Kodikkunnu Bhagavathy Temple

Infobox Mandir


creator = Unknown
proper_name = Kodikkunnu Bhagavathy Temple
date_built = unknown
primary_deity = Durga and Shiva
architecture = South Indian, Temple
location = Pallippuram, Pattambi, Palakkad

The Kodikkunnu Bhagavathy Temple or Kodikkunnu Ambalam is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Durga located in the village of Pallippuram, near Pattambi, in Palakkad district of Kerala, India. The goddess is commonly referred to as the Bhagavathy or Kodikkunnathamma.

The word “kunnu” means hill in Malayalam language. Literally, Kodikkunnu Temple would thus mean the temple situated on top of the hill called “Kodi”. Kodikkunnu is near to Pallippuram railway station and can be accessed from Valanchery, Pattambi and Thrithala, by road.

The main deity is "Amma" means Mother and there is Siva also with almost same importance. To the left of Bhagavathy is the idol of Ganapathi. People come from distant places to worship the goddess.

The temple has "nada" (holy entrance) from 3 directions, viz., north, east and west. The door towards the south is permanently closed. Vehicles cannot reach the immediate temple premises as there is no road reaching the temple. From all three directions there are granite stone-paved steps to reach the temple.

Mythology

There is a grandmother too, the mother of Kodikkunnu Goddess. She is the chief deity of Muthassiar Kavu (literally, grandmother's temple) near Pattambi. According to one legend the Grandmother Goddess and her three beautiful daughters (including Kodikkunnathamma) were strolling along the river bed on a summer night. They saw a dance festival by the Harijans (low-cast [Hindus) and the youngest daughter was so carried away by it, that she refused to go along when it was time to leave. The mother ordered her to be with the Harijans and perform as their guardian deity. This is the popular belief on the origin of Kanakkar Kavu (Kanakkar is a sect of Harijans).

On another occasion the two sisters quarreled after witnessing the ritual of an animal sacrifice. As the younger one was so much engrossed in the gory scene, the elder one parted company and settled down in Kodikkunnu. The younger sister shifted to Kodungallur where blood sacrifices were a common ritual until the recent past. And the two elder sisters are still angry with their youngest sister that they have closed their temple doors that face towards Kodungallur. So in Kanakkarkavu and Kodikkunnu Temple there is no "thekke nada" (entrance from south).

Temple Festivals

Chirankara Pooram

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The main attractions during the pooram is Chenda melam, Thayambaka and Panchvadyam. From every desam people will bring “Kaala”(decorated artificial bullock pairs). At the end of the day there will be “Vedikkettu”(fireworks) which is a very enchanting sight to see.

Kathiratta Vela

The other important festival associated with the temple is the Kathiratta Vela (Festival of Harvest) that is celebrated after the every year’s harvest. This ‘vela’ is essentially a thanksgiving gesture to the Goddess for having given rich harvest. Kathiratta vela is conducted in the temple premises.

References

* Ithihya Mala, by Kottarathil Sankunni

External links

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