Alappuzha Chakkulathukavu Bhagavathy Temple- Kerala

Address

Neerettupuram PO Thiruvalla,

Alappuzha Kerala – 689571

Ph: 0477 – 2213550

Amman

Bhagavathy Devi

Introduction

Chakkulathukavu Sree Bhagavathy Temple, also known as Chakkulathu Kavu Temple, is one the most famous Devi Temples in Kerala situated at Neerattupuram (Neerettupuram), 18 km from Ambalapuzha on the Thiruvalla Road, in Alappuzha District of Kerala. The presiding deity is Goddess Durga or Bhagavathi and is worshipped in the name of Chakkulathamma (Chakkulathu Amma). Thousands of devotees visit the temple of every Fridays and during the annual Chakkulathukavu Pongala Festival in November – December the temple is visited by lakhs of devotees from all over the state. The temple is about 20 km from Chengannur Mahadeva Temple and located near the Neerettupuram Junction on Thiruvalla – Edathuva route.

Puranic Significance

Legend goes that once a hunter and his family came to the forest for collecting firewood. On seeing a serpent, the hunter tried to attack the serpent, but it slipped away. He went in search of the snake and reached near a lake. The hunter saw a ‘chithalputtu’ (sand mount) which looked like a decorated golden chain and saw the snake inside it. He thought it was the same snake and again tried to hit it with the axe. This time also the snake disappeared. Sage Narada (a divine sage from the tradition) appeared before the hunter in the form of a stranger and asked him to break the shell. The hunter followed the words of Narada and found the image of Goddess Vanadurga inside it. Since then, the place has gained significance.

Special Features

Chakkulathukavu devi temple is believed to be more than 3000 Years old. There is an Idol of Vana Durga with eight hands, installed near the original idol. Also seen in this shrine are the idols of Lord Shiva, Sastha (Lord Ayyappa), Lord Vishnu, Vinayaka (Lord Ganesh), Muruga, Yakshi, Serpent Gods and the Navagrahas. The Pampa and Manimala rivers, flowing on either side of the temple.

Festivals

The major festival is Pongala which takes place in the temple during the month of Vrischikam (November/December). This is the time when the glory of the Goddess is at its peak. Lakhs of women devotees gather around the temple as early as even one week before the function. The temple premises will be overcrowded and the devotees arrange places for offering the pongala on both sides of the main streets. The queue usually extends to a surprising length of 20 km. Rice, coconut and jaggery are brought by women devotees along with round earthen pots for cooking. The Chief Priest lights the main hearth from the divine fire inside the sanctum sanctorum. This fire is exchanged from one oven to another.

Panthrandu Noyampu is another festival celebrated at the temple. This is the type of fasting and prayer that qualifies the devotee for eternal blessings of Chakkulathamma. This fasting starts every year from the first day of the Malayalam month of Dhanu until the twelfth. The other festivals are Naree pooja, Thrikkarthaka.