Temple

Located near Ernakulam, Kerala, the Chottanikkara Temple is a famous temple dedicated to Goddess Bhagawati. Here, the presiding deity, Chottanikkara Devi is worshipped in three different forms: as Goddess Saraswati in the morning, as Goddess Lakshmi at noon, as Goddess Durga in the evening. Other than Chottanikkara Devi, Lord Shiva is also worshiped at the temple. The temple is famous for curing people suffering from mental illnesses and diseases due to evil spirits. Chottanikkara Temple is famous for its religious festival, "Chottanikara Makam thozhal".

Legend

The area where the Chottanikkara Temple is situated at present was once a dense forest and it is believed that the forest was infested by Yakshis (Ghosts) and Rakshas (Demons). A local tribesman named Kannappan, who was a ardent devotee of Kali, lived in that forest. He used to sacrifice a cow to Goddess Kali on every friday. Once he saw a black calf and kidnapped the calf for the sacrifice ritual. However, Kannappan's daughter, Manimanga pleaded him to not to kill the calf. So, Kannappan gifted the calf to his daughter. Manimanga died some days later. When Kannappan looked for the calf for sacrifice, after the death of his daughter, he found two stones in its place. The stones were Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi. Many years later, a woodcutter tried to sharpen his axe on the stone and found it bleeding. After that, it was concluded that the stones were divine.
According to another legend says that Goddess Kali saved a Brahmin from the hands of a Yakshi. After killing the Yakshi, the Goddess bathed in a nearby pond. Vilwamangalam Swami found the Kali idol from the pond centuries later.

Architecture

Chottanikkara temple, along with the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple, are considered as the best examples of traditional Kerala architecture. The idol is facing westward and it is believed that it was installed by Villwamangalam Swamiyaar. An ancient 'Pala' tree standing on the northeastern side of the sanctum sanctorum is covered with long iron nails hammered on by haunted victims with their foreheads.

Darsan Info

Darsan Dresscode

Famous Festival

February-March : Annual Festival

Culture

The culture of Kerala is a synthesis of Aryan and Dravidian cultures, developed and mixed for centuries, under influences from other parts of India and abroad. It has got a pre- historic genesis, but constant exposure to other cultures has instilled a cosmopolitan nature to it. Kerala welcomes and respects other cultures and assimilates good elements into its structure. It keeps a unique identity among other South Indian cultures.

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Temple Rituals

After the Athazha pooja (main evening pooja) at Chottanikkara Temple, the chief priest of the principal deity comes to Kizhukkavu to perform

Special Rituals

Cochin Dewasom Board has introduced a new system where in the devotee can remit an amount of personal choice and decide to conduct vazhipadu or offering regularly or on periodical intervals, like daily, weekly / annually or even according to star signs. This is called Nithyatha Vazhipaadu.

Additional Info