Vettikulangara Devi Temple

Cheppad Cheppad is a scenic village near Haripad in Alappuzha district in Kerala State, India. It is about halfway between Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram on the National Highway 47 (now NH 66). Etymology Cheppad was known as "Cheppukadu" in ancient tim ...

near

Harippad Haripad is a municipality in ''Onattukara'' region of Alappuzha District, Kerala, India located between Alappuzha and Kollam on the National Highway 66. Haripad is bordered on the east by Pallippad, Veeyapuram and Karuvatta to the nort ...

Alappuzha Alappuzha (, आलप्पुळ) or Alleppey is a municipality and town on the Laccadive Sea in the southern Indian state of Kerala. It is the district headquarters of the district, and is located about north of the state capital Thiruvana ...

Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile ...

is one of the oldest temples in Kerala.This temple is dedicated to

Durga Durga (, ) is a major Hindu goddess, worshipped as a principal aspect of the mother goddess Mahadevi. She is associated with protection, strength, motherhood, destruction, and wars. Durga's legend centres around combating evils and demonic ...

Devi and the goddess is also known as Karthiyayini Devi.

History

From ancient times, people have worshiped Lord

Mahadeva Mahadeva may refer to: Religion *Mahadeva, a title of the Hindu god Shiva **Parashiva, a form of Shiva ** Parameshwara (god), a form of Shiva * Para Brahman, a Hindu deity *Adi-Buddha, in Buddhism, the "First Buddha" or the "Primordial Buddha" * ...

. The arrival of a

Brahmin Brahmin (; ) is a ''Varna (Hinduism), varna'' (theoretical social classes) within Hindu society. The other three varnas are the ''Kshatriya'' (rulers and warriors), ''Vaishya'' (traders, merchants, and farmers), and ''Shudra'' (labourers). Th ...

Scholar known as Thampuran from the Pazhore Padippura became responsible for the incarnation of Devi in this area. Thampuran, who had come from the north, took up his residence at Nedunagappally, Ramapuram in the south of this region. Later, on his return to his native place, Thampuran took along with him the idol of Devi, his deity of worship. During his journey, because of the omnipotence of Mahadeva, the idol happened to fall into the pond in the Kannirasi. Despite laborious efforts, Thampuran could not regain the idol. With a heavy heart, Thampuran returned to his native place. After several years while members of the Naluveettil family were digging the pond, they found the idol of Devi in the pond. Kalathattu and Anakottil

Having been hit by their digging implements, blood began to ooze from the idol. Realizing the vitality of Devi, people took possession of the idol with devotion and began to worship. As the idol was obtained during the process of digging the pond, the name "Vettikulangara came into vogue. By preserving the purity and antiquity, the pond is being protected even today. As

Adi Parashakti Mahadevi (, , IPA: / mɐɦɑd̪eʋiː/), also referred to as Adi Parashakti, and Mahamaya, is the supreme goddess in Hinduism. According to the goddess-centric sect Shaktism, all Hindu gods and goddesses are considered to be manifestations of t ...

, the mother of mercy and the giver of vitality, Sri Karthyayani Devi resides here. By showering her blessings on her devotees who appeals to her with aching hearts, Devi reins the Vettikulangara Temple.

Other Deities

Beside the main deity there are many other deities which include Lord Mahadeva, Lord

Ganesh Ganesha or Ganesh (, , ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped Deva (Hinduism), deities in the Hindu deities, Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in the Ganapatya sect. His depictions ...

, Lord

Ayyappan Ayyappan, also known as Dharmasastha and Manikandan, is the Hindu deity of truth and righteousness. According to Hindu theology, he is described as the son of Shiva and Mohini (the female avatar of Vishnu), thus representing a bridge between S ...

Nagaraja A Nagaraja ( ', ) is a king of the various races of the nāga, the divine or semi-divine, half-human, half-serpent beings that reside in the netherworld ( Patala), and can occasionally take human form. Rituals devoted to these supernatural being ...

, and Nagayakshi

Festivals

* Navaham (Kanni) * Sapthaham (Vrischikam) * Thrikarthika Maholsavam (Vrischikam) * Para Ezhunnallathu (Makaram) * Thiru Utsavam (Kumbham)

How to reach

Nearest bus station : 1 km from Cheppad bus stop, 6 km from Haripad KSRTC bus stand, 12 km from Kayamkulam KSRTC bus stand, 3 km from Nangiarkulangara Bus Stop Nearest railway station : Cheppad (1.5 km), Haripad (6 km), Kayamkulam (12 km)
Route to Vettikulangara Devi Temple

References

External links