Chottanikkara Bhagavathi temple

Chottanikkara is a village in Ernakulam district, Kerala. The deity is Adi parashakti . She is worshipped as Goddess Saraswathi in the morning, draped in white, as Goddess Lakshmi in noon, draped in red and Goddess Durga, draped in blue in the evening. The idol is laterite stone that can be seen in early morning during Nirmalya pooja, when previous day’s flowers and garlands are removed. Later Goddess is covered with golden carved parashakthi with four arms. Next to her is the granite stone idol of Maha Vishnu. 

Legend says, the area in which the temple is situated was once a dense forest that was believed to be occupied by yakshis and rakshsas. A tribesman named Kannappan, a devout worshipper of Kali, would ritually sacrifice a cow to her every Friday( the day of the Goddess). One day, he found a beautiful black cow near the forest. He kidnapped her and took her to his place. Just before he sacrificed the cow, his daughter stopped him. The man loved his daughter and thus let her keep the cow. Unfortunately, she died the next morning. However, when the tribe’s man looked after the cow, he dreamt that people were worshipping the cow, next morning he found two divine stones in its place he worshipped them as one as Lakshmi and the other as Vishnu till his death. After many years, the stones were forgotten. One day, a woodcutter came to the forest to cut some trees. Since his axe was blunt, he sharpened it on a nearby stone. To his Wonder, the stone started bleeding. After devaprashnam, it was concluded that the stones were divine. The idol at Keezhkavu didn't come until after the temple was built. One night, a Brahmin was walking along a moonlit path. Suddenly, he saw a beautiful woman, standing all alone. He offered to escort her home, and she agreed. However, when the Brahmin went to the Goddess's priest, he was told that it was really a yakshi. Thus, with the yakshi after him, the Brahmin ran to the temple. Just as he reached the sanctum, the yakshi transformed and rounded up on him. However, the goddess jumped out of the sanctum sanctorum as Kali and killed her. She then went to wash herself in the pond, where the Kali idol was found hundreds of years later by Vilvamangalam of Guruvayoor.

The 'Devi' in the temple is known for the healing powers, particularly relating to mental illness and disorders. Mentally disturbed people go to Chottanikkara to ward off the evil spirits they believe  to haunt them. The priest hands a nail or two to the possessed persons and they hammers into the tree next to the shrine using their forehead or fist.

The Goddess here is specially connected to the Mookambika Devi of Kollur in Karnataka. The sacred doors of the sanctum sanctorum open in the early hours of the day, at 4.00 a.m. The blowing of the conch and playing of the temple musical instruments gives peace to those who seek a sure answer to the prayers. Sree Mookambika Saraswathi is also believed as present in the temple in the morning. That is why Mookambika Temple at kollur opens only after the Goddess Saraswathi returns late in the morning.

On the eastern side of the temple pond stands the Kizhukkavu temple. The idol facing westward is belived to be installed by Villwamangalam Swamiyaar. After the main pooja in the evening, the chief priest of the principal deity comes to Kizhukkavu to perform the famous pooja called as "ValiyaGuruthy" (great Sacrifice). The Guruthy is prepared in 12 huge vessels and is performed at about 8.45 p.m every night.Those who witness the guruthy pooja, which itself is inspiring and huge ceremony, finds it an experience where no words can be described. Being present there during Valiya guruthy on Fridays permanently cures women suffering from mental abnormalities.

Bhajanam is yet another important worship undertaking in the temple. This requires a person to stay in the temple premises for two days, take part in all the poojas and eat only the temple prasadam. People who follow the whole ritual correctly are believed to be blessed with great good fortune and health. Their wishes are fulfilled by Amme Bhagavathi. The Mother Goddess at Chottanikkara is a wish granter, a protector of enemies and evils plus a divine healer.