Kothankulangara Temple, Chavara , kollam

Kothankulangara   Temple, Chavara  , kollam

Compiled by

P.R.Ramachander

   This is a very unique temple in Kerala because   during the festival here Boys dressed  as  girls prepare   and offer  the offering to the Goddess

  It seems once upon a time  it this area was covered   with a forest and on one corner of the forest there  was a pond clled   , Bootham kulam.One day some cpwherds   who came here   got an unhusked coconut   and   they try to break it open on a stone  near the pond ..To their surpise  they saw  blood oozing  out of the stone  . nThey went and informed their elders   , who consulted astrologers. The Prasnam revealed that  it was a goddess  Vana durga .They immediately  built a thatched   shed   for the Goddess. Since they  had to make  a garland for the goddess   and no girls were  available  there, the cowherds dressed  like girls, made   garlands   and offered it to the Goddess  , They  boiled   the coconut flesh  and extracted  a solid substance  called  “Kottan” from it.This  was offered to the Goddess .So they started calling  Bhootham Kulam as Kottam kulam and the Goddess  asa Kottm kulangara  Amma.

FESTIVAL

The Kottankulangara Festival is an annual Hindu festival in Kerala, India in which thousands of men dress as women. This is is done normally   as a thanks given by devotees  to the goiddess  who fulfills all their wants

Festival  iscalled  Chamaya vilakku (make up lamp  ) and   is celeberated  in the month of march  . In this unique ritual called ‘Chamayavilakku’, the men dressed  as  ‘Damsels’ come to the temple at night in a long procession with lighted lamp in their hands. The men dress up in the female attire of their choice. Some wear Set saari, Pattu saari, half saari or even dance costumes. The two day festival attracts thousands of devotees throughout the State. Believers from other States are also participating in this famous festival. Recently several foreigners are also attending this famous traditional festival. On the festival days   thousand of Devotees visit the Temple to seek the blessings of the Goddess Bhagavathy.

. HOW TO REACH

Kottankulangara temple, where the Chamayavilakku is held, is besides NH-4. It’s relatively easy to get there. The best way to reach here is by bus, as almost all of the bus to Kollam & Trivandrum, pass in front of the temple. Kottankulangara is situated in between two cities Kollam & Karunagappally.

From Karunagappally, There are throughout buses from Karunagappally to Kollam. So if you are staying at Karunagappally, catch a bus to Kollam and get down at the point “Kottankulangara”. Catching “Fast Passenger” Buses, which is frequently available, will be the best option to travel.

From Kollam, Same like from Karunagappally, there are through out buses from Kollam to Karunagappally. So if you are staying at Kollam, catch a bus to Karunagappally and get down at the point “Kottankulangara”. From here also, Catching “Fast Passenger” Buses, which is frequently available, will be the best option to travel.

By Train: Nearest station is Kaunagapally. But most of the train don’t have stop here. So better to reach Kollam.

Figures:
Nearest Railway station – Kollam (Station Code: QLN) – 13Kms
Nearest Bus Station(District HQ) – Kollam – 12Kms
Nearest Airport – Trivandrum – 80 Kms.

Iranikulam Sree Mahadeva Temple - Wikipedia

 Sree Kottankulangara Devi Temple,
Kottankulangara, Chavara
Kollam, Kerala – 691 583.

Email: 

Contact Person: The Secretary, Temple Committee.

Paramekkavu temple

Paramekkavu temple

Compiled  by

P.R.Ramachander

       Parmekkavu temple    is one of the biggest  Bhagwathy     temple  of Kerala and is situated   in Trichur town.

There is an interesting story about its origin.  It seems  once the head of The Kuruppal   family  of Trichur town  , who was a great   devotee of  Thirumandhakunnu  Bhagawathy became so old    that   he was not able to visit her temple. Once he returned from Mandhankunnu   after his sincere prayers and in Trichur   in a teak wood forest , he kept his   Palmyrah umbrella (ola kuda)   under a  Bakula tree  called ILanji tree  in Malayalam. After   some time when he wanted to leave , he was not  able to lift his umbrella from the floor.As per the custom of Kerala when an astrologer   examined , it was found that  it was  the Mother  of Thirumandhankunnu  temple. After   the Vadakkunathan temple    was consecrated  the  power of the Goddess  shifted below   a Paro  tree..A temple was built   was   there   and it was called Paro  mel kavu. The  Goddess   consecrated  here  was made  of wood . Statutes of  Ganesa, Veera Bhadra    and  other deities    are also there in the temple.The Goddeszsz  is supposed to give her  devotees arts  and intelligence ,

    This temple is a  two temple complex  Parmekkavu and Melekavu . IN the present Melekavu once  Guruthi  (animal sacrifice) was being doine, when the Animal sacrifice was prohibited a temple was built at that   spot and it was called  Mele Kavu where a statue  of the Goddess got from the   temple pond was consecrated,.

   A peculiar  worship practice at this temple is that  when lamp is lit in the temple it would be shown  in the direction of the  Ilanji tree where  the Goddess  was first  consecrated.

Trichur  Pooram

  This is perhaps the greatestfestival of Trichur(Tri siva perur) town.Parmekkavu temple  is one of the most important  participants  of this great festival. It will be a treat to the eye and ears to watch 15 bedecked elephants standing to the tunes of "pancha vadyam " ( Traditional musical galore) inside the Vadakkunathan temple complex later move on to face 15 bedecked elephants of the Parmekkavu  temple  complex, in a nearby ground exchanging colorful Umbrellas during the annual Pooram Festival which comes in April -May every year.More

The famous  ILanji Thara  melam(beating of drums)  starts    from here 

Dress code

This temple of Bhagavathi which is considered a sacred place with a dress code ( sari for women and Dhoti and upper garment for men). Men without a dhoti can go up to ,a certain place and get glimpse of the presiding deity. this is considered one of the very important and spiritual places of Thrissur which is the cultural capital of Kerala.

 Location   and contact

PARAMEKKAVU DEVASWOM
GEETHANJALI BUILDING
ROUND EAST, THRISSUR - 680 001
KERALA - INDIA.

Office : +91 487 2331273, 2322334.     Temple : +91 487 2331373

E-mail : paramekkavu_tcr@bsnl.in, info@paramekkavudevaswom.com

Timings of the temple

4.30 am to 11.30 Am

4 pm to 9 pm

Valayanad Devi temple, Govindapuram, Calicut

Valayanad  Devi temple, Govindapuram, Calicut

Compiled by

P.R.Ramachander

   This temple is also called Thiru vilayanattu Kavu  temple  .This temple is situated  in the middle of Calicut city .There is a very interesting story about it. 

It seems the Zamorins of Calicut were  constantly defeated by  Valluva Konathiri   , the kings of Valluvanad.  The ZAmorin  found out that  it is due to the  power and blessings of Thiru Mandhankunnu temple in  that kings kingdom. Hiding his form , he went and did Bhajan am in Mandhan kunnu temple.  The Goddess was pleased and agreed to his request to   accompany him to Calicul.But she told that at any time he gets a doubt and checks whether   she is really accompanying him, she will go back. Unfortunately   the king looked back and  Goddess decided to go back. But pleased with the lkkings devotion, she threw her bangle inside Calicut ans she promised him that  the place where it fell will have her  presecence.The bangle fell and went on rotating for a week   ansd stopped.That place  was later known as ThiruValayanad(Vala means bangle)  .From then on the Zamorins took the  royal oath of becoming  the king in this temple.In this temple along with the Goddess  SAptha Mathas   are also consecrated.

  This temple has given rites to all   communities except Christians

It is believed  that worship of the temple would help you in success of your actions,  getting cured of diseases and getting  wisdom.

  This is one of the rare   temples in India where  the worship is done as per  the Saktheya system of offering Meat   and toddy .In the Sanctum sanctorum is the Sri Chakra consecrated there  by Siva yogi Thayyavur  Shiva Shankar. The Goddess  in this temple faces  the north and is supposed to be very fierce,

  The festival starts in the  Karthika star of  the month of  Makaram. “The annual festival commences every year on the day of Karthika of Makaram and continues for seven days. Devi's 'utavall is Kept in Tali Mahadeva Temple. Few days before the 'Uthsavam'( festival) It is taken to Valayanad temple.The 'Arat'( the holy dipping of the idol after the 'Pallivetta') is conducted in Trissaala kulam in Mankavu. During the annual festival There will be not Madhyama ( saktheya ) Pooja. Brahmins were brought the temple to perform the Uthama Pooja. Kalamezhuthupattu is observed from 1st Vrichikam for 41 days during the Mandala season.Tuesdays and Fridays are considered to be more auspicious for praying in this temple.(From Wikipedia)”

The address of the temple

Valayanad Temple Rd, Govindapuram, Kozhikode, Kerala 673007

Phone   0495 2741083

Timings

4 am   to 9 am

% pm to 7 pm