Kodungalloor Bharani
Kodungallur Devi Temple is a Hindu temple in Kodungallur, district of Thrissur, state of Kerala, India. It is dedicated to the goddess Bhadrakali, worshipped in Kerala as a kind of Maha Kali or Parashakthi. The goddess is also known by the names "Sri Kurumba"."This temple is the head of 64 Bhadrakali temples in Kerala, especially Malabar. The temple goddess represents the goddess in her fearsome ('ugra') form, facing north, with eight hands with different features, one carrying the head of the demon king Daruka, the other a sickle-shaped sword, next to an anklet, the other a bell, among others.
History of Kodungallur
The Kodungallur people claim this temple was a Shiva shrine in the olden days, and it was Parasurama who installed the Bhadrakali murti near one of Shiva. The pujas are, it is said, performed by the goddess herself under clear instructions. Five 'Sri Chakras,' believed to have been built by Adi Shankaracharya, are thought to be the principal source of this deity's powers. The priests are Namboodiris and Adikas (Madhu Brahmins) who have a right to the Goddess to perform 'Pushpanjalis.'
It is in this temple that Kannaki Amman, the heroine of Silappathikaram, the Tamil story of Ilango Adigal, found salvation. She came to Kodungallur, prayed to Kodungallur's Bhadrakali, and was absorbed into the murti. The temple is said to have been founded by Cheraman Perumal. A Thiyyar from Malabar performed the first Shakteya Pooja in the Kodungallur temple. Also presently, in the presence of kodungallur raja, the Thiyya thandans (An administrative position) of 64 tharas meet at Nilapaduthara in Kodungaloor. In these Thiyya thandans is performed the kodungaloor meena bharani.
In Tantric terms, the divinity is installed in what is called the pattern of "Rurujit Vidhaana," a type of installation with Shiva at one end, Ganesha at the other, with the goddesses of Sapta Matrika in between. In ancient times animal sacrifices were offered at the temple by devotees seeking safety and the fulfillment of their prayers, often in the forms of birds and goats. Cochin's government banned animal sacrifice in any form at this location, at the intervention of many "social reformers." At present, the deity is only given red-tinted dhotis. Many devotees give gold ornaments and rich gifts.
The temple is located in the center of a ten-acre plot of land, surrounded by banyan and peepal trees. The srikovil faces towards north. The inner temple's western chamber is the seat of Sapthamatrukas (Seven Mthers), who also faces north. The chamber holds the idols of Ganapathi and Veerabhadra, one facing east and the other facing west, respectively. The bhagawati idol is about 7 feet tall and made of wood, carved from a tree of jackfruits. The idole has eight arms which carry symbols and weapons.
History of Kodungallur
The Kodungallur people claim this temple was a Shiva shrine in the olden days, and it was Parasurama who installed the Bhadrakali murti near one of Shiva. The pujas are, it is said, performed by the goddess herself under clear instructions. Five 'Sri Chakras,' believed to have been built by Adi Shankaracharya, are thought to be the principal source of this deity's powers. The priests are Namboodiris and Adikas (Madhu Brahmins) who have a right to the Goddess to perform 'Pushpanjalis.'
It is in this temple that Kannaki Amman, the heroine of Silappathikaram, the Tamil story of Ilango Adigal, found salvation. She came to Kodungallur, prayed to Kodungallur's Bhadrakali, and was absorbed into the murti. The temple is said to have been founded by Cheraman Perumal. A Thiyyar from Malabar performed the first Shakteya Pooja in the Kodungallur temple. Also presently, in the presence of kodungallur raja, the Thiyya thandans (An administrative position) of 64 tharas meet at Nilapaduthara in Kodungaloor. In these Thiyya thandans is performed the kodungaloor meena bharani.
In Tantric terms, the divinity is installed in what is called the pattern of "Rurujit Vidhaana," a type of installation with Shiva at one end, Ganesha at the other, with the goddesses of Sapta Matrika in between. In ancient times animal sacrifices were offered at the temple by devotees seeking safety and the fulfillment of their prayers, often in the forms of birds and goats. Cochin's government banned animal sacrifice in any form at this location, at the intervention of many "social reformers." At present, the deity is only given red-tinted dhotis. Many devotees give gold ornaments and rich gifts.
The temple is located in the center of a ten-acre plot of land, surrounded by banyan and peepal trees. The srikovil faces towards north. The inner temple's western chamber is the seat of Sapthamatrukas (Seven Mthers), who also faces north. The chamber holds the idols of Ganapathi and Veerabhadra, one facing east and the other facing west, respectively. The bhagawati idol is about 7 feet tall and made of wood, carved from a tree of jackfruits. The idole has eight arms which carry symbols and weapons.