Pallippad Manakkattu Devi Temple – Kerala

Address

Kerala 690511

Amman

Manakkattu Devi

Introduction

Manakkattu Devi Temple is a Shakthi temple in Kerala. The temple is located at Pallippad in Karthikappalli taluk of Alappuzha district in the south Indian state Kerala. It is situated about 4 km east of Harippad on Nangiarkulangara Mavelikkara road. It comes under four NSS Karayogams (Thekkummuri, Kottakkakam, Naduvattom and Thekkekkara kizhakku).

Puranic Significance

Long before at the time before at Dvapra yuga, these areas were included in Khandava forest. Arjuna sent his arrow as per the advice of Bhagavan Sree Krishna from eythooru later known as Evoor, where is famous Sree krishna swami temple is situated. After Khandavadahana the temples in this area got fire. After decades a farmer lady on the way to punja kandam tries to sharpen her bow shaped knife in the stone. Suddenly blood came from the stone. The frightened lady went to the prominent Brahim Family Kochoor Madam and informed the incident. The highest priest came down and find Sree Bhuvaneswary idol there. He made the idol was consecrated priestly near to the old shasta temple which was consecrated by Parasu Rama. The area where Sree ponnu Manakkattamma’s idol got is known as valiya manakkattu kaavu.

Manakkattamma is in the form of Sree Bhuvaneswari. The mother of all Gods includes Brahma Vishnu and Siva. She is the Prakruthi. Manakkattu Temple rituals are entirely different. It has three different poojas on three daily occasions for Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi like Mookambika devi. Kadumpayasam, Therali are important prasada for amma. The temple is said to be more than 1500 years old.

Special Features

Valyachan ( Sree Kunjekutty Pilla Sarvadhi Karyakkar ):

Valiyachan is the most important Sub deity in Sree Manakkadu Devi temple. He was the army chief of Dharma Raja Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma and the key person who made the Victory over Tippu Sultan. Kunje Kutty pilla was born at Evoor but his mother’s house was Nadalikkal Madam near to Manakkattu devi temple. Valiyachan was the most trusted devotee to Manakkattu Amma. His history was noted down in Aitheeha Mala by Kottarathil Sankunny. After his army service, Valyachan was select for his life to be a servant to Manakkattu amma until he went to Vanaprastha. It’s believed that he hailed to moksha during Vanaprastha. Valyachan is really an eternal presence in the Manakattu Devi Temple.

Other Sub-deities

There are many Upadevathas (sub-deities) adjacent to the temple. The main Upadevathas in the temple premises are

Yakshi
Madaswami
Nagarajav
Muhurthi
Rekshas

Festivals

The temple celebrates many festivals. The important festivals of the temple include Niraputhari, Navarathri, Chirappu, Aarattu, Bhagavathippara, Prathishta Varshikam and Kodiyettu Utsavam. The most important festival, Parayeduupu, where the Goddess is taken in a procession, fall in the Malayalam month of Makaram.