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Karikkakom Sree Chamundi Devi Temple or Karikkakom Devi Temple is a
temple A temple (from the Latin ) is a place of worship, a building used for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. By convention, the specially built places of worship of some religions are commonly called "temples" in Engli ...
to three
Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
goddess
Chamundi Chamunda (, ), also known as Chamundeshwari, Chamundi or Charchika, is a fearsome form of Chandi, the Hindu mother goddess, Mahadevi and is one of the seven Matrikas.Wangu p.72 She is also one of the chief Yoginis, a group of sixty-four or ei ...
located in
Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram ( ), also known as Trivandrum, is the Capital city, capital city of the Indian state of Kerala. As of 2011, the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation had a population of 957,730 over an area of 214.86 sq. km, making it the ...
, India at Karikkakom. It is more than 600 years old and enshrines a
Panchaloha ''Panchaloha'' (), also called ''Pañcadhātu'' (), is a term for traditional five-metal alloys of sacred significance, used for making Hinduism, Hindu temple ''murti'' and jewellery. Composition The composition is laid down in the ''Shilpa sh ...
idol of the goddess Karikkakathamma – an incarnation of
Chamundi Chamunda (, ), also known as Chamundeshwari, Chamundi or Charchika, is a fearsome form of Chandi, the Hindu mother goddess, Mahadevi and is one of the seven Matrikas.Wangu p.72 She is also one of the chief Yoginis, a group of sixty-four or ei ...
. Chamundi Devi is worshiped there in three different forms: Maha Chamundi, Raktha Chamundi, and Bala Chamundi.


Main Shrine

Chamundi Devi herself is considered a fierce form of
Kali Kali (; , ), also called Kalika, is a major goddess in Hinduism, primarily associated with time, death and destruction. Kali is also connected with transcendental knowledge and is the first of the ten Mahavidyas, a group of goddesses who p ...
, but the same Chamundi Devi is worshipped here in three different forms in three different adjacent sanctums situated adjacently. An idol of the Devi is located in the extreme left main sanctum. Though the cardinal deity is Chamundi Devi, Rektha Chamundi, Bala Chamundi,
Sastha Shasta (IAST Śāstā) is a Hindu deity, described as the son of the deities Shiva and Mohini, Vishnu's female avatar. In South India, he is identified with the Ayyanar, Nattarayan or Sattan in Tamil Nadu, as Ayyanayake in Sinhala and the A ...
,
Ganapathi Ganesha or Ganesh (, , ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in the Ganapatya sect. His depictions are found throughout India. Hind ...
, Yakshiyamma,
Bhuvaneshvari Bhuvaneshvari (Sanskrit: भुवनेश्वरी, IAST: ''Bhuvaneśvarī'') is a Hindu goddess. She is the fourth amongst the ten Mahavidya goddesses in Shaktism, and one of the highest aspects of Mahadevi. She is identified as form of Adi ...
, Ayiravalli and Yogeeswaran are also accommodated in the temple.


Rektha Chamundi

On the right side of the Devi Nada is the Rakta Chamundi nada. There is no
vigraha In the Hindu tradition, a ''murti'' (, ) is a devotional image, such as a statue or icon, of a deity or saint used during '' puja'' and/or in other customary forms of actively expressing devotion or reverence – whether at Hindu temples or sh ...
(idol) in this nada but only a wall painting of the Devi in a Rowdra Bhava. The Karikkakom temple has historical importance since this temple was utilized during the reign of the Maharajas to prove the truth of certain crimes. Accused culprits were brought to the temple and were allowed to proclaim their innocence in front of Raktha Chamundeswari's sanctum. They had to put 21 ''panam'' or coins in the nada and promise to tell the truth. The Devi was believed to protect them if they were truthful and punish them if they were not. So nobody dared to tell a lie in front of the deity. This nada was opened only for this particular ritual. The Chamundi Devi form in the main sanctum is considered as in a calm state, whereas Raktha Chamundi is considered as fierce, but helps devotees to fulfill their wishes. It is believed that if offerings and prayers are given to Raktha Chamundi Devi, she will remove obstacles and problems caused by enemies, cure chronic ailments, and so on.


Bala Chamundi

Bala Chamundi Devi, as the name suggests, is in childhood form. Couples without a child worship devi and present articles like cradles and toys to be blessed with a child. Offerings given to the Devi also help cure ailments in children.


Nagar kavu

Outside the Devi Temple wall, the nagar
kavu Kavu is the traditional name given for sacred groves across the Malabar Coast in Kerala, South India. Kavus are notable for ''Theyyam'', the centuries-old ritual dance. Snake Groves A Sarpa Kavu (meaning ''Abode of Snakes'') is a traditiona ...
and pond belonging to the temple are located. This nagar kavu is rich in numerous varieties of trees and creepers as well as medicinal plants. To remove Sarpa dosha, devotees can offer Ayilya Pooja and Nurum palum, Archana for Nagar and more every month on the Ayilyam day.


Pongala festival

The annual festival is in the month of
Meenam The Malayalam Calendar, or the Kollam Era (), is a sidereal solar calendar used in Kerala. The origin of the calendar has been dated to 825 CE, commemorating the establishment of Kollam. There are many theories regarding the origin of th ...
for seven days. Millions of women gather every year in the month of Meenam around this temple and prepare
Pongala ''Pongala'' is a harvest festival of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The name 'Pongala' means 'to boil over' and refers to the ritualistic offering of porridge made of rice, sweet brown molasses, coconut gratings, nuts and raisins. Generally women devote ...
(
rice Rice is a cereal grain and in its Domestication, domesticated form is the staple food of over half of the world's population, particularly in Asia and Africa. Rice is the seed of the grass species ''Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice)—or, much l ...
cooked with
jaggery Jaggery is a List of unrefined sweeteners, traditional non-centrifugal cane sugar consumed in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, North America, Central America, Brazil and Africa. It is a concentrated product of Sugarcane juice, cane jui ...
,
ghee Ghee is a type of clarified butter, originating from South Asia. It is commonly used for cooking, as a Traditional medicine of India, traditional medicine, and for Hinduism, Hindu religious rituals. Description Ghee is typically prepared by ...
,
coconut The coconut tree (''Cocos nucifera'') is a member of the palm tree family (biology), family (Arecaceae) and the only living species of the genus ''Cocos''. The term "coconut" (or the archaic "cocoanut") can refer to the whole coconut palm, ...
as well as other ingredients) in the open in small pots to please the goddess. The idol of Devi is carried out in a golden chariot around the temple on the day before Pongala and thousands of devotees gather to witness it.


Other festivals

The other festivals in this temple are: # Mandala Vratham - Festival in connection with the annual Utsavam of Sabarimala # Vinayaka Chathurthi - Pooja to the Lord Ganapathy # Pooja Vaypu - Identical to Dussera festival (Saraswathy Pooja and Vidyarambham) # Sivarathri - Siva Pooja # Karthika - Karthika Deepam # Ayilya Pooja - Milk, flowers etc. offered to serpent God and special rites # Aiswarya Pooja - On all full moon (Pournami) days # Shasta Pratishta Dinam - Every year in the month of
Makaram The Malayalam Calendar, or the Kollam Era (), is a sidereal solar calendar used in Kerala. The origin of the calendar has been dated to 825 CE, commemorating the establishment of Kollam. There are many theories regarding the origin of th ...
on the Rohini day Shasta Pratishta Dinam is celebrated in the temple. # Vishu Kani - On the first day of the month of Medam people come here for the Vishukani Darshanam.


Special rituals


Bali Sadhya

This ritual takes place in the month of ''Karkatakam'' on the ''Karthika'' day. On this day inside the temple special poojas are performed for the Guru and Mantramoorthi. Brahmins are given food and dress. After this ceremony devotees are given Bali Sadhya. This is a very old custom of the temple, which is followed even today.


Nirayum Puthiriyum

The paddy taken from the land belonging to the temple is first offered to the Devi.


Uthrada Taneerkuda

This is another important festival conducted during the month of Chingam on Uthradam day. This is a very ancient and important pooja.


Kodi Charthu

This is a ritual conducted in the month of Chingam on Thiruvonam day after the Nirmalya Darshanam. The devotees offer the Devi yellow dress during the festival.


Ayilyam Ootu

The temple performs poojas for the Nagas on the ayilyam day in the month of
Makaram The Malayalam Calendar, or the Kollam Era (), is a sidereal solar calendar used in Kerala. The origin of the calendar has been dated to 825 CE, commemorating the establishment of Kollam. There are many theories regarding the origin of th ...
. This is known as Vallya Ayilyam. From ancient times this pooja is performed for propitiating the Nagas and removing Naga Dosha.


Transportation

Karikkakom is just 7 km from
Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram ( ), also known as Trivandrum, is the Capital city, capital city of the Indian state of Kerala. As of 2011, the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation had a population of 957,730 over an area of 214.86 sq. km, making it the ...
city. The nearest airport is
Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is an international airport that serves Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, India. Established in 1932, it is the first airport in the state of Kerala and the fifth international airport of ...
. The nearest railway station is
Kochuveli Thiruvananthapuram North Railway Station (station code: TVCN), formerly Kochuveli railway station (old station code: KCVL), is an NSG–3 category Indian railway station in Thiruvananthapuram railway division of Southern Railway zone. It is ...
Railway Station and the nearest bus station is Thiruvananthapuram Central Bus Station. Those who travel via Kollam on reaching
Kazhakoottam Kazhakkoottam is a major urban area in the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala state, India. The largest IT park in the country in terms of developed area, Technopark, along with Technocity-an upcoming integrated IT township-is situated ...
junction should take the straight road via World Market junction and from there take the right turn via Vazhavila to the temple. Those who take the M.C. Road should come through Kesavadaspuram via Palayam, Peta, Chakka bypass. Those coming from Neyyattinkara, via East Fort, Enchakkal junction can reach the temple using the bypass road. The temple can also be reached via Chakka Attuvarambu road.


See also

*
Temples of Kerala A temple (from the Latin ) is a place of worship, a building used for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. By convention, the specially built places of worship of some religions are commonly called "temples" in Engli ...
* *
Documentary on Karikkakom Devi Temple


References


External links


GeoHack - Karikkakom Devi Temple
{{Hinduism (compact) Hindu temples in Thiruvananthapuram district Devi temples in Kerala