Paramekkavu Bhagavathy Temple- Kerala

Address

Paramekkavu Bhagavathy Temple- Paramekkavu Devaswom Building, Round East, Thrissur, Kerala 680001 Phone: 0487 233 1273

Diety

Bhagavathy

Introduction

This is one of the largest Bhagavathy temples in Kerala, located in the outskirts of the Vadakumnathan temple ground, Paramekkavu, in Thrissur District. The main deity of this temple is Devi Vaishnavy, an incarnation of Goddess Durga, who believed to have come here along with Kuruppal (head of an aristocratic Nair family) from Thirumadhamkunnu, on his umbrella. This is considered as one of the largest Devi temples in Kerala and is also one of the participating temples of the famous Thrissur Pooram festival. The form of Goddess is before killing demon Darika. The murti is carved out of wood. The prathishta is unique as Goddess sits with her right leg in padmasana and the left leg is hanging down.

Puranic Significance

The belief is that a devotee named Appattukuruppal had got (bhajichu kondu varika) Bhagavathi from Angadipuram Thirumandhamkunnu. He consecrated Bhagavathi atop a rock – para in malayalam. Appattu Kuruppal used to visit Thirumandhamkunnu every month. When he was very old, during one visit he told Thirumandhamkunnu Devi that he will not be able to come here again due to old age. He asked Devi to give him nitya darshan. Pleased with the devotee, Goddess came with him in his umbrella – ola kuda. It is said that Appattu Kuruppal had kept the umbrella at Ilanji thara in Vadakkumnathan temple. The sankalpam is that the prathishta in the temple is as same as Angadipuram Thirumandhamkunnu temple. There is also a belief that the murti in the temple was originally consecrated in the famous Ilanjithara in Vadakkumnathan temple. The vilakku (lamp or diya) that is lit in Paramekkavu Bhagavathi Temple is shown towards Ilanji thara in Vadakkumnathan temple even today. The famous Ilanjithara melam during Thrissur Pooram is held in remembrance of this event. There is another legend that the original moolasthanam of Goddess is at Kodungallur. The old vigraham was replaced with a new one on June 15, 1997. The old sreekovil which was made in vettukallu and copper roof was replaced with granite. New daru bimbam too was consecrated at this time. This was completed on Atham nakshatra in Mithuna month.

Special Features

• One of the oldest temple of Kerala. It is estimated to be more than 1000 years old. • It is the one of the largest bhagavathy temple of Kerala. • A centre for the famous Thrissur Pooram festival. • The actual deity was damaged and now wooden deity with 8 arms adorns the temple. • A vibrant colourful procession of people and animals from 15 different temples occurs here. The process starts here and ends at the Vadakkunathan temple. • This temple competes with Thiruvambady temple in times of Thrissur Pooram. • The temple trust runs a KG school near the temple. Another one for other disciples is found at a distance. The school is named Paramekkavu Vidya Mandir. • The Ezhilam Pala tree in the temple is very famous. The committees, decision making and pandita sadas (scholarly debates) used to take place under the tree.

Festivals

It is one of the temples that participate in the Thrissur Pooram, an annual festival held in Vadakkunnathan temple. During the Pooram ceremony, a prominent attraction is the procession of fifteen caparisoned elephants from Paramekkavu to Vadakkunnathan temple.