Panachikkadu Saraswathy Temple
Location : Kuzhimattom, Kottayam
About The Temple :
Panachikkadu Saraswathi temple known as Dakshina Mookambika in South India situates in Panachikkadu village is about 11 km south east of Kottayam railay station. Lord Mahavishnu is the main deity of the temple and considered as the guardian god of this locality and therefore the devotees are ftrst worshipping Mahavishnu and then Devi Saraswathy, Ganapathy, Siva, Sasthavu and Yakshy in an order of priority and importance.
Just lower on the Southern side of Sree Vishnu temple, there is a granite cut, small saras with ever flowing water all around the year. Moolavigraham, Prathista of Devi Saraswathy is available underneath in the ‘Saras’ where neither Sreekovil nor Nalambalam as seen in a shrine. The importance of Panachikkadu temple is that there is no Saraswathy temple according to traditional concept apart from apparently a granite cut pond partly covered with a very rare creeper growing from time immemorial and never flowering or fruit bearing but still existing in the pond neither increasing nor decreasing in size but having thick vegitation round the year.
Pantu:hikkadu Yakshy – The diety of Yakshy can be seen under the natural roof of Elangi and Ezhilam pala trees, covered by
flowering creepers, Panachikkadu Yakshi is famous for sudden plea- sure and sudden displeasure on devotee. Ooranma (trusteship) rests in Kizhippuram Karunad and Kaimukku Nampoothiri moms who are residence of Panachikkadu for thousand of years.
Legend – Once Kuzhippuram illom was without an ‘unni’ to carry the family tradition, the Karanavar (an elderly Nampoothiri) of the illom went to Mookambi at Kudajadri in Karnataka with an intention to worship Devi Mookambika seeking her blessing to get a son. After having spent a few years in the temple worshiping Devi Mookambika, the old man was much distressed and returned home. On this return at Panachikkadu he put his ‘Olakuda’ in a place near the Kulikkadavu on the southern side of the temple and went to bath in the spring. After bath when he tried to take the umbrella he could not lift it as if it was fixed where it has been put. In his confusion he thought he heard a voice telling him that Devi Mookambika was him and that Devi was a accompanying him on his umbrella all the way from Kudajadri. He was told to take an idol which lay in the nearby forest and consecreate it in the place where his umbrella was put. He was also told that he need not come over to Mookambika further as the devi has come with him.
Saraswatha Ghruthm – Saraswatha ghrutham purified and enriched with saraswathasooktham thousand times repeated is given to the devotees from the temple which is a medicine for boosting memory power by the grace of Devi.
Devotees – Devotees from all over Kerala are corning daily here for worship irrespective of caste, creed and religion. Bringing their children for ‘Vidyarambhom’ on all days at any time especially on Durgastarni and Mahanavarni. Artists especially vocalists and instrument players offer their art demonstration before the Devi Saraswathyas ‘vazhipadu’ every year especially duringnavarathri. Kerala artists of great esteem are devoted of Devi. A.R.Raja Raja Varma, Kerala Varma Valiya koil Thampuran, Ulloor S. Parameswar
Iyer of olden times were devotees of Panachikkadu Devi. It was also believed that the dumbness of .A.R.Raja Raja Varma was cured by the grace of Devi and thereafter Mahakavi Ullur S. Parameswara Iyerrecollect this incident in his poem. Thousands ofliterary men and artists all over Kerala enshrine and find an abode in front of
Panachikkadu Saraswa:
thy Devi. Therefore it is a unique centre of Pilgrimage.
Dakshina Mookambika Panachikkadu Sree Saraswathy Temple Kuzhimattom P.O., Kottayam – 686 533 Ph: 0481 2330670 (0) 2330185 (R)
No comments yet.