View source for Chottanikkara Temple

{{Short description|Bhagavathi temple in Ernakulam District, Kerala, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox temple
| name               = Chottanikkara Temple
| image              = Chottanikkara Temple.jpg
| alt          =
| caption            = Chottanikkara Temple
| map_type        = India Kerala
| map_caption        = Bhagavathy Temple, [[Chottanikkara]], [[Ernakulam district|Ernakulam]], [[Kerala]]
| coordinates        = {{coord|9|55|59.4|N|76|23|29.1|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| other_names        =
| native_name        = Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple
| country            = {{flag|India}}
| state              = [[Kerala]]
| district           = [[Ernakulam district|Ernakulam]]
| location           = [[Chottanikkara]]
| elevation_m        = 52.47
| deity = [[Chottanikkara]] ([[Mahalakshmi|Chottanikkara Amma]]) with [[Narayana]]
| Direction_posture =
| Pushakarani        =
| Vimanam            =
| Poets              =
| Prathyaksham       =
| festivals          = Makam Thozhal, Navarathri
| architecture       = 
| temple_quantity = Two
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions       =
| creator            =
| website            =
}}

{{Hinduism}}
{{Saktism}}
{{Vaishnavism}}

The '''Chottanikkara''' (correction of ''Jyotiannakkara'') '''Devi Temple''' is a temple dedicated to the Hindu mother goddess [[Bhagavati]] [[Lakshmi]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/071120/devotee-offers-rs500-crore-donation-to-keralas-chottanikkara-templ.html|title=Devotee offers Rs.500 crore donation to Kerala’s Chottanikkara temple|website=Deccan Chronicle|access-date=November 7, 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref name="indusscrolls.com">{{cite web|url=https://indusscrolls.com/removing-evil-spirits-at-chottanikkara-temple-in-kerala|title=Removing Evil Spirits at Chottanikkara Temple In Kerala|website=Indus Scrolls|access-date=March 13, 2022}}</ref> The temple is Classified one among the '''108 [[Abhimana Kshethram]]''' of [[Vaishnavism|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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.firstpost.com/living/at-keralas-chottanikkara-bhagavathy-temple-devotees-pray-to-be-rid-of-their-demons-3866389.html|title=At Kerala's Chottanikkara Bhagavathy temple, devotees pray to be rid of their 'demons'|website=Firstpost|access-date=July 29, 2017}}</ref>  

==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 [[Kali|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.<ref name="indusscrolls.com"/>

== About the deity and the temple ==

Sree Mahamaya Bhagavati is one of the most popular deities in Kerala and the supreme mother goddess in [[Hinduism]]. Chottanikkara Devi (Melekavu Bhagavathi) is worshipped at the temple, in three different forms: as [[Mahasaraswati]] in the morning, draped in white; [[Lakshmi|Mahalakshmi]] in noon, draped in crimson; and as [[Mahakali]] in the evening, decked in blue. Devotees chant "Amme Narayana, Devi Narayana, Lakshmi Narayana, Bhadre Narayana" in this temple. Goddess 'Keezhkkaavu bhagavathi' is believed to be [[Bhadrakali]], in her fierce form or Ugra form. The deity of Devi is believed to be a swayambu deity which means it's self- manifested and not sculpted. Hence the Devi's vigraham in this temple appears to be in 'rock' form which resembles a texture like [[rudraksha]] and now it's covered by a Bronze plate, which is sculpted with Devi's Roopam. There's another small black-coloured stone deity[[Shaligram|(shaligrama)]] found beside the Devi's vigraham which is believed to be a manifestation of [[Vishnu]]. Hence the presiding deity of the Rudraksha rock is believed to be [[Lakshmi|Goddess Lakshmi]].

In terms of temple architecture, the Chottanikkara temple stands out to be an ultimate testimonial to the ancient {{Translation|hi|italic=no|[[Vishvakarman|vishwakarma sthapathis]]}} (wooden sculpture) along with [[Sabarimala temple]].

===The Legend of Keezhkavu shrine===

The idol of Keezhkavil devi didn't come until after the shrine was built . Here is a legend that believed to be happened merely 3 or 4 centuries before. One night, a man named Gupthan Namboodiri was heading to Thirupunithura.Also he planned to meet his guru Kosapilli namboothiri, on his way, who was a teacher and the one who also practice wizardry. The time he traveled was night. On his way, [[Yakshi]] (a malicious spirit),   took the form of a pretty maiden and  enticed Gupthan. Since he was carrying a [[Palm-leaf manuscript|manuscript]] copy of [[Devi Mahatmyam]], she was not able to do him any harm. However, Gupthan was attracted to her. Later when he reached  Kosapilli Namboodiri's house, Gupthan narrated the incident to his guru and the guru deduced that the lady was a Yakshi. He then gave Gupthan Namboodiri an enchanted towel and rice to carry along on his return journey to protect himself from the Yakshi. When Gupthan saw the Yakshi following him he ran towards the Chottanikkara temple, on the way he threw the rice and swirled the towel at the Yakshi which slowed her and on reaching, jumped into the compound of the temple sanctum. The Yakshi who was pursuing him however , managed to catch his feet. When Gupthan cried out for help the mother Goddess [[Bhagavathy]], she came out as [[Maha Kali]] and beheaded the Yakshi with her pallivaalu(divine Sword) and threw the yakshi's head into the temple tree base and then wash of the blood in the temple pond. That pond is known today as Yakshikulam or Rakthakulam, where the Kali idol was found merely a hundred years later by [[Vilwamangalam Swamiyar|Vilwamangalam]] of [[Guruvayoor]]. And today, it is believed that the ones who are in trouble because of evil spirits and black magic, can visit and pray at Keezhkavu shrine which might help them to recover.

== Film Adaptation ==
*[[Chottanikkara Amma]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movie.php?i=641|title=Chottanikkara Amma|accessdate=2014-09-25|publisher=www.malayalachalachithram.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nthwall.com/ml/Chottaanikkara-Amma-1976/9465403379|title=Chottanikkara Amma|accessdate=2014-09-25|publisher=.nthwall.com|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140925130232/http://www.nthwall.com/ml/Chottaanikkara-Amma-1976/9465403379|archive-date=25 September 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://spicyonion.com/title/chottanikkara-amma-malayalam-movie/|title=Chottanikkara Amma|accessdate=2014-09-25|publisher=spicyonion.com}}</ref>
*[[Amme Narayana]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movie.php?i=1576|title=Amme Naaraayana|accessdate=2014-10-20|publisher=www.malayalachalachithram.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://malayalasangeetham.info/s.php?6054 |title=Amme Naaraayana |accessdate=2014-10-20 |publisher=malayalasangeetham.info |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021001239/http://malayalasangeetham.info/s.php?6054 |archivedate=21 October 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://spicyonion.com/title/amme-narayana-malayalam-movie/|title=Amme Narayana|accessdate=2014-10-20|publisher=spicyonion.com}}</ref>
*[[Amme Bhagavathi]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movie.php?i=1882 |title=Amme Bhagavathi (1987) |accessdate=14 October 2014 |website=Malayalam Movie & Music Database}}<br>- {{cite web |url=http://malayalasangeetham.info/s.php?16490 |title=Amme Bhagavathi |accessdate=2014-10-14 |website=Malayalam Music & Movie Encyclopedia |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150517174448/http://malayalasangeetham.info/s.php?16490 |archivedate=17 May 2015 }}<br>- {{cite web |url=http://spicyonion.com/title/amme-bhagavathi-malayalam-movie/ |title=Amme Bhagavathi (1987) Movie Details |accessdate=14 October 2014 |website=Spicy Onion}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple]]
* [[Mookambika temple]]
* [[Temples of Kerala]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Chottanikkara Temple}}
* [http://www.chottanikkarabhagavathy.org Official temple page]
* [https://archive.today/20070928131357/http://www.thiruvankulam.com/html/placesOfWorship.htm/ Thiruvankulam tourism page]

{{Hindu temples in Kerala}}

[[Category:Abhimana temples of Vishnu]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Kochi]]
[[Category:Bhagavathi temples in Kerala]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Ernakulam district]]
[[Category:Devi temples in Kerala]]