Adichikkavu Sree Durga

Devi Devī (; Sanskrit: देवी) is the Sanskrit word for 'goddess'; the masculine form is ''deva''. ''Devi'' and ''deva'' mean 'heavenly, divine, anything of excellence', and are also gender-specific terms for a deity in Hinduism. The conce ...

Kshetram, also known as the Adichikavu (Adichicavu) Devi Temple (Malayalam: അടിചിക്കാവ് ശ്രീ ദുര്‍ഗ ദേവി ക്ഷേത്രം) is one of the oldest temple in Pandanad village, Alapuzha. The temple is located at Pandanad in

Chengannur Chengannur (also spelled Chengannoor or Chenganur) is a Municipality in the Alappuzha district of Kerala State, India. It is located in the extreme eastern part of the Alappuzha district, on the banks of Pamba River. Chengannur is north of ...

taluk of

Alappuzha Alappuzha or Alleppey () is the administrative headquarters of Alappuzha district in States and territories of India, state of Kerala, India. The Kerala Backwaters, Backwaters of Alappuzha are one of the most popular tourist attractions in Indi ...

district in the south Indian state of Kerala. The temple is situated about 6 km west of

, and 4 km east of Mannar.

About Temple

Adichikkavu Sree Durga Devi Kshetram, is a

Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...

temple, dedicated to goddess Sree Vana Durga (ശ്രി വന ദുര്‍ഗ). The major attraction of the temple is its top opened

Sreekovil A ''garbhagriha'' or ''sannidhanam'' is the ''sanctum sanctorum'', the innermost sanctuary of a Hindu and Jain temples where resides the ''murti'' (idol or icon) of the primary deity of the temple. In Jainism, the main deity is known as the '' ...

(ശ്രീകോവില്‍), specially made for Vana Durga (വന ദുര്‍ഗ). The temple complex also includes Anakottil (ആനകൊട്ടില്‍) & Sapthaha Mandapam (സപ്താഹ മണ്ഡപം) which is built on the west-north side of the temple.

Festivals

Pathamudayam (പത്താമുദയം) - The major festival is

Pathamudayam ''Pathamudayam'' () is a 1985 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film directed by J. Sasikumar and written by S. L. Puram Sadanandan. It is a remake of the 1976 Hindi film ''Kalicharan'', and the film stars Mohanlal, Urvashi, M. G. Soman ...

which takes place in the temple during the month of

Medam The Malayalam Calendar is a sidereal solar calendar used in Kerala. The origin of the calendar has been dated to 825 CE, the beginning of the Kollam Era. There are many theories regarding the origin of the era, but according to recent schola ...

(April). The ten-day celebrations starts on Vishu (വിഷു), and ends on 23 April with night long celebrations. Sapthaha Yajnam (സപ്താഹ യജ്ഞം) - Each year Sapthaham celebrates for 7 days with worships and food for devotees. Pongala (പൊങ്കാല) - Women gather every year in this temple and prepare Pongala ( rice cooked with

jaggery Jaggery is a traditional non-centrifugal cane sugar consumed in the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Africa. It is a concentrated product of cane juice and often date or palm sap without separation of the molasses and crystals, and can ...

ghee Ghee is a type of clarified butter, originating from India. It is commonly used in India for cooking, as a traditional medicine, and for religious rituals. Description Ghee is typically prepared by simmering butter, which is churned from c ...

coconut The coconut tree (''Cocos nucifera'') is a member of the palm tree family ( Arecaceae) and the only living species of the genus ''Cocos''. The term "coconut" (or the archaic "cocoanut") can refer to the whole coconut palm, the seed, or the ...

as well as other ingredients) in small pots to please the Goddess Durga. Parayeduppu (പറയെടുപ്പ്) - The Parayeduppu is happening in the festival season, before to the Pathamudayam.

is visiting to the homes of the people in Pandanad area. Navaha Yajnam (നവാഹ യജ്ഞം) - Each year 'Navaha Yajnam' celebrates for 9 days with worships and food for devotees.

Sub-Deities

Like other

temples, temple also has shrines of other deities. These deities include shrines of Yakshiamma (യക്ഷിയമ്മ), Nagarajav (നാഗരാജാവ്), Nagayakshi (നാഗയക്ഷി), Brahmarakshas (ബ്രഹ്മരക്ഷസ്).

References

{{reflist * http://hinduonline.co/HinduCulture/ListOfTemplesIndia.html * https://web.archive.org/web/20160306175848/http://www.temples-of-kerala.co.tv/#Alappuzha * http://keralatemplevisit.blogspot.com/2010/06/alappuzha.html Hindu temples in Alappuzha district Durga temples Devi temples in Kerala

About Temple

Festivals

Sub-Deities

See also

References