Edakkunni Sri Durga Temple Attractions

Edakkunni Sri Durga Temple is one of the most magnificent 108 temples of Durga in this part of the world. It is believed that it was Saint Parasurama who consecrated this temple and is also believed to have created the Kerala region.

The Goddess here is the Bhagavathy Devi who is found in the Vaishnava form. She is seen with a Gadha, Sankha, Chakra and a Padmam. The Bhagavathy here at Edakkunni is said to be one who gives all the wishes and is so known as the Sarvabeeshtapradhayini. There are many devotees who have stories to tell about her supreme benevolence. The temple is very special and has no upadevas in the walls. There are many astrologers who have tried to understand what exactly is on the Goddess’ mind and each time they have tried, the condition continued status quo. There is a beautiful ornamental gateway with a lovely gopuram and it has beautiful walls bordering the place and this is called the Anapalla Mathilkettu. Then there is the feeding hall or the Ootupura. This is the feeding hall. There is a Naaambalam which is a building that is found around the sanctum sanctorum and then there is the Sreekovil which is the main sanctum sanctorum. It has a lovely luster of the modern architecture and provides greatly fascinating values.

A major participant in the holy congregation of the Devas or the Arattupuzha Pooram the temple is really famous in this part of the world. There is the Uthramvilakku which is a very important festival celebrated here and this is celebrated the next day at Edakkunni. It is popular in the art circles of Melam and the Panchari Melams of Central Kerala are seen here.

People from far and wide used to come to see the Uthramvilakku and hear the absolute perfect manner in which the traditional rituals were followed. There is the Panchavadhyam that is performed on this day and this lovely sound of the instruments playing on this day is one of the best in the central part of Kerala and is also magnificent.

This is a festival that is very eagerly awaited and sometimes even as rains fall, the total pomp and show of the entire occasion is taken in by the sight of the beautiful elephants They come from Poorapadam at a place called Arattupuzha. There is a melodious percussion ensemble that is led by Kelath Aravindakshan. He was a very famous person in Edakkunni and was in fact given the award of Vadhyakalanidhi by the Cochin Dewaswom Board President.

Then there is the display of Anachmayam. There is the Madurai Kudas also displayed. There is a good crowd and very enthusiastic which comes for the exhibition. Sometimes the sky is overcast and there is rain falling at times yet the crowd is never reluctant to come here and they always assemble at the temple during the Deeparadhanai. There are long queues that are formed at the eastern side of the house and they are privileged to get a glimpse of their favourite Devi or Bhagawathy.

It is a wonderful sight to see the Bhagavathy being brought out at night for the vilakku festival. the Edakunni Panchari starts at around 1 in the night. Then you have the rituals of Viallkakacharam, Keli and the Kombu Pattu. The crowd really gets very enthusiastic about the Ancham Kalamand the Pathikalam. Whenever rain falls during the tours here just don’t worry. All that you have to do is to get into the mandapam and you can do very little to dampen the festive fervour that you have here. The Villaku has the final steps as the Ocharam and the Nadavazhi Pooram besides the Kodikuthu.

Thus the town of Edakkunni which is a lovely region found between the route from Thrissur in Kerala to Chalakudi is a beautiful region to be in, and is filled with the best of a colourful tradition in South India. The highlight of this event is the four hour Panchari Melam which is held after midnight. There are five caparisoned elephants which are decorated on this occasion and each of them carry a deity and it really looks resplendent.

The Uthramvilakku is a form of singing that is done ritually and is called the Brahmani Pattu. Then this was converted to the uthramvilakku in the present form which is about 150 years ago. This festival is normally celebrated on the uthram day of the Indian Month of Meenam in the Malayalam Calendar.

There is a flag hoisting which is called the kodiyettam and then there is a small ceremony of Pooram that is performed on the three elephants. The deity of Goddess Bhagavathy is then taken around the village of Perumanam on top of an elephant and the devotees pray and also participate in the ceremony.

There is a ceremonial elephant that participates in the elephant race or the Anayottam which is held in Piddikaparambu. This is also near Cherpu which is around 14 km to the south west of the Thrissur town. This is a unique race that has the idols of different deities form the temples in and around the place.

With the beautiful ceremonies and the lovely pleasures of seeing the best religious rituals in this part of the world, the Edakkunni Bhagavathy temple is a great place to be in and a perfect pilgrim spot in this part of the world.