Parumala Valiya Panayannarkavu Bhagavathy Temple

Introduction to the Parumala Valiya Panayannarkavu Devi Temple

Parumala Valiya Panayannarkavu Devi Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located on the Pampa River banks in Pathanamthitta, Parumala district, Kerala. Bhadrakali is the main deity here. The Parumala Valiya Panayannarkavu Devi Temple is one of the three most important temples of Bhadrakali in Kerala. Thirumandhamkunnu temple, Malabar, and Kodungallur temple, Kochi, are the other two temples. Aithihyamala of Kottarathil Sankunni and Unnuneeli Sandesam, classics of Malayalam literature, contain references to this temple.

Legend of the Parumala Valiya Panayannarkavu Devi Temple

According to folklore, Sage Parashurama installed the idol of Shiva here, while Durvasa and Narada installed the Devi idol in the Treta Yuga. Parumala Valiya Panayannarkavu Devi Temple is one of Kerala's 108 famous Shiva temples.

According to the legend, Chamundi destroyed the demon Raktabija. But Brahma had blessed him that every drop of his blood falling on the earth would produce a new Asura like him. To prevent this, Chamundi killed him, stabbed him with a spear, and drank all his blood.

The Architecture of the Parumala Valiya Panayannarkavu Devi Temple

The temple sprawls over four acres of land. It is surrounded by Palmyra trees and a thick forest. The Pamba River flows on its west side. It is in the Kerala style of architecture and faces north. Adissar family of Padinjattedathu maintains the temple. Once, Kanadan Adissar, a skilled medical practitioner, had treated Ramayyan Dalava, the commander of the Travancore Army, for severe smallpox.

The commander rewarded him with the temple's land. Adissar family members renovated the place and built the Parumala Valiya Panayannarkavu Devi Temple.

Devotees can have darshan of the deities using the three main doors of the temple. All three gates are opened on the first day of every Malayalam month. Every deity will have special Poojas on this day. Two Sreekovils (sanctum) and fourteen upa devatas are within the four-walled precincts. Small groves are dedicated to Nagaraja and Nagayakshi, the serpent deities. Shiva Lingam and Devi Bhadrakali are worshipped by the devotees. A rare Mahameru Chakra can be seen on the goddess' left side. Chanthattu Kali, Veerabhadran, Saptamatrikas, Sri Soolini, and Sri Ganapati are the other deities worshipped at this Parumala Valiya Panayannarkavu Devi Temple.

Even though the temple's main deity is Shiva, the Saptha Matha is the presiding authority of the Parumala Valiya Panayannarkavu Devi Temple. Here, the Saptha Matha is revered in the daily Poojas. Chamundi, the ferocious deity among the Saptha Mathas, has the strongest place as Kali. Beautiful mural paintings depicting Devi Bhagavatam, Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Srimad Bhagavatam Purana stories adorn the walls of the Parumala Valiya Panayannarkavu Devi Temple. Its mural collections are famous in India.

Rules followed in the Parumala Valiya Panayannarkavu Devi Temple

1. Women should tie their hair before entering the temple.
2. Devotees should stay away from the murals.
3. Visitors should not ring the bells placed before the sanctum.
4. Devotees are not allowed to circumambulate the temple after Deeparadhana.

Festivals in the Parumala Valiya Panayannarkavu Devi Temple

The Parumala Valiya Panayannarkavu Devi Temple zealously celebrates all Hindu festivals, especially Maha Shivratri and Navratri.