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Puranam

Kumaranalloor is an ancient cultural center. The Town is famous for Kumaranalloor Devi (Goddess) Temple and the annual Trikarthika festival of the temple. This place was known as &lsquo;Thingalkkadu&#39;, before the temple came into existence. Later the name &lsquo;thingalkkadu&#39; changed and came to be known as &lsquo;Indu Kananam&#39;. In some ancient scripts, the temple is described and known as mahishari kovil (temple).

Kumaranalloor Temple 
Kumaranalloor Devi Temple is considered as one of the most important Devi temples among the 108 Durgalayas (Devi temples) in Kerala. The temple is said to be more than 2400 years old, as per historical and mythological evidences as well as other sources of information. The architecture of the temple is notable for the unique structure of the nalambalam and sreekovil both of which have been built in the sreechakra style (ring like object with a handle, which is placed in the right hand of the Devi). This kind of architecture is rarely found in temple architecture. The carnatic krithi &#39;Sri Kumara Nagaralaye&#39; is a popular kshethrakrithi (composition about the deity of a particular temple) of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal set in Atana Raga and Adi Thalam, and many legends including Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, M S Subbulakshmi etc. popularized it.

Cheraman Perumal was the ruling emperor of Kerala when the construction of a temple at Udayanapuram near Vaikom to install the idol of goddess Durga began; while he commenced the construction of another temple at a place (which is later known as kumaranalloor) to install the idol of lord Kumara or Subramanian. Meanwhile, a disturbing incident took place at Meenakshi temple, Madurai in Tamil Nadu. The gem-studded nose ring of Devi was stolen or went missing. The king ordered an enquiry. At the same time, he ordered to kill the priest of the temple unless he could solve this problem within 41 days. Because, the nose ring would not be misplaced without his knowledge. However, the priest was innocent. He was confused and perplexed in this dilemma. He took refuge at the feet of Devi.

As days and weeks progressed, the grief-stricken priest spent his days and nights crying and praying. On the night of the 40th day, he slept at the doorsteps of temple, meditating and contemplating his fate that his life would reach an end on the next day. However, he had a dream that night. Devi appeared before him and ordered him to quit the place at once. The perplexed and bewildered priest winked his eyes. He had seen a thejas (divine light) moving forward. He followed it without being aware of where he was going. The thejas led him a long distance and finally reached the place which latter became known as Kumaranalloor. At Kumaranalloor, the temple was under construction to install the idol of lord Subramanian or kumaran.

The thejas entered into the sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) of the temple. Moreover, it was at the prathista time (suitable time of installation) that the thejas entered the sreekovil. Then there was an asareeri (an incorporeal and divine voice), &lsquo;kumaran alla ooril&#39;{Malayalam}, meaning, &lsquo;this place is not for kumara&#39;. This is, kumari&#39;s or devi&#39;s place. Hence it got the name Kumaranalloor. Perumal was disappointed and frustrated. He travelled to Udayanapuram to install the idol of Kumara, at the temple, which was under construction. On the way, Perumal encountered some obstacles but finally managed to reach Udayanapuram and install the idol of Subramanian at the sreekovil of the temple.

Later, Perumal returned to Kumaranalloor with the devi&#39;s idol and began the preparation for installing it there. Yet another thought struck him that the idol has to be changed. There was an idol lying in water at vedagiri a nearby place. Perumal brought the idol from vedagiri. Maharshi Parasurama had supposedly made and worshipped the idol in past. At the time of installation, a Brahmin sage with matted hair, came and entered the sreekovil and installed the idol in a second. As soon as the installation of idol was done he vanished. To this date people believe that the Brahmin sage was Maharshi Parasurama. The Brahmin priest, who followed the thejas from Madurai, became the priest of the temple. His residence is known as Madurai illam. His successors worship the Devi even today.

Varnam

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The temple is situated in area of 15,000 square metres. The main gopuram (entrance) of the temple faces towards the east direction, and high walls surrounding the temple with other three gopurams (entrance) in each direction (south, west &amp; north).

While entering the temple, the temple view presents a divine picture. Getting into the temple through the main gopuram one can see the golden dhwajom (flag staff) and the balickal pura[what language is this?] with carvings of many sculptures including those of Ganapathy and Shiva and other saints on pillars. Inside the nalambalam, sreekovil and the main mandapam are surrounded by paths made of carved stones.

The temple of Shiva is on the right side of the main sreekovil. Bhadrakali temple is situated on the south of the temple along with the full stretched surrounding path on carved stones for the whole temple.

Murals in Kumaranalloor temple are precious and rare. The outer walls of the sanctum sanctorum (sreekovil) are decorated with wall painting of hindu gods, goddesses, and incidents from great epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. Natural colours and medicinal plants were used to colour these frescos.

The important festival of the temple is Thrikkarthika celebrated in the month of Vrischikam (November&ndash;December). On the Karthika day it is usual to make a nivedyam (offering) in the precincts of the Udayanapuram and Thrissur Vadakkunnatha temples. The story goes that the Gods in these two temples, greatly charmed by the beauty of the Devi returning after her Karthika bath.

They came out of the temples, got over the compound walls, and stood there looking amorously at the seductive figure of the passing Devi, and the temple priest who ran helterskelter in search of the Gods, finally met them on the walls at the southern end of the temples. Thenceforth, during Karthika, puja is performed over the walls of these temples. The display of lights in the evening, called Karthika Vilakku, is the highlight of this celebration.

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Highlights

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The main deity of Goddess Karthyayani was faces east. The deity holds conch in her right hand and chakra or discus in the left hand. She wears chilambu on her leg and pearl ornaments around the neck.

The sanctum sanctorum is circular &ndash; vatta sreekovil. There is a particular lamp in the mandapam with 24 diyas. Lighting this lamp is an important offering.

This particular lamp belonged to Chembakassery King who used to used it for Bhagavathy Seva. When Chembakassery King surrendered before Marthanda Varma, the lamp was place in the mandapam in the Kumaranalloor Devi temple.

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The temple has a gold plated flag post &ndash; swarna kodimaram. The gold thazhikakudam of the temple was donated by King Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma who was the brother famous Travancore king Swathi Thirunal.

A two tier gopuram is part of the temple complex. In front of the gopuram slightly towards northside is the temple pond. Passing through the gopuram a devotee reaches the Anakottil.

Red shoe flower, male elephant, red color silk clothes and rathadav are not allowed inside the temple.

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Sevas/Festivals

The main festival observed in the temple is Thrikarthika in Vrischikam month. Another important festival in the temple is Navratri. Pooram in Meenam month is another important festival here. Shivratri is also observed in the temple.

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Thrikarthika festival is observed for 10 days. The festival begins on Thiruvonam nakshatra ends on Rohini Nakshatra. The most important day is the Karthika Nakshatra.

On the Karthika day it is usual to make a nivedyam (offering) in the temple for Udayanapuram Subramanya and Thrissur Vadakkumnathan. The story goes that the deities in these two temples were greatly charmed by the beauty of the Devi returning after her Karthika bath. They came out of the temples, got over the compound walls, and stood there looking at the Devi. The priests of the temple soon arrived in the temple searching for the deities, finally met them on the walls at the southern end of the Kumaranalloor temple. From that day onward, on Thrikarthika, puja is performed over the walls of the temple.

The temple is completely lit with traditional Kerala lamps on the day of Thrikarthika.

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During the festival days, Kerala folk and traditional temple arts are conducted in the temple premises along with percussions like panjavadyam and chenda melam.

The temple is one among the 108 Durga temples in Kerala. Kumaranellur village is one among the 64 Brahmin villages in ancient Kerala.

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