Chottanikkara Temple


This famous temple is in Chottanikkara in Ernakulam District of Kerala. The main deity here is mother god Bhagavathi. Bhagavathi is
the main goddess of worship here. Mahavishnu also is worshiped here. Bhagavathi is adored here in three distinct forms .In the morning ,
draped in white as Devi Saraswathi, at noon in saffron as Bhadra Kaali, at evening Druga in blue.

It is believed that Devi here cures the mental illness. So many mentally disturbed are being brought here for cure.

Chottanikkara Keezhkkavu temple is famous for “Guruthi Pooja.This pooja is done to awake the deity towards the evening. Chaottanikkara
is an important temple among the 108 Durga temples.

Temples:

There are two temples at Chottanikkara. Melkavu and Keezhkkavu.Melkkavu is the main temple.Here there is a big flag post and an elephant stable . The main idol Bhagavathi along with Mahavishnu faces the East.Like that in Kanyakumari here also the idol is made of Rudrakshasila. The idol of Maha Vishnu is six feet tall.This is of Krishnasila .The idol is in standing posture holding Sankhu, Chakra, Gada and Padma. The idol of Devi is only three feet
tall Also lord Shiva, Brahma, Subramahnia, and Sastha are present in the sanctum sanctorum.

Out side the Nalambalam on South West corner ,called Pavizhamallithara, is considered as the sacred place of Goddess and God. Near to this is the Siva Temple. Idol faces the East. Next to this there are temples of Ganapathi, Nagas, Yakshi , and Brahmarakshas. The yakshi here is theone which attacked Kandarapally Gupthan Namboothiri an ardent worshipper of Goddess .Hearing his the loud cry, Devi came out of the sanctum sanctorum and using her sacred sword cut the yakshi’s head and threw it to the nearby pond towards the south of the temple says the legend.The idol of yakshi was worshipped
here after that. On the North East is Sastha. Sastha along with Prabha Sathyaka is the idol here. Duuring the Sabarimala season thousands and thousands visit here . It is believed that one Namboothiri had put the idol of Sastha here for worship.

Keezhkkavu is almost 500 meters east of Melekkavu.Bhadra kaali is the idol here. This is inaugurated by Villwamangalathu Swamiyar.Guruthi is done here. This is done on every day butt it is more important in days of Tues day and Friday.This pooja is after the Melekkavu Atthazhapooja.It is believed that Keezhkkavu Bhagavathy and Sashtha takes care of the problems of mentally disturbed.

Poojas:

Naippayasam,Plappayasam, Koottu payasam, Kadumpayasam, Appam, Ada are the main offerings to the Goddess and Mahavishnu. For God Shiva its dhara,for Ganapathi it is Ottappam and Ganapathi homam, noorum paalum for Nagas,are also the main poojas here. For Sashta neerajanam is the important pooja. For Keezhkkavu Bhagavathy Guruthi and Vedivazhipaadu are the main pooja.

To reach here:

This temple is 15 kms distant from Ernakulam

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