THEKANICHUKULANGARA DEVI TEMPLE, NEAR CHERTHALA ,ALAPPUZHADISTRICT OF KERALA,
Compiled
Dear friends,
Today my posting is about the famous Kanichukulangara DeviTemple, dedicated to
the mother goddess Bhagawathi, located near Cherthala in the Alappuzhadistrict
of Kerala.
Legend has it that thetemple was established when a Brahmin recognized Devi on
the shore of a pond andconsecrated the spot. The name "Kanichukulangara" is
derived from thegoddess "Kalichu" (playing) reaching the shore of Pond
("Kulangara").
Hope a divine reading.
Gopalakrishnan 27-4-2025
Here's a more detailedlook at the temple's history:
Legend of Establishment: The temple's history is intertwinedwith a legend about
a Brahmin who recognized Devi playing near the Pond’s side andconsecrated the
temple.
Importance: The temple is considered one of the mostimportant temples in Kerala
and is known for its devotion to the mothergoddess.
Renovation:The temple underwent renovation due to thedeterioration of the
structure, with the idol being reinstalled in January1987.
Deity:The presiding deity is believed to grant wishes of the devotees.
Festivals:The temple hosts an annual Mahotsavam to seek the blessingsof the
goddess for the prosperity of the people and the area.
Practice of Chikkara:The temple is known for the practice of"Chikkara," aritual
involving children, along with other rituals like "Pongala".
Temple entry:The templeallows people of all castes and creeds to offer prayers.
Introduction
Kanichukulangara Sree Devi Temple is a temple located inMararikulam Vadakku
village , Cherthala taluk , Alappuzha district . KanichukulangaraDevi Temple in
Alappuzha is dedicated to the Mother Goddess.
It is an ancient temple of Kerala and it is among those veryfew temples that
enjoy a free and open management. The temple has been open to all irrespective
of theircaste, religious or socio-economic affiliations. In fact this templehas
the unique distinction of being one rare edifice that had a Christian on its
governing bodyand a non-Namboothiri in the householdas having its ownership.
Nestled against the verdant background ofthe natural beauty of Alappuzha this
temple lies at the edge of the sea and hasa holy pond adjoining it.
Legends associatedwith the Temple
According to mythological stories the beautiful Goddess ofbeauty, fertility and
prosperity was enjoying a somnolent boat ride whensuddenly she was washed
ashore in a shipwreck. Ever since then the deity hasbeen installed at the spot.
Nearbyis a pond where the remnants of the ship can be seen at the edge of the
pond.This pond has also been attributed with magical powers. In fact at this
templeworship is performed as Arrattu for both, the deity as well as the pond.
Some renovation and cleaning up had been done at the pond.The material and
artifacts that turned up were found to be of very ancientorigin.
History
There is another story linked with the beginnings of thistemple. It is said
that there were two brothers who had ownership of the templeand its surrounding
lands. This came to pass after a historical event. WhenTipu Sultan had attacked
Malabar the resident Hindus tended to spread southwards. They tended to settle
around the interior areas which was under theVendad king. These the
Hinduscarried their ruling duties. Those who came by sea were shipwrecked onthe
shores near Alappuzha. They installed their deity of the Devi and beganworking
on the lands around. Thus, this reputed temple had come up with theefforts of
those people who had come to settle there in the period from 1773 to1790.
Later two Nimboodaribrothers inherited the temple, its responsibility of
management as also theownership of lands all around. The older brother fell in
love with a commoner or ‘ezhava’ girl who wasvery beautiful. The lady ended up
being pregnant. When this factcame to light the elder brother was outcasted.
He left Kanichukulangara after making the entire property ownership to the
lady. Seeing this the younger brother committed suicide in the pondnearby. The
ladydied in childbirth as did the child. Thus, the entire property was
inherited bythe ezhava family who took over the management of the temple.
This is the reason why this temple has been open and lenientby allowing all
castes and creeds to visit the temple. The PaduKanichukulangara family
subsequently got the inheritance of the temple whichwas considered a major
step. Till date the descendants of this temple have been continuously
informedof all major events in the year. No festival is complete without this
familybeing formally informed of the event, first and foremost.
In 1908, aChristian opinion leader, Acho John helped the people to take over
themanagement of the temple by forming an Executive Body comprisingseven
members. After having a tenure of one year the Committee increased it tothree
years in 1964.
Architecture
A Stunning Temple: The Kanichukulangara Devi temple is notonly famous for its
festivals but also for its architecture. The temple is amasterpiece of art and
culture, with intricate carvings, paintings, andsculptures. The temple reflects
the glory and grace of the goddess and attractsmany visitors and admirers.
Deities
The main deity of the temple is Jagadeeswari andAdiparashakti , Sree Bhadrakali
. The deity of the goddess here, known asKanichukulangara Amma, is adorned with
the eight Ashtakaras.
Sub deities- There aredeities of Ganapati , Paramashivan , Mahavishnu ,
Ayyappan , Subrahmanyan ,Dhanvantari , Kodumkali , Veerabhadra and Naga gods as
the main sub-deities .There are also minor deities like Brahmarakshas and
Yakshiamma here.
Festivals
Every year, a 21-day festival is held here. Most of thetimes, it concluded on
the day ofShivaratri day .
This is followed by Pongala for 7 days. This is known as Puzhukku offering.
The Chikkaraoffering and the Arikoothu offering here are very famous.
Thousands of people from within and outsidethe district visit during the
festival and for Puzhukku.
The fireworks here are very famous. Every year,the fireworks display, known as
Kambakettu, which lasts for more than twohours, is held on the last two
festival days.
Chikkara festival- This is a ceremony of offeringchildren to the goddess
Chikkara for 21 days in connection with the festival.This offering is made by
childless couples after marriage to have children andto get rid of childhood
diseases and other ailments. It is believed that children become the children
ofKanichukulangara Amma during the festival days.
Around 3000 childrenand their parents offer bhajans in the presence of the
goddess for 21 days.
Kodiyettu, Chikkarakottikkal Koottakalam, Thalicharthu andEshaam Pooja are the
main festival days. In addition, a ceremony called Murajapam is held here
oncein 14 years.
Similar to Pongala,devotees who offer puzhukku offerings knead the image of a
person or the imageof a person's organs in flour and boil them. Devotees
believe that this is good for curingphysical defects, diseases and other
ailments.
RenovationThe temple's chutambalam has beencompleted at a cost of about Rs 6
crore. Many sculptures have also beeninstalled here.
Mr. Vellappally Natesan, the general secretary of the SNDPUnion , has been the
president of the Kanichukulangara Devaswom for over 40years.
Mura japam
This temple is renowned for the sacred ‘Mura oath’ which istaken ceremonially
every twelve years. The entire programme goes on for a fullforty one days. A
number of rituals are performed on these days to purify thepremises. Even the
priests are served ‘homam’ or purificatiory.
The major festivals of thetemple last for twenty one days and is called the
Maha festival which is initiated in the‘Kumbam’ month according to the
Malayalam Calendar. The special part of thefestivities is the ‘Kumba Kudam’ and
‘Thalpoli. The former entails offerings ofoil, ghee, honey, turmeric powder and
Kumkum. The ‘thalapoli’ comprises adecorative tray having colourful offerings
which are offered at ten at nightamidst the chanting of hymns and singing
several rustic, ritual songs.
There is a special occasion whereby on the twelfth,thirteenth and fourteenth
day of the festival ‘rangolis’ or colourful patternsare made. Ladies from all
round the areas gather and perform rituals to appeasethe snake god in the form
of Sarp or divine snake images. They sing a ‘Pulavar pattu’. Then onthe
fortieth day the deity is anointed, dressed in new clothes and jewellery
toattend the ritual ceremony that lasts for about five days. These
specialrituals are focused on pleasing the Shastravahu.
These twenty one days are significant for women going to havechildren or
desirous of having children because this is the site where all areblessed with
children and prosperity. Another ritual is the ‘ArikuthuvazhiPadu’ that gives
immunity from disease. The ‘Maha Kuruthu’ is the closingceremony of this great
twenty one day rituals rich festival.
Chikkara is a specialritual where parents show their love and gratitude to the
goddess Bhagawathi by dressing up their littleones as her representatives. For
21 days, the parents and the children stay atthe temple, and the children
participate in various ceremonies and prayers. Theparents believe that by doing
this, they are pleasing the goddess and receivingher blessings for their
children's prosperity and health.
Temple Timings
05:00 AM - Opening Time 08:30 PM - Closing Time
English medium school
Other social welfare activities that were taken up by thecommittee included the
setting up of an English medium school.
How to ReachKanichukulangara Devi Temple
The temple can be approached by road, train, water and byair.
International airport atCochin which is the nearest. From there a bus or taxi
can be taken to reach Alapuzzha.
The trains directly reachAlappuzha fromThiruvanthapuran and Ernakulam from
where again the taxi or auto rickshaws cantake the pilgrims to the temple.
By Bus there are veryeconomical and efficientservices available from all the
major cities like Cochin, Kozhikode,Thrivanthapuran, Chennai, Bangalore to
Alappuzha.
The water ways are alsoused to ferry pilgrims to the temple shores. These
ferries are also state owned and take the passengerto either bank at a normal
charge.
Contact Address:
Kanichukulangara Devi Temple, Kanichukulangara, Cherthala,Alappuzha, Kerala
688582
Phone Number: 90611 60200
Official ContactInformation:
Secretary: The Secretary of Kanichukulangara Devaswom can becontacted at
+91-478-2862570.
Email: [email protected].
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