Information of Chakkulathukavu Sree Bhagavathy Temple, Alappuzha, Kerala

Chakkulathukavu Sree Bhagavathi Temple is an ancient Hindu Goddess shrine located in Thiruvalla in between the Pampa and Mani Mala Rivers. Since it's located near to the holy river waters named this place a Neerettupuram in Malayalam literally mean holy water land. This is a local goddess of this place and worshiped since the past 3000 years by its villagers. This temple is open throughout the year and conducts the annual temple festival very grandly. The advanced ritual booking can be done here for special family purposes apart from take part in their daily ritual functioning. It is divinely located at Thiruvalla road in Alappuzha District of Kerala State in India. The temple is important not just from mythological point of view, but its religious importance is worthy and is so, visited by huge number of devotees here to seek blessing by offering puja to the Goddesses Durga.

Chakkulathukavu Sree Bhagavathy Temple Religious Significance

Chakkulathukavu Sree Bhagavathi Temple is a Devi or Durga temple for the Hindus. The Malayalam word Bhagavathi literally means the Goddess. Here the Vana Devi which is the presiding deity is an incarnation of Parvathi Devi. It is believed to be an avatar of Durga form. She is worshiped here as the protector of this land and as a holy mother. Many devotees come here to see this beautiful goddess which is believed to be a self manifested one. This temple is also located in between two holy rivers making it more divine. Since many Hindu temples are associated with rivers. This temple is visited by its devotees on all important Hindu occasions of a calendar year. The daily rituals are also conducted here from morning to evening time. The important feature of this temple is every first Friday of a month is celebrated here with great devotions. Many devotees gather here monthly for the special rituals performed for the Bhagavathi.

Festival at Chakkulathukavu Sree Bhagavathy Temple

The major festivals at Chakkulathukavu are Pongala, Trikarthika, Nari Pooja, Nirapara and Kalamezhuthu. The Pongal is a harvest festival where the first produce of paddy is offered to the Bhagavathi as an honor. The Nari Pooja is a great festival for the Womanhood, since this is a goddess temple and all women's are honored including the mother hood. The Trikarthika is the festival of lights. The Nirapara is a special day ritual conducted for the Bhagavathi here. The Nirapara is a traditional vessel filled with paddy and holding tender flower of coconut in the center of this vessel and is the important item of the ritual. The Kalamezhuthu is again great festival for the participation of women members to draw colorful dust figure of Bhagavathi on temple grounds. During these festival thousands of peoples gather and these are also having fairs near the temple ground.

Chakkulathukavu Sree Bhagavathy Temple Mythology & History

There are many myths behind the Chakkulathukavu. The Vedic stories mention it that two notorious demons were killed here by Bhagavathi. Since then she became the praise of this village. Another folk lore is that of a wood picker who went to the deep forest to pick woods and he found the Bhagavathi idols there and considered to be the Vana Devi and since than a temple was built there for the forest goddess.

Chakkulathukavu Sree Bhagavathy Temple Architectural Significance

Chakkulathukavu is an ancient temple which went many alterations in the phase of time. The present temple is last modified in the year 1981 and looks very beautiful in the Kerala architectural pattern. This is a vast temple with a big temple pond. This is a fenced temple with many complexes and porch with in temple complexes. The materials used for construction are the lime stones, laterite stones, granite stones, terracotta tiles and teak woods. A big flag pole is seen here with a covering of gold plated sheet on it. The main deity is a self manifested one and found very beautiful with eight hands and seen in standing position. Apart from main deity there are also sub deities such as Serpent Gods, Lord Shiva, Navagrahas, Vinayaka, Sastha, Muruka, Vishnu and Yakshi are carved on monolith stones. The recent addition also includes the illuminated idol of Bhagavathi which is very colorful to see with lights and ornate around the idol.