Information of Sreevaraham Mukkolakkal Bhagavathy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Mukkolakkal Bhagavathy Temple is also called as Sreevaraham Mukkolakkal Bhagavathy Temple locally. It is a renowned Hindu Goddess temple in Trivandrum. This temple has unique style when compared to other Hindu temples in the gods own country. It has got very fine temple architecture. This temple is the religious belief of many and come here and worships this Bhagavathi. This temple is maintained by its Upadeshaka Samithy and conducts a very grand festival here annually. It is divinely situated at Sreevaraham Taluk, Trivandrum district of Kerala State in India.

Mukkolakkal Bhagavathy Temple Religious Significance

Mukkolakkal Bhagawathi Temple comes under the Travancore list of temple visit. It is the worship place for all sects in Hinduism. This temple is usually visited by the pilgrims soon after visiting the Sri Padmanabha Keshtra. Here the Bhagawathi is the Durga Devi or Maa. The word Bgagawathi is generally called for women goddesses in Malayalam language. Here Bhagawathi is considered to be powerful and self manifested one. Mukkolakkal Bhagawathi Ammai is what her devotees call her and worship. This temple is open throughout the year. This temple has its sub deities like the Lord Ganesh, Yakshi Amma, Brahmarakshassu, Nagaraja and Maadan Thampuran. These sub deities are also worshiped and their special occasion related to the deities is also important days in this temple. The temple usually opens with Palliyunarthal ceremony at 04:45 AM and closes with Athazha Pooja and Deeparadhana at 08:00 PM daily. Apart from daily rituals, it has a practice of conducting special rituals on all Tuesday and Friday of every week. On special ritual days the temple closes at 08:30 PM. All devotees can participate in its general rituals. The paid rituals and ceremonies are done here as per the devotees wishes. There are more than 50 offerings done in this temple and each offering are done with the consent of the devotees and their willingness.

Mukkolakkal Bhagavathy Temple Mythology & History

Mukkolakkal Bhagawathi Temple came in to existence in the ancient time. It is said in the village folk lore that few village young children's were playing in the paddy field. One of them was hurt by hitting a rock. They were surprised to see blood coming out of the stone and reported to the villagers. The village head along with the astrologer came to find out what it was. As per his astrological observation this stone was believed to be holy and a temple must be built here. This stone slowly turned in to Bhagavathi form and believed to be protecting this village since the ancient time.

Mukkolakkal Bhagavathy Temple Architectural Significance

Mukkolakkal Bhagawathi Temple is a typical Kerala Style temple made out of laterite stone, lime stone, wood and terracotta tiles. The entire temple is seen in a gabled structure. The most important feature of this temple is that it has a Devi idol made of mix of five metals. The primary deity is a self manifested one found here since the ancient days. Apart from the main deity, it has the sub deities carved out of monolith stones like the Lord Ganesh, Yakshi Amma, Brahmarakshassu, Nagaraja and Maadan Thampuran. This is a very beautiful temple and has much wood craftsmanship.

Festival at Mukkolakkal Bhagavathy Temple

Mukkolakkal Bhagawathi Temple conducts five festivals annually. The first major festival is Navarathri which is held in between September and October month. The last day of this festival is famous for Vidyarambham ceremony which attracts many kids to start the beginning education with goddess blessing. Secondly the Vrishchicka Mandala festival is carried in the month of November. In the mid of March the Arrattu festival is celebrated here very grandly as the Bhagawathi goes out of this temple for procession and come backs with lot of lights, sounds and colors in this village. During this festival season, one can see the grandeur of the festival and the participation of the people as well as the locals, who makes the festival even more grandeur and exhilarating. The Vishu is an important day for Kerala Hindu's and visits this temple. The August month is observed as the Aadi Chovva Utsavam. During all these five festive seasons, this temple is plunged with thousands of devotees.