Wednesday 21 September 2016

Pookulangara Bhagavathy Temple, Kunissery, Palakkad

  Please visit http://pookulangarabhagavathy.in/ for online booking of poojas.



The ancient and famous Pookulangara Bhagavathy temple is located in the beautiful village of Kunissery,near Alathur in Palakkad district. This temple is surrounded by a vast theertha pond, a huge banyan tree and lush paddy fields which adds to its sculptural beauty and grace.  The three desams of Kunissery, namely Kizhakkethara, Thekkethara and Vadakkethara combinely  carry out the management and functioning of this temple.

The main idol is of Goddess Bhagavathi in the sankalpa of Goddess Durga in a calm demeanor. Saptamatrukkal, Ganapati, Veerabhadran, Subramanya and Ayyapa are other idols in the temple along with Bhairavan and Brahmarakshas. The darusilpa (wooden) idol is in sitting posture with eight arms, holding conch, chakra, mace, lotus, trident, bow, arrow and rope in each.



Pookulangara Bhagavathy Temple structure includes sreekovil with mukha mandapam, sub-shrines, namaskara mandapam, chuttambalam with agramandapam. Navagrahas are carved on the ceiling of the agramandapam.

Legend:

According to the legends, during the military invasions of Zamorin of Calicut, many places of Palakkad came to be under his rule. While the Zamorin’s army came to capture kunissery desam, all the men folk of kunissry courageously fought with them, but succumbed to death. Fearing disgrace, the womenfolk took refuge in Pookkulangara bhagavathy’s abode and prayed to Her for saving them. The benevolent Goddess heard their prayers and advised them to jump into the warfront with brooms and winnows in hand. When they ran to fight the Zamorin’s army, they saw Goddess Durga in her fierce form in each woman, and retreated quickly. On hearing this incident, the Zamorin Raja consulted his astrologers, and He was informed that the Raja has earned the wrath of Kunissery Bhagavathy for his wrong deeds. The King soon reached the abode of Pookkulangara Bhagavathy and prayed for forgiveness. The Zamorin also bestowed many of his Kingly symbols to the Goddess and became an ardent devotee of Her. The King also arranged for a group of brave men folk from his kingdom to come and stay at this place for ensuring the safety of women.

These men came to live at Kunissry and they asked the King to grant them permission to visit the Mamankam festival each year. Then the King ordered to hold a Kummatti Mamankam festival in Pookkulangara Bhagavathi’s abode on her Birthday each year with grandeur and the King himself presided the festival for many years.

Festivals:

The Kummatti festival started by Zamorin is the biggest annual festival held at the temple. It is held in Punartham star of Meenam month (march/ april) and is attended by devotees even from far away places.

The Valiya Aarattu  is held in every 12 years and is a grand festival, where Pookkulangara Bhagavathy sets out to bow down to Sree Thrippallavoor Mahadevan . The next Valiyarattu is scheduled in 2023.

offerings:


The Swayamvara Pushpanjali and Santhanagopala pooja are very famous poojas at this temple.

8 comments:

  1. Thank you for visiting us.
    We appreciate your comments. Will be updating more details soon.

    thank you
    devaayanam support

    ReplyDelete
  2. most of the youth residing away from their respective native place may be willing to visit their "adimakaavu" I have myself come to know about the temple and started coming to temple once in a year only after I crossed 45 years of age. I hope and wish, keeping the site fully updated with day-day-poojas and forth coming festivals, also the bank details for those who want to contribute for the temple. I have visited the temples since early 2000 and the office bearers and the temple staff are friendly with all the devotees especially to those who come for the first time. Wishing all the devotees cometogether and have the Blessings of Devi! hariharan parameswaran, Parakulam.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Greetings,
    Can I have the office phone number of the temple?. This is our adimakaavu & we have been subscribing for the monthly pooja on our birth star day & have the prasadam sent through post. The annual subscription has ended & we wish to have the same renewed as we are not able to make it in person. Kindly reply to Ananthakrishnan - araekrishnan@gmail.com whatsapp +96899580970

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi,

    Where exactly the temple is located, the temple is surrounded with tanks for 2 sides.
    Can you please provide contact numbers of temple person.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am unable to pay money for online pooja thru the website http://pookulangarabhagavathy.in/. can you help?

    ReplyDelete
  6. What is temple timing.
    How to reach temple from pattitarai Palakkad by auto

    ReplyDelete