Kalarivathukkal Temple

Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathy Temple, ''Bhadrakali Shrine'' located near Valapattanam river. The deity of the shrine is the fierce form of ''Bhadrakali''. ''Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathy'' is considered as the mother of the ancient martial art ''Kalarippayattu'' and hence the name. The shrine is administered by ''Malabar Devaswom Board'' and classified as ''Category A'' Temple of the board. Kalarivathukkal has come from the word Kalari Vaatilkal.

Legend

The holy shrine is one of the Devi temple triads of the erstwhile Chirakkal Kingdom. The other two being ''Cherukunnu Annapoornashwari Temple'' and ''Tiruvarkadu Bhagavathy Temple''(''Madayi kavu''). The mythology says that Annapoornashwari came from Kasi to Chirakkal in a boat along with ''Kalarivatukkalamma and Madayikkavilamma'' who were her mates; to see the Krishna Temple and never returned.

The Kolathiris relocated their capital from ''Ezhimala'' to ''Chirakkal'' near Valapattanam river . They were in recorded history known as the descendents of ''Mooshika kings''. (''Mooshika'' in Kannur District and ''Ay'' in Thiruvananthapuram District were the two oldest and most prestigious lineages of the Velir clan, and had innumerable intermarriages with the Cheras, Pandyas, Cholas and Pallavas, over the millennia. The ''Ay dynasty'' and ''Mooshaka dynasty'' had several mutual adoptions over the centuries with the latter adopting from the former first in the 11th Century CE.

The temple was once owned by Vadakke illam and was acquired by Chirakkal Kovilakom.

Temple Architecture

The temple is in traditional Kerala architecture style. The temple design is ''Rurujith Vidhanam''(Kaula Shakteya Sampradaya) where in there are shrines of Shiva, Sapta Mathrukkal, Ganapathy, Veerabhadra and Kshetrapalakan(Bhairava) in 4 sanctums. The main deity is facing west. The shrine of Shiva is facing East, Shrine of ''Sapta Mathrukkal'' (''Maathrushaala'') facing North and the Shrine of Kshetrapalaka (Bhairava) facing East.
The ''Maathrushaala'' has idols of SapthaMathrukkal (Brahmani, Vaishnavi, Shankari, Kaumari, Varahi, Chamundi, Indrani), Veerabhadra and Ganapathi. Every morning after the rites the ''Sacred Sword'' is taken to the ''Mandapam'' adjacent to the ''Maathrushaala'' and taken back in the evening after the rites.
The main idol is made of ''KaduSarkaraYogam'' so for performing rites and rituals a ''Archana bimbam'' of Devi is used for rites and ablutions.
The temple is opened throughout the year, in morning there will be ''Usha Pooja'', at noon ''Pantheeradi Pooja'' and in evening ''Shakti Pooja''

Theyyam

Theyyam is a religious ritualistic art-form conducted in Temples and Kavu in North Malabar. The shrine being the family deity of Kolathiri conducts the last Theyyam commencing the Theyyam period of a year. The huge ''Thirumudi'' of ''Kalarivathukkal Amma's'' theyyam is one of the attractions of the festival.

Festivals

There are two major festivals are there in the shrine. ''Pooram'' festival in March–April for 9 days; starts in ''Karthika'' nakshatra and ends in ''Uthram'' nakshatra of the Malayalam Calendar month of Meenam. On the 7th day the idol is taken to Shri Siveshwaram Temple on 8th to Kadalai Shri Krishna Temple and on 9th it is taken back along with fireworks. The festival commences by the ''Kalarippayattu'' performance. Musical and traditional art performances such as Thayambaka, Poorakkali are performed. In June another festival ''Kalasham'' concludes the ''Theyyam'' period of a year. The other festivals are Navaratri, Shivarathri, Vishuvilakku, Perum kaliyattam in 10th Idavam and Niraputhari in karkkidakam.

File:Adjusting the ornaments of Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathi.jpg, Kalarivaatukkal Amma
File:Theyyam blessing the devotees.jpg, The Theyyam of Kalarivaatukkal Bhagavathy blessing devotees
File:ParassinikkadavuValapattamRiver.jpg, Valapattnam river flowing near the Temple
File:Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathi.jpg
File:Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathi and her children.jpg
File:Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathi's five children.JPG
File:Devotees carrying the Mudi of Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathi.jpg
File:People holding Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathi's hair 2.JPG
File:Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathi Make Up.jpg
File:Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathi's hair after being removed.JPG

See also

* Rajarajeshwara Temple
* Annapurneshwari Temple

13 Shakteya Temples of Kerala
# Mannampurath Kavu, Neeleswaram
# Thiruvarkkattu Kavu or Madaayi Kavu, Pazhayangadi
# Kalari Vatulkkal Kavu, Valapattanam
# Mamanikkunnu Kavu, Irikkur
# Thiruvancheri Kavu, Kuthuparamba
# Kaliyam Kavu, Vadakara, Edacheri
# Pishari Kavu, Koyilandi, Kollam(Malabar)
# Thiruvalayanaadu Kavu, Kozhikode
# Kodikkunnathu Kavu, Pattambi
# Thirumandham kunnu Kavu, Angadippuram
# Kodungallur Kavu, Thrissur
# Muthoot Kavu, Thiruvalla
# Panayannar Kavu, Mannar, Thiruvalla

References

External links

{{Shaktism

Hindu temples in Kannur district
Bhagavathi temples in Kerala