LOKANARKAVUTEMPLE,NEAR VATAKARA CALICUT DISTRICT-KERALA
Dear friends, Today my posting is about Lokanarkavu temple near Vatakara inthe Calicut District of Kerala. Lokanarkavu is famous and known to most of usthrough Vatakkan Pattukal.This is the temple where Thacholi Othenan worshipped. The temple is renovatedand gives very beautiful appearance now. Hope a divine reading. Gopalakrishnan 3-06-2025 Introduction Lokanarkavu Temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated togoddess Durga devi situated in Memunda, 4 km from Vatakara, in the Kozhikode District, NorthMalabar region of Kerala state. Lokanarkavu is a short form of Lokamalayarkavuwhich means lokam made of mala, aaru and kavu. The temple dedicated to goddessDurga has great historical importance as Thacholi Othenan, the legendarymartial hero of Kerala, used to worship here every day. Legend According to legend, a thousand years back, the members ofthe Zamorin royal family had a severe quarrel. Some of them crossed the river,taking an idol of the deity along with them. They settled in Badagara andestablished a temple for the deity near the existing Vishnu temple. History Lokanarkavu Temple’s history dates back to the 13th century.The temple holds a strong connection to Kalaripayattu, a traditional martialart form of Kerala, adding to its cultural significance. The Architecture Arya Vysya Brahmins built the Lokanarkavu Temple 1500 yearsago. It is in the Kerala style of architecture. The Lokanarkavu Temple has aDhwaja Sthambham (flagstaff). The Lokanarkavu Temple is famous for its wall paintings. Kerala Archaeology Departmentprotects this temple as a heritage site for its centuries-old fascinatingmurals. These murals also include depictions of Hindu deities. Its architectural style showcases a beautiful blend ofDravidian and Kerala influences The magnificent wall paintings and the wooden sculptures(Darusilpam) are notable examples of the elegant artistic heritage of Kerala.Believed to have been drawn in the 15th century, the mural paintings of godsand goddesses were made using only natural colours. Poorakkali, a popularritualistic art form in Malabar is performed here as part of the templefestivals. Temple complex The temple complex consists of three temples – the maintemple dedicated to GoddessDurga, the centrally-located one dedicated to Lord Siva, and the northernmostdedicated to LordMahavishnu. Deities The presiding deity of Lokanarkavu Temple is Bhagavathy, anincarnation of Durga. She is also called Lokanarkavu Amma. The temple has twoshrines dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu. Visitors can see the three-rock cutcaves in the temple, which are wonderfully carved with intricate carvings andmurals. The Lokanarkavu Temple is unique as three deities areenshrined in separate temples within the compound. All three deities havedifferent sanctums, rituals, festivals, etc. Vishnu, Bhagavathy, andShiva shrines are in a sequential order of their age of worship. Vishnu temple is 2000 years old andlocated in the north, while the Bhagavathy main temple is 1500 years old. TheShiva temple is relatively newer - 400 years old - and is located in thecenter. The Bhagavathy, or Lokambika, is universally known as one ofthe four Ambikas. At Lokanarkavu Temple, Bhagavathy is worshipped in threedifferent forms: in the morning as Saraswati, at noon as Lakshmi Devi, and inthe evening as Bhadrakali. The Lokanarkavu Temple is closely associated with the heroesand heroines of the Vadakkan Pattukal (a collection of Malayalam Ballads ofmedieval origin). The legendary martial hero of Kerala, Thacholi Othenan, wassupposedly worshipped here daily. Poojas Lokanarkavu Temple in Vadakara, Kerala, follows a dailyschedule of rituals, including morning and evening poojas, where devotees canwitness and participate in the sacred ceremonies. The temple's daily ritualsare a blend of tradition and devotion, with the morning pooja starting the dayand the evening aarti marking the end. Key Elements of DailyRituals: Opening of the Temple:The temple doors are opened at dawn,marking the beginning of the daily rituals. Morning Pooja:A dedicated worship ceremony is performed inthe morning, with devotees offering prayers and participating in the sacredrites. Offerings and Rituals:Throughout the day, various offeringsand rituals are performed, including special offerings like coconuts, beetleleaves, and traditional oil lamps (nilavilakku). Evening Aarti:The evening aarti, or light offering, is aparticularly beautiful and spiritual experience, with devotees participating inthe ceremony. Devi Darshan:The temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga, anddaily poojas and offerings are performed to honour her. The temple alsocelebrates different forms of Durga . At Lokanarkavu Temple, Bhagavathi is worshipped in threedistinct forms: as Saraswati in the morning, Lakshmi Devi at noon, andBhadrakali in the evening. Saraswati, the Vidya Devatha, isworshipped for knowledge. Lakshmi Devi, the goddess of wealth, is revered atnoon. Bhadrakali, known as the daughter of Shiva and the destructor, isworshipped in the evening. Offerings: Besides the regular offerings, various other rituals likeMahanivedyam, Pushpanjali, and Padivilakku are performed. Thrikalapooja: This is a three-part worship, with the Goddessbeing honored in different forms at different times of the day. Santhana Gopala Pooja:A ritual performed to invoke theblessings of the deity for children. Ganapathy Homam and Thila Homam:These are fire ritualsperformed to appease Lord Ganesha and invoke blessings. The temple's daily rituals are an integral part of thereligious life of the community, providing a platform for devotion andspiritual growth At Lokanarkavu, Bhagavathi is worshipped in three differentforms, in the morning as Saraswathi,the Vidya Devatha, at noon as Lakshmi Devi,devatha of wealth, and in the evening as Bhadrakali,siva's daughter, thedestructor. Poojas in Vishnu andSiva temples In the Vishnu and Shiva temples within the Lokanarkavu area,common poojas (worship rituals) include Pushpanjali, Nakshathra pooja, and Malapooja. Other specific poojas, such as Archana (a ritual offering), and variousforms of Dheeparadhana (lamp offerings), are also performed. The type of poojamay vary depending on the temple's specific deity and traditions. Here's a more detailed look at some of the poojas: Pushpanjali: A ritual offering of flowers to the deity. Nakshathra pooja: A worship ritual based on the lunarconstellations (Nakshatras). Mala pooja: A ritual offering of a garland or mala to thedeity. Archana: A ritual offering of flowers, incense, and othermaterials to the deity. Dheeparadhana: Offering of lamps or lights to the deity,often with various types of oil (e.g., Ennavilakku, Neyvilakku). Other poojas: Specific temples may also have other uniquepoojas based on their traditions and the deity worshipped. The Lokanarkavu Temple,dedicated to Goddess Durga, is primarily served by Kamukara Brahmins who are ofTulu origin. TheseBrahmins have historically been entrusted with the management of the temple andits associated deities, including Lord Vishnu and Lord Siva Festivals Pooram is the important festival here and it is conductedwith great pomp and show. The week-long festival begins with Kodiyettam (flaghoisting) and concludes with Arattu. Fourty one days MandalaUtsavam in Malayalammonth Vrischikam (November-December) is another festival at the LokanarkavuBhagavathy Temple. This is the only temple where a peculiar folk dance called Poorakkali is presentedduring festivals. Thedance, resembles the martial art Kalarippayattu. Even today, all Kalaripayattu artists seek the blessings ofthe deity before their debut due to the association of Lokanarkavu Temple withlegendary hero thacholi othenan.Large numbers of people from various placesflock here to see this festival. Another attraction is that all the lamps on the walls of the Lokanarkavu BhaghawathiTemple are lit on the occasion. The sixteenth day of Mandala Vilakkuis called Nagara Vilakku. The 20th day of vilakku festival by Ayyappas, 26th byLaw Court, 27th by taluk and revenue people and 28th by general public are theother important days in the festival. What is Vadakarafamous for? Vadakara is primarily known for its historical significanceand association with the legendary warrior Thacholi Othenan, a hero of theVadakkan Pattukal (North Malabar ballads). It's also a notable trade centre forproducts like pepper, copra, and timber. Additionally, Vadakara is a center forKalaripayattu, a traditional South Indian martial art. Lokanarkavu temple situated in Memunda of Vadakara,Kozhikode, is an ancient temple of the Aryan Nagarikas. The Lokanarkavu temple is associated with the legendaryheroes and heroines of Kalarippayattu. The unsurpassable hero of martial arts,Thacholi Othenan worshipped Goddess Lokanarkavilamma. Other information It’s important to dress modestly out of respect for thetemple’s sanctity. Men can wear a mundu or dhoti, while women are encouraged towear sarees or other traditional attire. The temple authorities make specialarrangements for devotees during the festivals, including provisions for food,seating, and security. Temple Timings: 5.00 am to 11.30 am, 5.00 pm to 08.00 pm Address: Kavil Rd, Villiappally, Vatakara, Kerala 673104 Lokanarkavu Temple, Primary phone nos 087142 66520 and 09895403358 Location The closest railwaystation is at Vadakara,which is 5 km from temple. The nearest airportis at Kannur which is 44 km away. By Road-Lokanarkavu Temple is situated atMemunda about 6 km from Vadakara. National Highway 17 passes through Vadakara,and the place is around 48 km north of Kozhikode. Kerala State Road TransportCorporation (KSRTC) and several private bus owners operate frequent busservices to Memunda. Administration Originally, the temple was administered by the KamukaraBrahmins, who were of Tulu origin. Later, there was a period when theKadathanad Raja, as a representative of the Nagariks, managed the temple. Now the Lokanarkavu Temple is administered by the Malabar Devaswom Board. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. 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