Dakshina Mookambika Temple North Paravur

The Dakshina Mookambika Temple is a famous saraswati temple located in the town of North Paravur in the Eranakulam district of Kerala.The presiding deity in this temple is Saraswati and other sub deities are Ganapathy, Subrahmanyan, Maha Vishnu, Yakshi, Hanuman and Veerabhadran.A shrine devoted to Yakshi is also located at the south west corner of the temple.The Sanctum sanctorum of this temple is in the midst of a lotus pool.

Story of the Deity

According to legends, Thampuran (ruler) of Paravur was a great devotee of Goddess Mookambika. He used to visit the Kollur temple in Mangalore every year to pay homage to the goddess. But when he became too old, his health worsened and he could no longer undertake the long journey to Kollur. The goddess appeared to the sad devotee in a dream and ordered him to build her idol near his palace so that he can have daily darshan of the goddess. Thampuran followed her instructions and built a temple at Paravur and installed the Goddess.

Navaratri festival celebration

The famous Navaratri festival is celebrated here with great fervor. Apart from the Navarathri Festival, the 'The ten-day annual festival' is celebrated in the month of Makaram (January-February). Music festival and 'Vidyarambham' ceremony are the main features of this festival. Thousands of people participate in the Navarathri music festival. On Durgashtami, books are arranged before the image of Goddess Saraswathy and on Vijayadasami morning, 'Ezhuthinirithu' or 'Vidyarambham' ceremony takes place at a special mandapam which begins from 4 am and lasts till 11a.m. Thousands of little children are initiated into the world of letters by making them write the word 'Harisree' on rice, their tongues or sand with a golden ring.

See also

• Temples of Kerala

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