Chakulathukavu Bhagavathi Temple (சகுலதுகவு பகவதி கோவேல்) Chakulathukavu, Kottayam

Chakulathukavu Bhagavathi ,Chakulathukavu,Kottayam

Moolavar : Chakulathukavu Bhagavathi
Urchavar : –
Amman / Thayar : –
Thala Virutcham : –
Theertham : –
Agamam / Pooja : –
Old year : 1000-2000 years old
Historical Name : –
City : Chakulathukavu
District : Kottayam
State : Kerala

Festival:
Pongal festival is celebrated in the temple on the Karthikai day in November-December when large numbers of women offer the pudding to Mother Bhagavathi and worship Her. This is the only temple in Kerala where Chokkapanai (a tall structure made with palm leaves) is burnt on Karathikai day. From first to the 12th day of Margazhi month, falling approximately from December 15 to 27 or a day before or after, both men and women observe disciplined fasting including celibacy to realize their wishes, as observed in the Aiyappan order. Women come to temple with Irumudi – a package containing puja materials. The temple is called Sabarimala of women. Kalasa abishek and carrying Kavadis on the 11th and 12 day respectively take place. An event called Nari Puja is celebrated on the first Friday of Margazhi by washing the feet of women (Pada Puja) considering them as Shakti. It is said that men learn the lesson of respecting their wives, mothers and sisters through this function. Special puja is performed to Nagaraja and Nagayakshi in Purattasi (September-October) and those afflicted with Naga dosha participate in the pujas.

Temple’s Speciality:
This is the only Shakti temple in Kerala where Chokkapanai is burnt in Karthikai month. This is also called the Sabarimala of women as they follow some rules during the Margazhi month. The Nari Puja is dedicated to women considering them as Shakti Herself.

Opening Time:
The temple is open from 5.00 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.

Address:
Sri Chakulathukavu Bhagavathi Amman Temple, Chakulathukavu, Kottayam district, Kerala state.

General Information:
People attach a loving divinity to the place and every particle of the sand as precious stones. They begin every construction only with a handful of sand of this sacred place.

Prayers:
People pray here for child boon, for total remedy from prolonged illness and mental problems, for relief from unbearable agony, for recovery from business losses and for freedom from fear of something.

Thanks giving:
Devotees light ghee lamps and perform archana with kumkum on realizing their wishes.

Greatness Of Temple:
Devotes undertake fasting in the month of Margazhi (December-January) accepting stringent conditions to realize their wishes as followed in the Aiyappan order. Women come to the temple with Irumudi and the place is called Sabarimala for women. Kalasa Puja and Kavadi events take place on Margazhi 11 and 12 respectively. First Friday of Margazhi is dedicated to Nari Puja for women so that men should regard women as a visible form of Shakti.

Temple History:
Present Chakulam region was once a jungle. A hunter came here with his wife to collect firewood when a snake came out furiously. When the hunter tried to kill it, the snake escaped. The hunter thought that the snake would return to revenge him and chased it. When it tried to enter an ant-hill, he struck the creature but it was not wounded, instead it again saw him furiously with its hood. Within minutes, water came out of a spring in the anthill. The snake disappeared.

While the hunter and his wife were in utter confusion, Maharshi Narada came to him in disguise and advised to demolish the anthill. Water sprang up first followed by milk and honey. And there was an idol of Ambica too. Narada installed the deity. The hunter and his wife worshipped Ambica with all devotion. Later, the family of Pattamani Veedu built the temple.

As the water of the spring from the ant-hill was so sweet, it was called Chakkarai Kulam – Sugar tank which later changed as Chakkulam. Sri Adi Parasakti Vanadurga is gracing in the temple in the name of Chakkulathamma. In the year 1981, the idol of Sakthi with eight hands was installed along with Lord Shiva, Lord Aiyappa, Lord Vishnu, Lord Ganapathi and Lord Subramania, Yakshi, Nagadevadas and Vanadevadas.