Chottanikara Devi Temple in Chottanikkara Kerala

Here is Some Information about Chottanikara Devi Temple in Chottanikkara Kerala india.

Location: Chottanikkara town, 17kms away from Ernakulam

Built in: A.D. 1888

Dedicated to:Goddesh Chottanikkara Devi

Entry:Free

Phone: 0484-2711032,2713300

Photography:Allow

Temple Timing:4 a.m.-12 noon, again 4 p.m.-8 p.m.

Significance:One of the main temple

Visiting Timing:30 Min

Best time to Visit:March to July

Nearest Railway Station:Ernakulam railway station

Nearest Air Port: Cochin International Airport

Chottanikkara Devi Temple is one of the most visited temples in Kerala, and also is an important Hindu pilgrimage centre in Ernakulam District. The famous temple is located 17 kms southeast of Ernakulam Town, and 7 kms from Thripunithura.

Chottanikkara Bhagavathi temple is famous for eradicating evil spirits. Those who suffer from mental disorders come here to get relieved, and Devi blesses them and they go back cured. It is believed that the Devi idol is self-born here (swayamboo) and in Rudraksha Sila. Here, the Devi is worshipped in three different forms - as Saraswathy in the morning, Bhadrakali at noon and Durga in the evening. It is believed that the temple of Mookambika at Kollur in Karnataka opens only later in the morning after the prayers here are completed, and she returns to her abode at Kollur. The other idols of Gods in the Sanctum Sanctorium are Brahma, Vishnu, Maheswara, Subramnya, Ganapathy and Dharmasastha.

Legend of Chottanikara Devi Temple

Many stories are involved in the origin of the temple. According to the legend Adi Sankara after performing Tapas in the Himalayas was blessed with the darshan of goddess. He requested the goddess to come with him to Kerala to which the goddess agreed. But she had proposed a condition that he should not turn back on the way when the goddess accompanies him. But after travelling a long time, when the sounds of the anklets of goddess was not to be heard, Adi Sankara turned back to see the goddess. She suddenly turned into a golden statue as he had broken the promise. It is at this place that the famous Kollur Mookambika temple is located at present. Adi Sankara was very sad about this and begged the goddess for forgiveness. Saraswathi was melted by Adi Sankara’s prayers and told him that she would be present in Chottanikara in the morning so that he could meet her there. It is believed that the present statue of the goddess was discovered by Vilwamangalam. He had obtained the statue of Bhadrakali in Kizhakavu from a tank.

This temple is famous for having miraculous powers for healing mental disorders. Mainly devotees from lower caste visit this temple with the belief that if they are possessed by some spirits, they would be cured. The persons who come with psychological cases get cured; it may be either due to their faith or the environment of the temple. It is the chief priest who performs this ritual. He enters into a conversation with the patient and then orders the spirit to get out from the patient’s body. There is a Paala tree in the temple premise on which iron nails are hammered which indicates that the spirit had escaped from the patient’s body. The rituals that are performed here are all related to driving the spirits. The famous ritual is the 'Guruthi Pooja' which should not be missed. The offerings made to the goddess include Neem leaves, lime fruits etc which are taken home and hung at the corner of the house. This is believed to drive away any evil spirits.

Festivals celebrate in Chottanikara Devi Temple

The main festival conducted here is the 'Chottanikara Makam thozhal' which is held in the Malayalam month Kumbham. It is believed that the goddess has given darshan to Vilwamangalam on the Makam day and that she would give darshan to all the devotees also on the same day each year. Some other festival celebrated here include the Thiruvonam feast conducted to all the devotees in the Malayalam month Chingam, Navarathri Agosham held in the Malayalam month Kanni, Vrishchika Mandala mahotsavam held during the Mandalam season in the Malayalam month Vrishchikam and the Ramayana masam celebrations.

How to Rich Chottanikara Devi Temple

By Air: Cochin International Airport at a distance of 38 kms

By Rail: Ernakulam railway station at a distance of 20 kms

By Bus: Ernakulam bus station at a distance of 20 kms

Video of Chottanikara Devi Temple