple
- Sringapuram Mahadeva Temple
- Thanikkudam Bhagavathi Temple
- Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple
- Thiruvanchikulam Temple
- Thiruvullakkavu Sree Dharma Sastha Temple
- Thottipal Bhagavati
- Trikkur Mahadeva
- Vadakkunnathan
- Vilwadrinatha Temple
- Peruvanam Mahadeva Temple
- Mathur Shiva Temple
- Kalathil Sree Rudra Devi Temple