Keezhoor Bhagavathy temple is located at Keezhoor on the Thalayolaparambu – Koothattukulam road in Kottayam district, Kerala. The temple is around 4 km north of Kaduthuruthy. The annual festival at Keezhoor Bhagavathy temple is observed from Medam 15 to Medam 20.
The festival begins with kodiyettam and ends with arattu.
Pana ritual is held from Pathamudayam (April 23 to April 26). Thalappoli and Kumbha Kudam too are held during the period.
The temple has three main deities – Shiva, Vishnu and Bhadrakali. The deities face east. Festival in the temple is only dedicated to Goddess Bhadrakali.
There is a belief that the original murti in this temple was a Yakshi. Another belief is that Shiva and Vishnu were the original murtis. The local ruler Keezhur Naduvazhi once went on a hunting expedition and found the Bhadrakali murti in Mangatu Kulam. He consecrated the Bhadrakali murti in the temple and the temple gained importance in the region as a Bhagavathy temple.
The Upa Devatas in the temple are Ganapathy, Yakshi, Sastha and Nagam. Yakshi, Sastha and Nagam are worshipped in the same sreekovil.
This famous Bhagavathi Kshethram (Devi temple) is believed to be founded by a yogi from Kottarathil house, Keezhoor. He got a "val kannadi" (mirror of special size) when he took bath in a pond in the forest. He brought it to the Kottarathil house and felt devi darshan in the night. This is the start and later a temple was built by all the people in Kezhoor near to the Shiva and Vishnu temples. (please remember that initially the vishnu temple belongs to a 'yakshi') Now the temple is managed by Travancore Devaswam Board.
Devi Godess is very strong and in the state of RUDRA BHAVA. Pana, Otta thookkam are major functions during the festival.
Separate festivals are being conducted for 3 temples here.
We should never forget Late Mr Ramakrisha Pillai (Bhasi) who took a long and leading role in the development of this temple.