After having darshan at Meenkulathi Sree Meenakshi Amman temple, reached Thirupparaikkal Sree Bhagavathy Amman temple by about mid-day.
Thirupparaikkal is located on the outskirts of Palakkad in Vadakkanthara. We were inside the spacious temple complex by about the noon time when ucchikala Pooja was going on for Goddess Bhagavathi (Karnaki) Amman and Sree Shiva-Parvathi shrines. The temple has got two entrances - one straight to Sree Shiva-Parvathi shrine and the other for Goddess Bhagavathy Amman in the same compound. One of the main attractions in this temple, is the way in which traditional pooja rituals are performed for the Goddess Karnaki and the Shiva-Parvathy temple, worshiped in the same compound. The pooja ritual practices followed in these two shrines are a mix Kerala and Tamil cultures. For Bhagvathi Amman pooja practices are performed by Kerala Brahmins and for the Shiva-Parvathi shrine, Tamil Brahmins perform the pooja practices. This is the only temple in Kerala where the two cultures are blend which is unique and one of the rarest finds. This unique cultural blend acceptance has induced a new cultural life in Palakkad as can be seen even today.
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| Two temple entrances |
If we look at the history behind the temple, one can find that the main deity Goddess Bhagavathi (Karnaki) worshiped is at nadu pathi of Moothanthara. Being the only temple for Karnaki at that time people from neighbouring deshams (places) came here to worship Karnaki. It is also observed from history that Tippu Sultan, son of Hyder Ali and his army ransacked and destroyed this temple during Tippu's reign in Pallakkad. Devotees gathered and wanted to save the possessions of the temple and to avoid destruction of the idol from the clutches of Hyder Ali and his army. The possessions were scattered and taken to different places and were worshiped by the devotees.
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| Other view of the inside temple |
The temple is neatly maintained and colorfully painted. We joined in the ucchikala Pooja and had a Blissful darshan. In and around the praharams there were separate shrines for Lord Brahmarakshsas, Lord Ayyappa, Lord Nagaraja, Lord Ganesha and Lord Nagaraja. There is also a new Thulabaram -a balance used for Prarthana offerings from Bakthas who offer equivalent weight of the person in kind of what they intend to offer to the deity in compliance of their owe to God to overcome the difficulties they met in their life. This Thulabaram offerings are very popular in Kerala temples. Even now a days one can see Film personalities, cricket players, politicians etc patronizing this ritual in temples in Kerala, Tirupathi etc.
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| Thulabaram |
The idol of Goddess Bhagavathi which is believed to be that of Goddess Parvathi who took birth as Kannagi of Silappathikaram, a heroine of the great Tamil epic. The epic Silappathigaram is said to be 600 years old. This idol was installed by one of the Chera Dynasty who ruled partly Tamilnadu and Kerala about 600 years ago. This idol is installed under a fig tree which is also said to be 600 years old.
After the ucchikala pooja, Annadanam is being to served to the devotees everyday. We also had the opportunity to join in the seva.
TIMINGS
The temple opens for morning poojas at 5.00am and closes at 12.00 noon and reopens for evening poojas at 4.30pm and closes for the day at 7.30pm.
TEMPLE OFFICE
The activities of the temple are very well organised by the office staff who perform their functions with great devotion and dedication. Accountability is of the greatest order.
Contact details: Sree Thirupparaikkal Bhagavathi Devoswom
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