I had the privilege of visiting the sacred Sree Kadampuzha Bhagavathy Temple in Malappuram, Kerala, last month. Unlike most temples, this particular temple does not have an idol per say. We instead pray to a sacred pit which was even more fascinating to me to know. It was even more interesting to me when I got to know that it was Jagadguru Shri Adi Shankaracharya who did the prana prathishta at this temple. The calm ambiance and deep sense of tranquility that pervaded the entire space genuinely attracted me.
Introduction to Sree Kadampuzha Bhagavathy Temple
Sree Kadampuzha Bhagavathy temple is a Hindu temple and pilgrimage Center in Malappuram district of Kerala. The main deity of this temple is goddess Parvati/Durga in the form of a huntress. One of the interesting facts about Sree Kadampuzha Bhagavathy temple is that there is no idol of Goddess in this temple and Devi is worshipped in a pit.
The presence of Lord Ganesha is also believed to be here with the goddess and there are sub shrines for Lords Shasta and serpent deities. A separate shiva temple exists near the Sree Kadampuzha Bhagavathy Temple called Maiden be arc of you. Both these temples are under the control of Malabar Dewasom board.
The Goddess here is also considered Twarita Parvati. Literal translation of Twarita is quick. The reason for this name is because she blesses her devotees quickly.
Quick Information
| Nearest Airport | Kozhikode Airport (CCJ) |
| Distance from Airport | Approximately 40 Km |
| Travel Time from Kozhikode Airport | Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Travel Options from Kozhikode Airport | Private taxi from Airport or from within the city / Train from Kozhikode Town / Private / KSRTC buses |
| Nearest Railway Station | Tirur (Station Code – TIR) – Approximately 18 Km |
| Travel Options | Private cabs from Tirur Railway Station or from within the city / state Bus services are available |
| Nearest Bus Station | Kadambuzha Bus Station |
| Temple Timings | 04:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 03:30 PM to 07:00 PM |
(2)There is a strict dress code to be followed when entering the temple. shirt, pants, banyan, pajamas, lungi, Chappals, etc. Are not allowed when entering the temple. Ladies are supposed to wear either traditional Kerala dress (Veshti), saree or Churidar.
(3)The coconut brought for the ‘ Muttarakkal’ should be cleaned properly and dipped in a water tank kept outside the sanctum sanctorum. Coconuts brought in plastic or cloth bags will not be allowed. One can get a bag made of net from the Dewasom counter.
History of Sree Kadampuzha Bhagavathy Temple
Legend has it that the origin of the Sree Kadampuzha Bhagavathy Temple has association with Mahabharata era. Arjuna was performing Tapasya to obtain Pasupatastra from God Shiva. To test Arjuna’s Tapasya, God Shiva assumed Kiraata form along with Shri Parvati who took a huntress form. During the same time, an asura took form of a pig and started to disturb Arjuna’s Tapasya. Both Arjuna and Kirata shot arrows at the pig and the arrow shot from Kirata’s bow killed the pig. However, Arjuna did not agree to this and there was a fight between Kirata and Arjuna. Until then, Arjuna was unaware that Kirata is a form taken by God Shiva himself.
It is said that arrows shot by Arjuna started to scar Kirata. Shri Parvati could not tolerate this, and she started to convert all the arrows Arjuna shot into flowers and cursed that there would be no more arrows left with Arjuna.
Since the arrows were over, Arjuna started to attack Kirata with the bow and indulged in fist fight. After a lot of attempts to defeat Kirata, Arjuna sought God Shiva’s blessings. Arjuna started to offer God Shiva with whatever he could including flowers and leaves and that is when he realized that all the offering to God Shiva was falling on Kirata. At this point, Arjuna realized that Kirata was in fact god Shiva. Arjuna sought forgiveness from Kirata and Shri Parvati.
Shri Parvati immediately forgave Arjuna. This is the reason why Sree Kadampuzha Bhagavathy is also called Twarita Parvati.
Kadampuzha is a combination of 3 words – Kadu, Ambu, Ala. Kadu means forest, Ambu means arrow. During God Shiva and Shri Parvati’s journey through the forest, Shri Parvati felt thirsty. God Shiva shot an arrow on ground through which Ganga devi appeared and quenched Shri Parvati’s thirst. After quenching her thirst, Ganga Devi disappeared, and a pit (ala) was left behind.
Today, the formless presence of Goddess Parvati has significance to Shri Adi Shankaracharya as well. During his travel from Mookambika through the forest, Shri Adi Shankaracharya felt Goddess presence upon reaching the pit (ala) and suddenly a light source appeared. Understanding that it was Shri Parvati herself, Shri Adi Shankaracharya started to sing hymns praising the divinity.
Goddess appeared in front of Shri Adi Shankaracharya and informed that she is willing to stay in that place without taking any form and bless her devotees. Post this, based on Shri Adi Shankaracharya’s instructions, a temple was constructed.
No idol was consecrated at Sree Kadampuzha Bhagavathy Temple. However, since the energy of Devi was so high, Shri Adi Shankaracharya consecrated a Shila (rock) along with Narasimha Moorthy and Sudarshana chakra which can be seen in front of the sanctum sanctorum.
Architecture – Sree Kadampuzha Bhagavathy Temple
Until the late 90’s the Sri Kovil (sanctum sanctorum) was in bad shape. The authorities took the decision to rebuild the Sri Kovil in Kerala style architecture like other Temples of Kerala. The Sri Kovil is built in naalu kettu (courtyard) style complying with Vaastu. The work on the current structure was completed in the year 2000. Once this work was completed, the authorities started to build the outer structure of the temple. The entire construction includes granite stones, teak wood and copper. The outer structure also was built using the same and constructed in Kerala style architecture.
Upa Devata Pratistha:
Shri Dharma Shasta and Naga Pratistha can be seen in the Sree Kadampuzha Bhagavathy Temple premises.
Offerings at Sree Kadampuzha Bhagavathy Temple:
One of the main offerings at Sree Kadampuzha Bhagavathy temple is “Muttarukkal”. Mutt means obstacle and arukkal means to cut. So Muttarukkal literally means to cut away any obstacles. The way Muttarukkal is performed at Sree Kadampuzha Bhagavathy temple, is, a devotee must bring coconut and give it to the priest. The priest will break the coconut. If the coconut breaks equally, then it is considered auspicious. If a devotee is unable to bring coconut from home, they have the option to buy it from the temple premises.
The Muttarukkal commences at 5:00 in the morning and will continue till all the receipts issued from the Dewasom counter till 11:00 in the morning are completed. The only breaks will be while nivedyam and poojas are being performed and will restart after these pooja are completed. In case there are too many Muttarakkal sanctum will not be closed in the afternoon.
Place to Stay:
There are few good budget friendly hotels near the temple.
- Prana Regency
- Sky Regency
- Illam Residency
If you opt not to stay in Kadampuzha, then the better option will be to stay in Kozhikode which has several options.
Nearby places to visit/ Nearby Attraction:
- Sree Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathi Temple, Angadippuram
- Alathiyoor Sri Hanuman Swamy Temple
- Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary
- Nedumkayam Rain Forest
