The Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy Temple is an ancient temple in Kerala dedicated to the goddess Kali. The Bhagavathy Amman temple is famous for providing solutions to devotees with marital problems. It is located amidst the greenery in Angadippuram, Kerala. Thirumandhamkunnil Amma is the main deity at this temple as she was the official goddess of the kings in the middle age. This temple has a rich and interesting legend since its inception.
The Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy Temple Kerala has a serene atmosphere. It is
situated atop a hillock set against the scenic landscape of Kerala. Mangalya pooja is the special ritual that performed at this temple. There are poojas for both Thirumandhamkunnil Amma and Lord Ganesha. It is believed that those who perform this ritual will have a happy and prosperous married life. Also, those who want to get married will have their wish fulfilled soon. This auspicious ritual takes place thrice on the first Friday in the months of October to November (Thulam month of the Malayalam calendar).
However, due to high demand this ritual is also performed on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. Several tantric poojas are also performed in the temple throughout the year.
The History of Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy Temple
The Thirumandhamkunnu temple history goes back to the period when King Mandhata from the Surya dynasty was ruling. King Mandhata was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. He piously prayed to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva was pleased and granted him a boon. King Mandhata then requested for a shivaling which he could worship until his death. Lord Shiva granted him this boon while goddess Parvati was away.
King Mandhata took the shivaling down from the Kailash mountain. While passing through the jungle, he found the chirping of the birds and the greenery around him pleasant and peaceful. So, he placed the shivaling there on the ground. However, he was then not able to move the holy shivaling from that spot.
When goddess Parvati returned, she found that the shivaling she dearly worshipped was in the hands of the king. She sought to get it back. Lord Shiva expressed no objection to this. Following this, the goddess along with Bhadrakali and bhootas(spirits) reached the Thirumandha hill. The bright, blinding light emitted from the linga made it difficult for them to reach the stone. Goddess Kali decided to use force to acquire it and thus split the shivaling in two.
After battling for 15 days, Parvati entered the shivaling to be a part of it as she did not want to stay away from it. Parvati also instructed the devotees to worship Goddess Kali and Lord Ganesha as they were also present with her with at the place of the shivling. This is why the main deities at the Bhagavathy temple are Lord Shiva, Parvati, Bhadrakali and Lord Ganesha.
Main Deities At The Bhagavathy Temple Kerala
Since the temple has a rich legend there are several prominent gods and goddesses worshipped here. Lord Shiva, Parvati, Bhadrakali and Lord Ganesha have shrines dedicated to them at this temple.
The Grand Rituals of the Bhagavathy Amman Temple
Several poojas are held throughout the year at this temple. The most celebrated and well-known pooja is the Thirumandhamkunnu temple Mangalya pooja. The Moolasthalam(the sanctum) witnesses this auspicious pooja. This pooja pays obeisance to the Lord Ganapathy and seeks his blessings. There is a belief that the temple possesses the power to remove the obstacles to marriage and ensure that you find your perfect life partner. Appam(a rice pancake), ada (a traditional sweet), fruits, kadali(banana), and payasam( a milk-based sweet) are offered to the gods in this ritual.
The Mangalya poojas are performed for three years. Even if the marriage does take place within those three years, the poojas must be continued without any break. Devotees throng the temple for this pooja and its powerful results. Hence it is performed frequently at the temple.
How To Reach The Temple
You can commute by all modes of transport to the temple which is in the Malappuram district of Kerala. If you are commuting by bus, the nearest bus stop is Angadipuram which is one kilometer away from the temple. You can also reach Angadipuram by train; the Angadipuram railway station is 1.1 km from the temple. Another option is to travel by air to Cochin airport and then cover 121km to the temple by a local taxi.
Hotels near The Temple
The Malappuram district in Kerala has become very famous over the last few years, attracting many tourists. There are several hotels at a walkable distance from the temple. Some of the best hotels nearby are Arya Bhavan, Gayatri Grand, Park residency and Ayuryogashram.
The Thirumandhamkunnu temple dress code must be followed by all men and women who are visiting the temple. According to the temple’s dress code everyone must wear only traditional Indian clothing. This includes sari, half sari or kurta- churidar with dupatta for women, while men must wear a dhoti or a mundu.
The Thirumandhamkunnu temple timings are from 4:30 AM to 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM on all days.
