Thrikkavu Sri Durga Bhagavathy Temple, Ponnani, Malappuram

http://ponnanitrikkavu.in/

Thrikkavu Sri Durga Bhagavathy Temple is a Goddess Durga temple located in Ponani in Malappuram district, Kerala.This centuries old ancient temple is one of the 108 Durga temples in Kerala established by Lord Parasurama.The name Thrikkavu is originated from " Thrikkani Kaadu”.

The Devi is here in her Chathurbhaahu (four arms) form with Chakra (disc), Sankha (conch), Varada (in a boon-conferring pose) and katibadha (arm rest in the hip). The idol faces eastward.The deity is decorated with sandal paste, ornaments and garlands . Thrikkavu Bhagavathy is the one who grants all wishes which is referred to as “Sarvabeeshtapradhayini” . Durga and Saraswati are the two different forms in which she is worshipped. The upa devathas here include for Mahaganapathi, Sidhi Vinayakan, Hanuman, Sasthavu and Brahma Rakshass. There is also a Sreerama temple.Kshetrakkulam or Temple pond has a Moola Ganapathy temple nearby along with Naga Yakshi, Naga Raja and Naga Pratishtas.

Legend:

The stories about the origin of the temple date back to the period of Lord Parasurama’s incarnation.When he reclaimed the land of Kerala,he threw his “Sruvam” in the ocean.Then he consecrated 108 Durga Temples along the cost land with equal number of Siva Temples along the high land for the security of the people,along with the fauna and flora of Kerala.The present old generation recites The Sthothra about Durgalayas which appears to have omitted thrikkavu.Similarly ,many sthothras being passed through ears from generation to generation are affected.

In the campus,to the north of the Durga temple,there is a Lord Krishna temple.It is said to be Sree Ram temple built by a Brahmin devotee who had trade relation with Bombay market.As roads and rails were uncommon those days,he depended on the sea route for this journeys. One day while he was returning back form Bombay, his vessel was caught in a sudden violent wind. He prayed to Lord Sree Rama to save him and others present in the vessel,promising to build a temple for Sree Rama when he reaches safe in Ponnani.Eventually the sea became calm.As per his his promise,he built a temple with the main deity facing west towards the sea and a small idol for his beloved Bhaktha Sree Hanuman facing the east. It was a full fledged temple which has many proofs. The basement of the outer structure, chuttambalam is still safe .

The soldiers of Tipu Sulthan of Mysore during his war campaign in Malabar damaged the Durga idol,another one was re installed in 1980.

‘Chira’ is a big tank at the front of the temple.Due to severe drought and famine, one summer, the life in Ponnani was made miserable. People had no food, no clean water . The Zamorin at Kozhikode was informed about the situation by a deputation of some gentlemen from Ponnani He suggested the people to dig a big tank in front of the temple,and told that those who participated in this campaign will be given free meals in the form of Kanji (Gruel) and Puzhukku (Curry). Zamorin supplied the rice for free of charge from Kozhikode. The people of Ponnani actively participated in it.Two moths later, a big pond was dug. But it had some muddy water in the middle.People were engaged in pouring out this water with the help of some country made pots. It was then Pakanar,one of twelve great persons born of a Parayi scheduled cast woman, suddenly appeared there.The workers were even irritated. They were using wrong method.Annoyed people wanted Pakanar to demonstrate the way how it could be done. Pakanar stepped into the pond, took a handful of water and threw it upwards. That water disappeared and suddenly water began to flow into the tank from all sides of the pond.The tank was filled with crystal clear water.Since then the tank has never gone dry.

Significance:

Devotees visit this temple to seek fulfillment of the following:-

• Trouble-free marital life
• Removal of physical ailments 
• Cure from mental Problems 
• for Fearless disposition

Festivals:

The main festival is Navarathri Mahotsavam which attracts large number of devotees. Vidyarambham (beginning of formal education)is conducted on the Vijayadasami day of Navarathri utsavam. Thousands of children throng this temple on that day. The Vrishchicka Mandala mahotsavam (festival) is celebrated during the entire period of mandalam season