The visit
to this Sree Bhagavathy Temple at Paramekkavu, Thrissur, was a part of the Malai
Nadu Divya Desams visit from 10th to 14th 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.
The ancient Paramekkavu
temple stands on the eastern side of the Sree Vadakkunnath temple, facing west,
in the heart of the city of Thrissur. (Paramekkavu was originally named Parokkavu-
Paro is a name of a tree – கொன்றை மரம்).
The Presiding Deity:
Sree Bhagavathy
Some of the salient
features of this temple are….
The temple faces west
with an entrance mandapam. The temple’s office is on the right side. Dwajasthambam
(gold-plated – Gold about 10 kgs), balipeedam, and a 13-stage deepasthambam/ metal
lamp are in front of the temple. Dwarapalakis are on both sides walls of the entrance
gopuram. In the sanctum sanctorum, the old idol of the Goddess Paramekkavu
Bhagavathy was a wooden idol (daru silpa). A Panchaloka Vigraha was installed
later. Bas-reliefs of Durga, Aman, and Arjuna on a chariot from the epic
Mahabharata, Maha Vishnu’s Ananta Sayanam, are on the front wall of the sanctum
sanctorum. In the sanctum, Bhagavathy is in a sitting posture with her right leg folded
and her left leg hanging. Sree Bhagavathy is with 8 hands holding various
weapons, like Silambu, sickle, Trishul, Emathandu, Sword, Snake, Kai Vattala,
etc.
Vinayagar, Saptamatrikas,
Shiva as Veerabhadra, Nagars, Brahma Rakshasa, and Melakavu Bhagavathy
(Originally this was the place where animals are sacrificed. After the ban on
animal sacrifice, this Mela Bhagavathy temple was constructed) are in this
temple.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists
of Sree kovil, Namaskara Mandapam, nalambalam with entrances/exits on the 4
cardinal directions, pradakshinapatha, and
Thriuchuttambalam. The Sree kovil is rectangular in plan on an adhistanam. The
namaskara mandapam is in front of Sree Kovil. The temple walls are built with
laterite stone plastered with mud and lime. A Kerala-style gutter-tiled roof pyramidal
vimana is on the adhistanam. The Sree kovil walls are adorned with mural paintings.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
It is believed that
the temple has existed since ancient times. But there are no authentic records / or
evidence available to prove its antiquity. The Panchaloka Vigraha was installed
in 1968. The existing structure may be 100 to 200 years old.
The idol of the
Goddess Paramekkavu Bhagavathy was a wooden idol (daru silpa). It was found
that the wooden idol was damaged and hence decided to make a new wooden idol was made. The
newly carved daru silpa (wooden idol) of the Goddess, having eight arms and in a sitting
posture, was consecrated in 1997. A divine funeral was given to the old Daru Silpa idol, observing the Jeeva Kalasam ritual.
The new Kodimaran
installation was initiated in 2019. The Kodimaram covering plates are mixed
with gold of about 10 kg.
The entrance Gopuram/
mandapam construction work was started on 17th September 1973 and
opened on 05th April 1976.
LEGENDS
The Chieftain of the
Kuruppal family, an ancient military power belonging to the Paramekkavu temple
complex, used to go to Angadipuram Thirumandhamkunn every month to have darshan
of the Goddess. He prayed fervently after his last darshan that he would no
longer be able to come to Angadipuram to have darshan of the Goddess. He prayed
earnestly that the Goddess should bless him so that he could have darshan of
her daily. Legend has it that when the extremely devoted Kuruppal was
returning, the goddess Thirumandhamkunnil Amma was pleased and climbed on the
kudam of the devotee and accompanied him.
On the return
journey, Kuruppal, who was tired, sat down to rest for a while at the place
where the Ilanji now stands inside the walls of the Sree Vadakkunnath temple.
After resting, when he tried to take the umbrella, he found it firmly there.
Following the astrological prediction, he installed the Goddess at the place
that she liked. Later, the devotee Kuruppal installed the Goddess in his Kalari
in Kurkancheri as per the prediction and performed pujas.
Over time, in order
to expand the Vadakkunnath temple, the idol of Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy was
moved to the foot of the Paro tree. When the Vadakkunatha temple was renovated and
expanded, the Chaitanya (divine powers) of the Goddess were shifted to its present
location below a Paro tree. Since the Goddess was consecrated below a Paro
tree, the Goddess came to be known as Parokkavu Bhagavathy, the same has been
corrupted to the present name as
Paramekkavu Bhagavathy, next to the beautiful Kananachola on the eastern side
of Vrishabhadri. Since Paramekkavu is the birthplace of Goddess Bhagavathy, the
world-famous Ilanjithara Melam, which is held in connection with the Thrissur
Pooram, is still held here to maintain the memory of the past. When lighting
lamps at Paramekkavu in the evening, the custom of lighting lamps towards the
old headquarters, the Ilanji tree, is still continued. This temple may have
come to be known over time because it was installed at the foot of the
Paramekkavu tree.
Ref
Website: www.paramekkavudevaswom.com
POOJAS AND
CELEBRATIONS
Bhagavathy of this
temple is worshipped as Bhadrakali and Thiripura Sundari as a single form. Apart
from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pooram, a festival. The
other important festivals are Navaratri, Makara Chowa, and Shivaratri.
The Pooram festival was
thought about and choreographed, more than 200 years ago, by the then ruler of
Cochin State, Shri. Ramavarma, more popularly known as Sakthan Thampuran
(1751-1805). The Pooram festival is celebrated in April–May. The festival
will be conducted during the day and night.
Pooram festival
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be
kept open from 4.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and from 16.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
The temple’s office
landline numbers are +91 487 2331273 & +914872322334, and the Temple landline number is +91487 2331373, which may be contacted for further details.
Website: www.paramekkavudevaswom.com
Email: paramekkavil@gmail.com
HOW TO REACH
The Paramekkavu
Bhagavathy temple is on the west side of the Sree Vadakkunatha Temple, about 2
km from Thrissur Railway Station, 29 km from Guruvayur, 51 km from Kochi, and
128 km from Kozhikode.
The nearest Railway
Station is Thrissur.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE:
CLICK HERE
---
OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
No comments:
Post a Comment