Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathy Temple

Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathy Temple

Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathy Temple

Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathy Kshetram
Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathy Temple
Location within Kerala
Name
Other names കളരിവാതുക്കൽ ഭഗവതി ക്ഷേത്രം
Proper name Shri Kalari Vaatilkal
Devanagari कलरी वातुक्कल भगवती क्षेत्रं
Malayalam കളരിവാതുക്കൽ ഭഗവതി ക്ഷേത്രം
Geography
Coordinates 11°55′28.67″N 75°21′10.95″E / 11.9246306°N 75.3530417°E / 11.9246306; 75.3530417Coordinates: 11°55′28.67″N 75°21′10.95″E / 11.9246306°N 75.3530417°E / 11.9246306; 75.3530417
Country India
State Kerala
District Kannur
Location Chirakkal, Valapattanam
Culture
Primary deity Bhadrakali
Important festivals Pooram, Kalasham
Architecture
Architectural styles Traditional Kerala style
Number of temples 4 Sanctums
History and governance
Creator Parashurama, Chirakkal Kingdom
Temple board Malabar Devaswom Board[1]

Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathy Temple, Bhadrakali Shrine located near Valapattanam river, is the family shrine of Chirakkal Royal Family. 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 came from the word Kalari Vaatilkal.[1]

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 Chirakkal Kings were the successors of Kolathiris' who in-turn was the direct descendants of the Mooshika kings. Mooshika of North and Ay of South were the oldest dynasties of Kerala. The Ay dynasty eventually went extinct but the Mooshika was able to sustain. The later name of Mooshika King was Kolathirippad after the amalgamation of Aryan culture to the local one by Brahmins. The Kolathiris' relocated their capital from Ezhimala to Chirakkal near Valapattanam river. The temple was once owned by Vadakke illam and was acquired by Chirakkal Kovilakom.[2]

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.[2] The temple is opened throughout the year, in morning there will be Usha Pooja, at noon Pantheeradi Pooja and in evening Shakti Pooja[3]

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 peroid of a year.[4] The huge Thirumudi of Kalarivathukkal Amma's theyyam is the 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 th 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.[2] Musical and traditional art performances such as Thayambaka,Poorakkali are performed. In June another festival Kalasham concludes the Theyyam period of a year.[5] The other festivals are Navaratri, Shivarathri, Vishuvilakku, Perum kaliyattam in 10th Idavam and Niraputhari in karkkidakam.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Temples under Malabar Devaswam Board, Division : Thalassery" (PDF). Malabar Devaswam Board. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "Shri Kalarivathukkal". www.shripuram.org. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  3. ↑ "keralacharam". Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  4. ↑ "Ritualistic art". The Hindu. June 11, 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  5. ↑ "Kalarivathukkal temple". Retrieved 17 August 2013.

External links

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