The Thoniyakavu Temple is an ancient

Hindu temple A Hindu temple, or ''mandir'' or ''koil'' in Indian languages, is a house, seat and body of divinity for Hindus. It is a structure designed to bring human beings and gods together through worship, sacrifice, and devotion.; Quote: "The Hind ...

dedicated to the Goddess Bhadrakali, located in the village of

Puthenpeedika Puthenpeedika is a small south Indian village in the Thrissur district of the Indian state of Kerala. It is located 17 km from the town of Thrissur. The towns of Anthikad, Chazhur and Peringottukara are also nearby. History Puthenpeedika ...

Kerala state Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South Cana ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

. The temple is a classic example of the architectural style of

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

. The temple participates in

pooram Pooram pronounced is an annual festival, which is celebrated in temples dedicated to goddesses Durga or Kali held especially in Valluvanadu area and other adjoining parts of north-central Kerala (Present Palakkad, Thrissur, Kannur, Kasara ...

at the

Arattupuzha Pooram Arattupuzha Pooram is an Indian temple festival held at the Arattupuzha Temple in Arattupuzha, Thrissur district of Kerala. Visitors from nearby and far off places reach the village of Arattupuzha during the festival days. The pinnacle of the ...

festival, which is held at the Arattupuzha Temple in the Thrissur District. The Pooram, also known as "Devamela," which means "a conglomeration of gods," has a massive attendance of deities from neighbourhood shrines. The Thoniyakavu temple has other deities: Vigneswara (

ganapathi Ganesha ( sa, गणेश, ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in Ganapatya sect. His image is found throughout India. Hindu de ...

), Veerabadran, and Kandakarnan, who are placed in sub-shrines, as well as a shrine for the Rakshasas. This temple's deity is believed to be the sister deity of Thiruvanikavu Temple, situated near

Peringottukara Peringottukara is a village in the western coastal side of India, located on the western side of Thrissur district, Kerala. The village is much famous for Vishnumaya Temples. Peringottukara village includes kizhakkumuri, vadakkumuri, and perin ...

Etymology

Initially, the temple was built near the Thiruvanikavuu Temple. However, after the devaprasnam, Bhagavathi—the deity to whom the temple is dedicated—showed the new temple's location, which is at Thoniyakavu, North Paravur, North Parur, India 683513. Loosely translated in Malayalam, "Thoniya" means feeling or intuition. "Kavu" is the traditional name given for sacred groves across the

Malabar Coast The Malabar Coast is the southwestern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Geographically, it comprises the wettest regions of southern India, as the Western Ghats intercept the moisture-laden monsoon rains, especially on their westward-facing m ...

. Thus, the name of the temple means 'the grove where Bhadrakali wanted her temple built'.

Administration

In October 2020, the Thonikadavu temple was under the administration of the Nair families. However, the locals took over the temple later that year and now, the temple is under the administration of the

Cochin Devaswom Board Cochin Devaswom Board is a socio-religious trust appointed by the Kerala Government to look after Hindu temples in central Kerala consisting of Ernakulam District, Thrissur District and Palakkad District. It is headquartered in Round north, Thr ...

Festival

During the Bharani festival, a traditional

with five elephants takes place in the afternoon and night. Another tradition called "villakezhunallath" also happens, during which traditional lamps are delivered by all. Three subs

alapad, kizhakkumuri and chazhur-Alappuzha gather in front of the temple with different kinds of instruments. As per old traditions, there is a caste system in the festival. In the month of

kumbham 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 ...

, the main festival, the Aswathi Bharani Karthika vela festival, is held for the

Nair The Nair , also known as Nayar, are a group of Indian Hindu castes, described by anthropologist Kathleen Gough as "not a unitary group but a named category of castes". The Nair include several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom histor ...

families. The Bharani day festival is held for the Ezhava families and the Kartika festival is held for scheduled caste families. On regular days, all castes are allowed entry. At the time of Arattupuzha Pooram festival, it is believed that the deity travels to Arattupuzha to watch the festival.

References

{{reflist Hindu temples in Thrissur district