CHOTTANIKKARA TEMPLE:
The Chottanikkara Bhagavathy temple is located about 20 km from Eranakulam-Kochi ,one of main cities of Kerala.The goddess of this temple isBhagavathy Amman.The temple was 1500 years old.It was built in the middle of the densejungle by a forest dweller called Kannappan.Kannappan was doting father who loved his young daughter.He sacrificed a beast to the Goddess Bhagavathy each day and one suchoccasion could not find any animals to slaughter.So he asked his daughter for her pet calf but the daughter preferred to give up her own life for the goddess.the calf spoke to Kannappan and revealed thet it was the Goddess in animal formA transformed Kannappan started to worship her at the place where the sacrifices were made by him. -J N Chandra kala
The Chottanikkara Bhagavathy temple is located about 20 km from Eranakulam-Kochi ,one of main cities of Kerala.The goddess of this temple isBhagavathy Amman.The temple was 1500 years old.It was built in the middle of the densejungle by a forest dweller called Kannappan.Kannappan was doting father who loved his young daughter.He sacrificed a beast to the Goddess Bhagavathy each day and one suchoccasion could not find any animals to slaughter.So he asked his daughter for her pet calf but the daughter preferred to give up her own life for the goddess.the calf spoke to Kannappan and revealed thet it was the Goddess in animal formA transformed Kannappan started to worship her at the place where the sacrifices were made by him. -J N Chandra kala
The Chottanikkara Temple is a famous temple of the Hindu mother goddess Bhagavathi. The temple is located at Chottanikkara near Ernakulam in the southern Indian state of Kerala and is one of the most popular temples in the state and in terms of temple architecture, this temple stands out to be an ultimate testmonial for the ancient vishwakarma sthapathis (wooden sculpture) in sculpting this temple along with Sabarimala. Bhagawati is one of the most popular deities in the area, Chottanikkara Devi is worshipped at the temple, in three different forms: as Saraswati in the morning, draped in white; as Lakshmi at noon, draped in crimson; and as Durga in the evening, decked in blue. Lord Shiva is also worshiped at the temple. People suffering from mental illnesses commonly visit the temple, as Bhagawati is thought to cure her devotees. One should not miss the 'Guruthi Pooja' in the 'Keezhkkaavu' temple at Chottanikkara. This is a ritual done at late evening to invoke the goddess. Earlier 'Guruthi Pooja' was done only on Fridays. But nowadays, it is performed every day.
ReplyDelete'Chottanikara Makam thozhal' is the famous religious festival temple.
PADMAPRIYA I
Worship Practices:
ReplyDeleteThe presiding deity is known by various names like Rajarajeswari, Bhadrakali, Saraswathi, Durga and Amman. Rajarajeswari is worshipped as Saraswathi in the morning, Lakshmi in the afternoon and Durga in the evening. The temple is known for curing mental illness and diseases due to evil spirits. The patients are brought to the priest, who engages with them in some conversation. He nails a part of the hair of the patient in the temple tree, indicating that evil spirit is captured in the tree and the patients are cured off their illness. Neem leaves, lime and chillies are taken home from the temple, which are believed to ward off evil spirits.
N.savitha
MAKOM Thozhal" (worship on the Makom day) is the most important festival of the temple which is celebrated in the month of Kumbham. (Feb / March) It is believed that Bhagavathy in her full attire gave darsan to Vilwamangalam Swamiyar on the Makom day and appears on the same day every year for giving darsan to the devotees in her special appearance. The Bhadrakaali at Kizhukkavu is believed to exorcise evil spirit from devotees, after conducting bhajanam.-deepa
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