VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Attukal Bhagavathy Temple / ആറ്റുകാൽ ഭഗവതി ക്ഷേത്രം, Attukal, Manacaud, Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala.

Saturday, 9 August 2025

Attukal Bhagavathy Temple / ആറ്റുകാൽ ഭഗവതി ക്ഷേത്രം, Attukal, Manacaud, Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala.

The visit to this Attukal Bhagavathy Temple was a part of Malai Nadu Divya Desam's visit from 10^th to 14^th June 2025, organized by Mantra Yatra (website). Thanks to Mr. Balaji Davey and his team of Mantra Yatra for the excellent arrangement and personal care. This temple is considered the Sabarimala of Women.

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The presiding Deity: Sree Bhagavathy

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces north with a 3 tier Rajagopuram. An entrance arch is on the right side of the VIP’s vehicle entrance and Parking. Lamps to light as a part of prayer are kept in the entrance corridor. In the sanctum sanctorum, Moolavar is in metal. Bhagavathy is in a sitting posture with 4 hands. While the upper hands hold a sickle and a shield, the lower hands hold an akshaya padra and a Trishul. (There are two idols of Bhagavathy in the sanctum sanctorum. The original idol is covered with Gold plates, and the second idol is installed beside the original Moolavar.

In the outer praharam, Vinayagar, Nagars, Shiva Lingam, and Madan Thamburan.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and a mukha mandapam. A two-tier Stucco vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum.

The mandapa pillars and parapet walls have stucco images of Dwarapalas, and other images related to Shiva and Ambal. The mandapa parapet walls, pillars, and Rajagopuram have the stucco images of Ashtadikpalakas, and Various forms, like Lingothbavar, Gajasamharamurthy, Ashta Lakshmi, Rathi, Manmathan, Hanuman, Ardhanareeswarar, Rishis, Murugan, Vinayagar, 10 avatars of Maha Vishnu, the puranic story of "Dakshayag, the story of Kannaki, Mahishasuramardini, Goddess Kali, Rajarajeswari, Sree Parvathy with Lord Shiva, and various other deities / Goddesses.

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HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple authorities claim that the original temple was built from 5 BCE to 3^rd BCE, built by the Chera Kings. But the present structure belongs to the 19^th to 20^th century.

LEGENDS

As per the legend, Bhagavathy appeared before the elder person of the Muluveettil family, when he was doing the regular rituals in the river Killi. She requested him to cross the river. The elder person helped her cross the river and also took her to his house. When the family members were preparing to welcome her, Bhagavathy disappeared. She came as an old man’s dream and identified herself as Bhagavathy. She also asked him to construct a temple in this place, surrounded by herbs and shrubs. A new temple was constructed as marked by Bhagavathy. Later, the local people reconstructed a new temple with the Bhavathy idol and consecrated it by the priest of Badrinath. It is believed that Vishnumaya took the incarnation of Bhagavathy.

Kannaki as Bhagavathy…

It is believed that the Bhagavathy Amman of Kerala is the incarnation of Kannaki, the Heroine of Silapathikaram literature written by Ilango Adigal. After she burnt out Madurai City, she came to Kodungallur via Kanyakumari. Before reaching Kodungallu, Kannagi stayed here for some time. Hence, this Bhagavathy Amman is more powerful than the other Bhagavathy Amman temples of Kerala. The stucco image of Kannaki is on the Rajagopuram of this temple.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, 10 days of Pongala mahotsavam will be held in the month of February–March and start on Karthika Nakshatra day. Lakhs of women participate in this pongala and offer to Bhagavathy. The Mahotsavam will end with Kuruthitharpanam on the 10^th day of the night.