Thrissur

Kerala Mookambika Sree Mulavallikav Devi Temple is considered as one of the most important devi temples among the 108 durga temples (77th) believed to have been consecrated by the legendary warrior Parasurama who is also credited with creating the state of kerala.

The Mulavallikav Devi (soyambhu) Temple known as Mulavallikav Saraswathi Temple, Koratty Devi Temple and also known as “Kerala Mookambika Shetram” (Kerala mookambika Temple) because of whatever mulavallikav devi pooja vidhi all are same in Kollur Mookambika Devi Temple.

According to the legends, lord parasurama created the land between gokarna and kanyakumari. Lord parasurama the sixth incarnation of lord vishnu was the son of sage jamadagni and renuka. As a mark of repentance for shatriya nigraha sin, parasurama meditated at gokarna and invoked lord varuna (the lord of the oceans). Parasurama asked him for a boon to absolve himself of the sins he had committed, he wanted to donate some land to the brahmins. There was no land available because he already donated the whole land he obtained by the 21 round shatriya nigraha to sage kashyapa. Lord varuna told parasurama that he would give him as much land as he wished. He told him to fling his parasu (axe) from where he stood at gokarna. The land from gokarna till the point where the axe landed would be given to him was the boon that lord varuna promised him. The throw of the `axe’ from gokarna to kanyakumari created kerala. Parasurama donated this land to the brahmins and settled brahmins there in 64 gramams or villages. 32 out of the 64 gramams are in the Tulu speaking region (in between gokarnam and perumpuzha) and the remaining 32 grammams are in the malayalam speaking region(in between perumpuzha and kanyakumari) in kerala. After the creation of these gramams, parasurama had consecrated 108 shiva temples and 108 durga temples for the well-being and prosperity of the people in kerala . The names of these temples were given in the famous 108 Durgalaya Nama Stothra and 108 shivalaya nama stothra.

The idol that is worshipped in Nelluvai Temple is of God “Dhanvanthari”. God Dhanvanthari who came out during Paalaazhi Madhanam stays here in this temple with a view to protect the world from all dangers and ill-doings. There is a story behind the Dhanvanthari Idol and Cheruthevar:


Sri. K.M. Shankara Iyear, in his book Nelluvai Shathakam has narrated this story in detail. Long back, as the existing idol in Nelluvai Temple got damaged, it was decided to make a new idol, and accordingly, the idol work was carried out from a suitable stone on a small hill at a place called Muringaththeri. After finishing the work of this idol, a procession was arranged involving all the devotees in the village with all the traditional poojas and they were proceeding to the temple where the idol was supposed to be fixed. During their passage to the temple, the Ashwini Devatasat once came in front of the procession and they handed over an idol which is believed to be offered pooja by Vasudevar, and informed the people that this idol should be fixed in the temple, and the Ashwini Devatas got disappeared from the site. Accordingly, the Sadhus fixed this idol in the Sanctum Sanctorum of Nelluvai Temple. The Vaishnava idol which was carved out in the Muringaththeri Hill was fixed in a newly arranged small temple in a nearby village called Cheruthevar Parambu. Later on, a small temple was constructed in the Nelluvai Temple itself just beside the main Sanctum Sanctorum and this Vaishnava Idol was re-fixed in this new place. The idol that is fixed in the main Sanctum Sanctorum has a very long history.


The Dhanvanthari Moorthi that is worshipped in the Nelluvai Temple is supposed to be the God of Physicians (Ayurveda). It is believed that they will be provided with good and favorable treatment results to their patients if they devote completely to the Dhanvanthari Moorthi with full Bhakthi and commitment. The famous and notable physicians who performed Bhajans to the Dhanvanthari Moorthi include Kuttancheri Moos, Vaidyarathnam P.S. Warrier, Aryavaidyan P.V. Rama Warrier, etc., and they excelled in their profession too with the help of the Deity. Even in this modern era, the Ayurvedic Physicians, before stepping into their profession, have been performing Bhajans in the temple and reading Ashtamgahridaya, which isthe basic and prime book of Ayurveda. It is highly believed that this offering will give them more knowledge and help is getting more success in their profession. The well-knowledgeable and all famous poet Melpathur Bhattathiri offered Bhajans to Lord Guruvayoorappa and wrote the famous poem Narayaneeyam and got relieved from rheumatoid arthritis. Similarly, it is said that the famous Astrologist and Poet Vidvan Machatt Ilayath who performed Bhajans before the Dhanvanthari Moorthi in Nelluvai Temple and wrote the poetry Sthrothra Panchashika got complete relief from his skin disease. The poem Sthrothra Panchashika was offered to the God on the 1st of Malayalam month Kumbham. This day is being celebrated as the Sthrothra Panchashika Day every year. The Dhanvanthari Asthothara Namajapa and Sthrothra Panchashika parayana is believed to be worthwhile to the children and elders alike for their better prosperity and to increas their wisdom and for removing all their physical and mental illnesses.


The Temple Renovation Committee (Khethroddharana Samithi) was formed on January 10, 1971. Under this Committee’s supervision and control, the required fund had been raised and got the damages of the temple repaired. When the Temple Authorities found it difficult to carry out the normal activities of the temple, they approached the Kochi Devaswom Board Authorities with a request to take over the temple. Consequently, The Kochi Devaswom Board took over the temple administration and appointed a Temple Trust, to carry out the routine activities of the Temple. Thereafter, the Kochi Devaswom Board directly took over the temple administration since 1st May 1979.


In the past, from Thulam 1st to Thulam 12 every year, a Thevar Seva was carried out in the temple. Kuttanjeri Moos was supposed to be its originator. During this period, Navagam and panchagavyamwere offered as Nivedyam and a grant feast was served with the involvement of the whole people from the society.


The Niramala Vazhipadu was first started in Kollavarsham 1098 in Nelluvai Temple. Sri. Kuttancheri Moos was the then President of the Niramala Committee and he worked very hard to carry out this special pooja. During those days, Malavilakku, Nadasvaram, Ezhunnellippu, Thayampaka and Panchavadyam were the important things that took place in the Niramala Vazhipadu. The Niramala got resumed in the year 1962 under the leadership of a Committee headed by Messrs. Nelluvai K.N. Nambeesan, N.S. Ganapathi Iyer with the full cooperation of the general public.

The oldest record of the history of Thiruvambadi Temple dates back to the 16th century. The temple was formerly situated at Edakkalathur, 20 Km Northwest to the Trichur Town. The idol was transported to the present place by villagers, and a childless couple at the Kandanath Mana were given the custody. They considered it as their own child, and Lord Krishna was so impressed by their devotion that he acquired a different posture with a flute in one hand and the other hand outstretched to accept the butter regularly offered by the couple. The temple ownership was later on passed to the public by the couple.

The Thuiruvullakkavu Sree Dharma Sastha Temple is a Hindu temple located in Cherpu of Thrissur district of Kerala. The deity is Lord Ayyappan in standing posture with arch and a bow. An enchanting shrine in the midst of a dense forest, a gusher of beneficent spirit-that was the temple of Thiruvullakkavu, centuries back. Lord Sastha, the presiding deity, as the divine protector of the whole village settlement, showered benediction on a cultured rave. He rode the boundaries of the settlement on His white charger; the pure, microcosmic soul. Full of devotion, the people reveled in the ineffable tenderness of Sastha. A peaceful refuge for the troubled soul that was Thiruvullakkavu.