Kadampuzha Temple

Introduction to Kadampuzha Temple

Kadampuzha Temple is an ancient temple in Kadampuzha, Malappuram, Kerala. The temple's presiding deity is Kadampuzha Devi, a manifestation of Parvati. It is under the maintenance of the Malabar Devaswom Board, Government of Kerala. A Hindu Warier family of non-hereditary appointed trustees administers the temple.

There are no idols in Kadampuzha Temple for the deity. The name originated from Kadan –Kiratha, Ambu - Arrow, Eitha - Shot, and Uzha - Place. .

Legend of Kadampuzha Temple

According to the temple legend, once Adi Sankaracharya, during his travels, passed through Kadampuzha. It was a grassland then. At one particular place, an invisible wall stopped him. He understood it was the meeting point of Parasakthi.

Adi Sankaracharya prayed to her, and she appeared before him. After blessing him, she disappeared into a tiny hole in the ground. He performed the first Pooja to the Devi there on that day in Vrischikam. The temple's sanctum is built around that hole.

The Architecture of Kadampuzha Temple

The architecture of the Kadampuzha Temple is very simple, without any impressive edifices or gold-plated flag mast. It reflects typical Kerala-style architecture. It is a 1900-year-old temple.

Adi Shankara built the temple over the hole using the Thachu Shastra method. He perceived the divine presence of Shiva on the stone right in front of the hole. So, he consecrated Narasimha Moorthy and the Sudarshana Chakra, each facing South and North. Naga Kanya on the temple's south side and Shastav on the North.

The unique aspect of the Kadampuzha Temple is that there is no idol inside the sanctum sanctorum to represent the deity's presence. The priests give the offerings in a hole about 6 cm in diameter, where the deity is believed to have disappeared.

In 1949, when Shree M.K Achutha Warier was the trustee, he began the process of rebuilding the sanctum sanctorum using laterite stones and the roof using jackwood and tiles. After his period, many other trustees also remodeled the temple.

In the Deva Prashna of 1993, it was said that the sanctum sanctorum was to be rebuilt using granite stones, and the roof should be tiled with brass. The temple completed the work immediately, as per the Prashna. Using a complex calculation called "Siddharthakam," the sanctum was built.

An Arch (Thidambu) is kept on the top to mark the temple for a commoner's reference. Only during the "Poo Moodal" the temple removes the Thidumbu and exposes the hole.

Festivals in Kadampuzha Temple

The main festival at Kadampuzha Temple is Thirukkarthika. The temple celebrates the day on Karthika star of the Malayalam month Vrischikam (November-December), as Pradishta day. On this day, the temple offers Annadaanam to over 10000 devotees. The Devaswom directly performs Poo Moodal and all special Poojas on this auspicious day.

Benefits of Worshipping at Kadampuzha Temple

Poomodal is the ritual of embellishing the idol with fresh Chetthy flowers, while the second ritual is about breaking coconuts into two equal parts by the priest.

Devotees strongly believe that by performing the ritual of Muttarukkal (breaking coconuts), the Kadampuzha Devi removes all the hurdles from their lives. If the offered coconut is not broken, devotees break them until one breaks out. As the coconut breaks into two half pieces, the deity also solves their problems similarly.

Devotees worship the deity in three forms. In the mornings, devotees worship her as Vidya Durga (Saraswati), bestowing knowledge, wisdom, and excellence in career to all. In the afternoon, she is worshipped as Vanadurga (Durga) in the form of Twaritha Devi. She blesses her devotees with early marriage, health, and harmony. In the evening, Devi blesses her devotees with abundant wealth in the form of Aadi Durga (Lakshmi).