Chottanikkara Temple

Chottanikkara Temple
Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple
Chottanikkara Temple
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
District	Ernakulam
Deity	Chottanikkara (Chottanikkara Amma) with Narayana
Festivals	Makam Thozhal, Navarathri
Location
Location	Chottanikkara
State	Kerala
Country	India
Bhagavathy Temple, Chottanikkara, Ernakulam, Kerala
Geographic coordinates	9°55′59.4″N76°23′29.1″E / 9.933167°N 76.391417°E / 9.933167; 76.391417
Specifications
Temple(s)	One
Elevation	52.47 m (172 ft)

The Chottanikkara (correction of Jyotiannakkara) Devi Temple is a temple dedicated to the Hindu mother goddess Bhagavati Lakshmi. ^[1] She is believed to be residing in Chottanikkara (Mahalakshmi) along with her Husband Maha Vishnu. The main deity is also considered as Lakshmi Narayana according to the temple legend. ^[2] The temple is Classified one among the 108 Abhimana Kshethram of Vaishnavate tradition. The temple is located at Chottanikkara, a southern suburb of the city of Kochi in Ernakulam district, in the state of Kerala, India and is one of the most popular temples in the state.

The temple is known for conducting exorcisms. ^[3]

Legend

The area in which the temple is situated was once a dense jungle. A tribesman named Kannappan used to live in this forest. He was a devout worshipper of the goddess Mahakali, and would ritually sacrifice a buffalo to her every Friday (the day of the Goddess). One day, he found a calf near the forest. He kidnapped the calf and took her to his stone altar. Just before he is about to sacrifice the calf, his daughter Pavizham stepped in and pleaded to him to stop the sacrifice. The man loved his daughter and thus let her keep the calf as a pet. Unfortunately, Pavizham died some days later, possibly due to a snake bite. Kannappan broke into tears and decided to cremate her body. To his surprise, his daughter's corpse disappeared. A nearby priest told him the reason for such an occurrence; Kannappan used to forcibly take young calves from their mothers and sacrificed them. As punishment, he met the same fate when his daughter died. When the tribesman looked for the calf, he found the sacrifice alter shining in its place. The priest explained that the calf represented the divine couple, Lord Vishnu and Lakshmi. He asked Kannapan to pray before the alter everyday to undo his sins. ^[2]

Film Adaptation

• Chottanikkara Amma ^{[4] [5] [6]}
• Amme Narayana ^{[7] [8] [9]}
• Amme Bhagavathi ^[10]

See also

• Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple
• Mookambika temple
• Temples of Kerala

References

1. "Devotee offers Rs.500 crore donation to Kerala's Chottanikkara temple". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
2. "Removing Evil Spirits at Chottanikkara Temple In Kerala". Indus Scrolls. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
3. "At Kerala's Chottanikkara Bhagavathy temple, devotees pray to be rid of their 'demons'". Firstpost. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
4. "Chottanikkara Amma". www.malayalachalachithram.com. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
5. "Chottanikkara Amma". .nthwall.com. Archived from the original on 25 September 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
6. "Chottanikkara Amma". spicyonion.com. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
7. "Amme Naaraayana". www.malayalachalachithram.com. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
8. "Amme Naaraayana". malayalasangeetham.info. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
9. "Amme Narayana". spicyonion.com. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
10. "Amme Bhagavathi (1987)". Malayalam Movie & Music Database. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
    - "Amme Bhagavathi". Malayalam Music & Movie Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 17 May 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
    - "Amme Bhagavathi (1987) Movie Details". Spicy Onion. Retrieved 14 October 2014.

External links

• Official temple page
• Thiruvankulam tourism page