Thirupuraikkal Temple

Thirupuraikkal temple popularly known as “Vadakkanthara kaavu” is just about 2 km walking distance from Palakkad Junction Railway station. (Palakkad is an important Railway division of Southern Railway zone of Indian Railways). The main deity is “Bhagawathi” or Goddess. There is no sculpted idol here. That is, the idol is not a sculpted one. It is black stone under a “Aththi tree” or Ficus racemosa tree. There is no roof on the top of the idol. The branches and leaves of the giant ancient Ficus racemosa tree form the roof for the Goddess here.

Legend goes that “Kannaki” (the heroine of the Tamil epic “Silappathikaaram”), after burning the whole city of Madurai by her wrath (Her wrath was due to the injustice meted out to her husband), walked toward Kerala. Some people followed her. When she reached Palakkad she rested under this Ficus racemosa tree. The people there who followed her started worshipping her. The descendants of the people who came with her can be still seen as a major population in that part of Palakkad (Moothanthara–Karnaki Nagar). Even though they follow a Tamil style culture, they speak Malayalam.

The main festival of the temple is celebrated once in three years and is called “Vadakkanthara Vela”. The deity has other deities temples around. There is a Sri Krishna temple in the same compound.