Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple

Sthala Puranam

A tribesman called Kannappan, a devotee of Mahakali, offered a buffalo every Friday. One day he took a calf to his stone altar, but his daughter Pavizham begged for its life and he let her keep it.

Pavizham later died, perhaps of a snake bite, and her body vanished during the cremation. A priest told Kannappan he had been taking calves away from their mothers, so he suffered the same loss.

Kannappan then saw the altar shining in place of the calf. The priest said the calf stood for Vishnu and Lakshmi and told him to pray at the altar every day.

Speciality

• The goddess is worshipped as Rajarajeswari (Adiparashakti) in three forms: Saraswati in the morning, Lakshmi at noon, Kali in the evening.
• An image of Mahavishnu shares her pedestal. Brahma, Shiva, Ganapathi, Subramanya and Sastha are also there.
• The deity is a self-formed laterite stone called the Rudraksha Shila.

Festivals

• Makam Thozhal
• Navarathri
• Thrikkarthika
• Deepavali

How to reach

Before you go

• Dress modestly. Leave footwear outside the temple.
• Timings, ticket rules and dress codes change. Check the temple's own notice or website before you travel.
• Book darshan, rooms and special poojas only at the official counter or website, not through agents.
• Makam Thozhal days are very crowded. Go early.

Prayers for this temple

• Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu
• Lakshmi Gayatri
• Mahalakshmi Ashtakam