Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple

Kodungallur Sree Kurumba Bhagavati Temple
Kodungallur Sree Kurumba Bhagavati Temple
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
District	Thrissur
Deity	Bhadrakali (Maha Kali, Durga, Kannaki)
Location
Location	Kodungallur
State	Kerala
Country	India
Sree Kurumba Bhagavathy Temple, Kodungallur, Thrissur, Kerala
Geographic coordinates	10°13′37″N 76°11′54″E / 10.226833°N 76.198425°E / 10.226833; 76.198425
Architecture
Type	Architecture of Kerala
Completed	Before CE. Exact date not known
Specifications
Temple(s)	One
Elevation	32.53 m (107 ft)

Sree Kurumba Bhagavati Temple (alternatively Kodungallur Devi Temple) is a Hindu temple at Kodungallur, Thrissur District, Kerala state, India. It is dedicated to the goddess Bhadrakali, a form of Mahakali or simply Durga or Aadi Parashakthi worshipped and significantly revered in Kerala. The goddess is known also by the names "Sri Kurumba"" (The Mother of Kodungallur). This temple is the head of 64 Bhadrakali temples in Kerala. This Mahakali temple is one of the oldest functioning temples in India. The goddess of the temple represents the goddess in her fierce ('ugra') form, facing North, featuring eight hands with various attributes. One is holding the head of the demon king Daruka, another a sickle-shaped sword, next an anklet, another a bell, among others. Routine worship at the temple every day at 03:00 and ends at 21:00 local time.^[1]

The temple is often accredited as the original form of Goddess Kali. ^{[citation needed]} During the reign of Later Cheras, Mahodayapuram (Kodungallur) was the capital of the Chera empire and one of the most important parts of the region. The temple is located in Thrissur district, central Kerala. The Temple was built in a remote past and its worship incorporates ancient Shaktyeism customs which are rarely observed in contemporary Kerala temples. ^{[citation needed]}

The priests of Kodungallur temple convey the story that this temple was, in the olden days, a Shiva shrine and it was Parasurama who installed the murti of Bhadrakali close to one of Shiva. The pujas are conducted, it is said, under direct instructions from the goddess herself. Five 'Sri Chakras', said to have been installed by Adi Shankaracharya, are believed to be the main source of the powers of this deity. The priests are Adikals (who have a right to perform 'Pushpanjalis' to the Goddess).The first Shakteya Pooja in kodungallur temple was performed by a Thiyyar from Malabar.

It is in this temple, Kannaki Amman, the heroine of Ilango Adigal's Tamil story Silappathikaram attained salvation.^[2] She came to Kodungallur, prayed to Bhadrakali of Kodungallur and became absorbed in the murti.

It is said that the temple was constructed by Cheraman Perumal.

In Tantric terms, the divinity is installed in what is called the "Rurujit Vidhaana" pattern, a form of installation with Shiva in one end, Ganesha in the other, with the Sapta Matrika goddesses^[3][4][5] in between. ^{[citation needed]}

In ancient times, animal sacrifices were offered at the temple, mostly in the forms of birds and goats, by devotees seeking protection and the fulfillment of their prayers. At the intervention of many social reformers, the government of Cochin banned animal sacrifice in any form at this place. At present, only red-dyed dhotis are offered to the deity. Many devotees offer rich presents and gold ornaments.^{[6][7] [disputed – discuss]}