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Naithalakkavu temple
is situated, 6 km
north of Thrissur
city in a village
called Kuttur. It is
under Cochin
Devaswom Board. The
temple has been
considered to have
connections with
Cochin Royal family,
in the days of their
reign the
Amma of Naithalakkavu had a
special place in
Shakthan Thampuran’s
Palace then. The
Amma is
considered to be the
deity of the village Kuttur, which has
been surrounded by
Siva Temples. The
Naithalakkavu
Amma has the sole
authority to open
the
Thekke Gopuram
(South Gopuram) of
Vadakkunatha temple
for the Thrissur
Pooram.
The sanctum
sanctorum of Shiva
in this temple is
one of the largest
rounded sanctorum in
Kerala. Besides Siva
and
Naithalakkavu
Amma,
Sri Durga,
Shastra,
Ganapathi,
Anthimahakalan,
Rashasu &
Dampathu
Rashasu is been
present as
Upadevas.
A
Rashasu named
Kelumman is
installed under
Alstonius (Pala)
tree outside the
walls of the temple.
The
Naithalakkavu
Amma is faced
towards west, while
Siva is faced to
east direction. It
is an important
temple among
Vadakkunthan’s
Rishabhagiri
temples.
Sri Mahadeva
The Siva linga is
considered to be
self incarnated. The
Peeda of the
Siva
linga is large and
the sanctum
sanctorum might be
built after the
installation of the
Peeda. The age of
Siva temple has not
yet been found out.
It has been known as
Pallipuram Khestra.
The Siva is
installed in
Rowdra
bhava here.
Sri Ganapathi
The Sanctorum of
Ganapathi is on the
side of Siva’s
sanctum sanctorum.
It is believed that
Ganapathi is seated
on Siva’s lap, that
is why
Ganapathi’s
sanctorum conjoined
with Siva’s and is
known as “Okkathe
Ganeshwaran”.
Durga
Durga is installed
in outer sanctorum
faced to west. As it
is considered that
the deity is related
with “Cochin Royal
Palace”, the
Durga
is also known as
“Kottarathil
Bagavathi”.
Shasta (Sasthan)
Sri
Sasthan is
installed at the
south west portion
of the temple facing
towards east.
Priority, the
Shastra & Ganapathi
were in a single
sanctorum, and
Shastra has been
re-installed to the
present position in
2001 after “Astamangalaym”.
Anthimahakalan
Anthimahakalan is on
the right side of
Naithalakkavu
Amma, facing
towards east.
Anthimahakalan is
believed to be the
Senapathi
of the
Amma and has
arrived here along
with the Amma
from
Arimbur.
Rashasu &
Dampathi Rashasu
Present on the south
partition of the
temple in a single
sanctorum.
Kelumman
It is considered
that,
Kelumman was a
devotee of the
Amma and is
installed outside
the wall of the
temple below a
Alstonius (Pala)
tree.
Sri
Naithalakkavamma
The myth behind the
arrival of the
Naithalakkavu Amma to Kuttur is
that she came along
with “Kunddil
Nambiddi” from
Arimbur, a place
west to Thrissur.
Kunddil Nambiddi
during his
pilgrimage came to
Pallipuram Siva
temple and placed
his umbrella down
near the temple,
after which it
became impossible
for him to lift it.
Knowing that the
Amma liked to
stay on the same
place near Siva, she
was installed on a
plate having
NAI (ghee) with
sesame lamp (Thila
in Sanskrit). Thus
the name
Nai-thila-
kavu became popular.
She is the regional
deity of
Kuttur,
Pamboor & Attoor.
There is no roof on
the sanctum
sanctorum of the
Naithalakkavu Amma.
Sree Karthyayani
Temple,
Ayyanthole
is said to be one of
the important 10
Devi (Durga) temples
where in deities
installation
ceremony is believed
to be performed by
sage Parasurama. |