Chettikulangara Sree Bhagavathi Temple

Chettikulangara Sree Bhagavathi Temple

                         Chettikulangara temple is spread over 13 God chosen (Karas) territories. It is at the center of the first four Karas – Erezha South, Erezha North, Kaitha South and Kaitha North. The presiding deity is Jagadambika of Chettikulangara, the Goddess of Oodanadu. Chettikulangara Sree Bhagavathi temple is now under the control of the Travancore Devaswom Board and is the second highest revenue earner, next to Sabarimala within this board.

According to the legend, once when some local chieftains went to witness the annual festivities at the Koypallikarazhma Bhagavathi temple, they were humiliated and ridiculed by the Koypallikarazhma temple authorities. Thus they thought of constructing a temple at Chettikulangara. The Karanavars (Family Heads), the four to five then leading families of the region, decided to take it as their duty and performed 12 days long 'Bhajan' to please the Goddeess, Kodungallur Bhagavati. It is believed that Devi gave them 'Swapna Darshanam.' Next day, they returned to Chettikulangara with a sacred sword given by the Velichappadu of Kodungallur temple, and started civil works of the temple. Another story tells that this temple was consecrated by Padmapadacharyar (a leading disciple of Adi Shankaracharya) on the Uthrittathi day of Makara month in the year 823.

Historical evidences reveal that the shrikovil of the temple is about 480 years old and the Chuttambalam dates back about two centuries. There are various offerings, which include the Kumkumarchana, Raktha Puzhpanjali, Panthirunazhi, Bhagavathi Seva and much more. The Ezhunnallathu (deity taken out and goes round the temple thrice) is performed on Bharani days from Vrichikam to Meenam. Devi will be taken out on 'Kai Vattaka' by Melshanthi (the prime priest) during the Ezhunnallathu of Vrichikam month. The 41 days of Kalamezhuthu and Pattu is conducted annually on the first of Malayalam month Vrichikam (December - January). On the last day, Puram Kurithi is performed. It is told that the Prasadam of this ritual is capable of providing immunity against Small Pox and similar contagious diseases.

The main distinctive feature of this temple is the huge oil lamp called Kathuvilakku (made of granite) which accomodates more than a thousand wicks and is the largest in India. The Upadevathas (deities) in the temple premises are Yakshi, Muhurthi, Rakshas, Thevara Moorthy, Kannamballi Bhagavati, Ganesh, Nagaraja, Naga Yakshi, Balakan and Vallyachan. There is another small shrine for Moolasthanam. A Kavu (a patch of small forest, which houses the serpent Gods), Karimbana (black palm tree) and the nearby Chembakam tree in the premises are also places of worship.

The major festivals celebrated here are Kettukazhchas displayed on Aswathy day, Ethirepu Ulsav, Bharani festival and Parayeduppu Ulsav.

Many followers of the theory of Kerala’s genesis by Parasurama firmly believe that he had established 108 Durga temples, 108 Siva temples, numerous Sasthatemples, besides 108 Kalaris (place to learn traditional martial arts in front of the deity), Sakthi Kendras etc. Besides he had established five Ambalayas. Jagadambika of Chettikulangara, the Goddess of Oodanadu, is among the five Ambalayams. Though enough historical evidences and authentic study materials are not available to support, it is believed that this temple dates back to more than1200 years.

According to one version, this temple was consecrated by Padmapadacharyar (a leading disciple of Adi Shankara) on the Uthrittathi day of Makara month in A.D. 823. There is a firm argument that the goddess here was a family deity, and later emerged as the village and regional deity. Local historians oppose the argument that the temple is not as ancient as the nearby Kandiyoor Mahadeva temple or Mavelikara Krishna Swamy temple as it had not been mentioned in Unnuneeli Sandesam written in the 14th century. According to late Kandiyoor Mahadeva Shasthri, Samudra Bandhan – a leading courtier of Ravi Varman, an ancient King of Venad had visited this temple and wrote poems on Bhagavathi.Similarly Aadithya Kulasekharan, the King of Venad (1374 A.D. to 1389 A.D.) also had visited the Chettkulangara temple, argues them

 Chettikulangara Sree Bhagavathi Temple  is located at Chettikulangara, 8 km from Kayamkulam, on the Kayamkulam–Mavelikara route. This temple dates back to over 1200 years.