Kallil Bhagawathi temple , Methala, Perumbavur

Kallil  Bhagawathi temple  , Methala, Perumbavur

Compiled  By

P.R.Ramachander

One  of the oldest temples in Kerala    is the  Kallil Bhagawathi temple near  Methala  village   which is near Perumbavur  .It is believed that  it is 5000  years old. The  temple is in the middle of  28 acres  of forest (once belonging to Kallil Pisharam) on a top of the  rock  .We have to climb 120 steps to reach there .You would see  only stones   every where  in the temple.It seems  once upon a time  a very  Goddess  was playing   with stone balss(throwing   up and catching them) ,When people   neared  heer, along with the stones   she was playing , it seems , she ran inside   a cave and   vanished..The ball that   she threw to the top  , according to belief became   the roof  of the temple(It stands   there   without any support) and the ball   which came down became the   floor of the temple. People believe that even if 15 elephants pull to gather   the roof does not move at all.According to people  the huge rock standing without any support  is a real wonder  of the world.

    There   are  two mjor offering   to the goddess

1.       A broom stick(chool nercha)   for hair to grow to ladies.The broom it seems should be made   with Broom sticks whch  have not been touched  by steel( ie you shouls  not tear of palm leaves by a steel knife)

2.       The other offering  is stones(kal nercha)    from half built houses  we are building. This is for quick completion of the buildings.People believe that the  home   will be completed   within a year

Once  we achieve  the results of the prayer  , we are  supposed to return to the temple   and thank the Goddess.

Since the temple is in a cave   and the goddess is consecrated   at the end of the cave  we cannot  do Pradakshina for her. So  the goddess   as well as the stone is saluted  .She is also called  “Kallil   arulunna devi( Goddess  who is pleased with stone)  .There are small temples for Ganesa  , Vishnu, Shiva Yakshi    and Kari Naga Yakshi around the temple.>in the temple there is Bali Kallu   and Namaskara  mandapam also ,In the roof hanging stone you can see  the form of Brahma   also

   There is a belief that  this was  a jain temple   and  the Goddess  is a Jain Goddess  called  Padmavathi.People also believe that  the jain statues   of Paraswanatha   and Maha veera   slowly became  Lord Vishnu    and Lord Shiva.

   The festival of the temple is on  Ksarthika star of  Vruschiga month.The festival is for   8 days.It is interesting to know the Devi travels on a  female  elephant

Previously  the temple used to be closed after  noon pooja but nowadays , there  is  a deeparadhana   and pooja in the evening also.

  There is a place called Odakkali  between Peruimpavur   and Kothamangalam.  This temple is 4 km from Odakkali( ten km from Perumbavor)

The idol being worshipped as Goddess Durga used to be that of Sree Padmavati during the Jain period and the idol of Vardhamana Mahavira is being worshipped now as Lord Siva. Idols of Lord Vishnu, Ganapati and Ayyappa were installed in the same cave later on. The fascinating feature about the temple is the mystery on how the boulder of size 50ft x 25 t x 15 ft stays atop the temple without any damage for so long. Idol of Lord Brhama can be seen carved at the huge rock . The three trinity i.e Brhama, Shiva and Vishnu are also worshiped here.

Palliunarthal at 5.30 AM, After that opening the Sanctorum(Sree Kovil), Nirmalya Darsanam, Abhishekam,Malar Nivedyam, Ethruthu Pooja at 7 AM., Ucha Pooja at 10.15 AM. Opening Sanctorum evening at 5 PM‍., Deeparadhana at 6.30 PM, Athazha Pooja at 7.15 PM and after that the temple closes.

The  address of the temple is

Shri Kallil Bhagavathi Temple
Kallil Pishaarathu Devaswam
Methala P.O. Methala
Ernakulam Kerala , India
Pin: 683545

Phone  is +91  99477983023

Kallil Bhagavathi Temple is a cave temple which is just 10 km away from Perumbavoor. Angamaly Railway Station is just 5 km way and Ernakulam Junction, the major rail-head, is located about 45 km from here and Aluva Station is about 25 km from here. Cochin International Airport is located about 25 km form here. Cochin Airport is one of the major Airports in India and Kerala State and is attended by many airlines at regular interval.