Panachikkadu Temple
Panachikkadu Temple | |
---|---|
Religion | |
Affiliation | Hinduism |
District | Kottayam |
Deity | Dakshina Mookambika (Saraswathi) |
Festivals | Navaratri[1] |
Location | |
Location | Panachikkad |
State | Kerala |
Country | India |
Geographic coordinates | 9°32′16.4″N 76°33′09.4″E / 9.537889°N 76.552611°E |
Architecture | |
Type | Architecture of Kerala |
Specifications | |
Temple(s) | One |
Elevation | 40.18 m (132 ft) |
The Panachikkadu Temple or Panachikkad Saraswathi Temple, also known as the Dakshina Mookambika (
Legend
Upon reaching Panachikkadu, he decided to take a bath in the temple pond. He put his Olakuda (umbrella made of palm leaves), on the southern side of the temple and went to bathe. After the bath, he tried to pick up his umbrella, but he couldn't. The Nambudiri stood puzzled. Then a man magically materialized and explained to the Nambudiri that the Goddess Mookambika Devi was staying in the umbrella and that the Nambudiri would have to transfer the divinity to an idol before he could retrieve the umbrella. He also told the Nambudiri that an idol suitable for transfer was lying hidden in the nearby forest. He warned him that he would have to appease its protector, a
The Moola Bimba of saraswathy is now covered with creepers and shrubs and is not clearly visible. The leaves of the creepers are considered Saraswati leaves. The spring water flows continuously until it touches the feet of the Devi. This water never dries, not even in the peak time of summer. Since the Devi remains on such a saras (small rivulet), the Goddess is called Saraswati. The water required for pooja and other needs is drawn from the spring. No other water sources seem to exist.
Surroundings
Above the Saraswati temple on the western side, there is a natural habitat made of exotic plants and their fragrant flowers. There lives the Yakshi, who is at once fastidious and easily made happy. The idol of a
Stone carvings on the walls illustrate Lord Vishnu and his servants playing a game similar to modern day Volleyball. This is supposed to be a representation of Vishnu's Preservation of the Universe, as he is seen dominating the opposition. These inscriptions also seem to suggest that India, and not USA, might have been the birthplace of the game.
The major festival this temple hosts is the Saraswati Pooja in the month of Thulam [A month in the
From various parts of India, devotees come here for Darshan, and religious people come here for Vidyarambham (the formal initiation of education with the introduction of alphabets). The ceremony of
A major international cultural festival of all sort of arts including classical dance and music is also held in the temple for the duration of the nine nights of the Navarathri festival. Very famous performing artists/poets/writers like Karthika Thirunal RamaVarma Maharaja (Dharma Raja), Kerala Varma Valiakoyi Thampuran, A.R. Raja Raja Varma, Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer, K J Yesudas, Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri etc have visited the temple art performing and bhajanam(meditation).
The temple is well connected through roads and there are many routes lead to this
Gallery
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East gate to Vishnu shrine
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West entrance
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Temple tank
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Saraswathi shrine in 2012
See also
- Temples of Kerala
- Saraswathi Temple
References
- ^ "Saraswathi Temple - Panachikkad, Kottayam - Timings, History, Pooja & Aarti schedule". Trawell.in. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ "Panachikkadu Saraswathi Temple Kottayam Kerala". Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ISBN 978-81-7478-175-8.
- ^ "Saraswathi Temple at Panachikkad in Kottayam". Kerala Tourism. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ "Panachikkad: The Dakshina Mookambika". Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ISBN 978-8126422906.
- ^ Mookambi, Dakshina. "Panachikkadu Saraswathi Temple". www.panachickad.org/.
External links