It is believed that Parasuraman had 108 Durga deities consecrated in Kerala to protect the land he had retrieved from the sea with his axe. To bring prosperity to the land, temples dedicated to Ambika were installed in the four corners of the erstwhile Kerala stretching from Gokarnam to Kanyakumari. It is believed that there is no greater blessing than having a darshan of the four Ambikas. A pilgrimage through these temples…
Kanyakumari Balambika
In Kanyakumari – the southernmost tip of India where the three seas meet – the goddess is as Balambika, the girl child in meditation.
Legend has it that the goddess is the maiden awaiting Suchindranadan with the wedding garland. Following the lord's failure to come on the wedding day, the grieving Kumari decides to be a maiden.
The deity, made out of rudraksha sila, and depicting the Abhayamudra, has a two fold golden rudraksha japa mala on her right hand. The radiance of the diamond nose ring of the goddess is very well known.
Though the deity faces eastwards, the entrance to the shrine is from the north. The eastern approach to the shrine is opened only on days of important festivals. Eventhough the temple is in Tamil Nadu, the rites and rituals that are followed are typical of Kerala. Among the festivals celebrated here, the festival of Vaikasi during may- June is the most important. The navarathri festival is also celebrated here in great pomp and splendor. On the day of Vijayadashami, the deity of the goddess, mounted on a silver horse, is taken in solemn procession to Mahadanapuram, 11km from the temple.
Parasakti assumes this form of a kanyaka or kumari, to bring about the end of the demon Banasura who is pre-ordained to be killed only by a maiden. Meanwhile Mahadeva falls deeply in love with Kumari and their marriage gets fixed. When the Gods realize that the very purpose of the avatar would be defeated, they seek Narada's help. Mahadeva, who gets ready to reach before the auspicious time at midnight, is deceived by Narada. Narada assumes the form of a cock and crows, falsely heralding the break of dawn. Sankara returns disappointed, on being mislead into believing that the auspicious hour is past. Waiting for long, in vain, the grieving Kumari decides to remain a virgin forever. In a fit of fury, Kumari throws away the rice and other dishes for the feast. And it is because of this, it is believed, the grains of sand in Kanyakumari resemble pulses or grains even today.
It is after seeking the blessings of Kanyakumari that Vivekananda sits in meditation reflecting on India in the rock across the sea.
Kallekulangara Hemabika
Hemabika dwells in the small village of Akathethara in Palakkad district. The idol here consists of two hands made of granite. The temple is also known as Emoor Bhagavathy temple. Hemambika is the bestower of wealth and prosperity. The goddess is worshipped as Saraswathi in the morning, Lakshmi during noon (Vishnumaya) and Durga Devi at dusk.
The story behind the kaipathi (two palms) idols is very interesting. Parasurama had originally consecrated the goddess in Karimala, a hill in Palakkad. Later Sankracharya shifted the deity to Muthiramkunnu. One of the members of the Kururmana, a resident of Akathethara, was an ardent devotee of Devi. As he grew old, he found it difficult to go to Muthiramkunnu. The goddess appeared to him in a dream and informed him of her presence in the lake adjoining the mana. The next day morning, he witnessed two divine hands emerging from the middle of the lake. Overwhelmed by joy, the Kurur Namboothiripad dived into the lake and tried to catch hold of the hands. The divine hands turned into stone. With the help of his friend Chenas Namboothiripad and as per the instruction of the king of Palakkad, the lake was partially filled and the temple was constructed there. In due course, the goddess Hemambika became the family deity of the Palakkad king. This place also came to be known as Kallayikulangara which is a combination of the elements of the story - kallu (stone), kulam (lake) and kara (bank). It is said that the palm was accepted as the symbol of the Congress party following Indira Gandhi's visit to this temple in 1982.
Navarathri, Onam, Mandalam, Sivarathri, Laksharchana in March-April and Eswaraseva in July-August are the important festivals celebrated in this temple.
Lokanarkavu Lokambika
Lokanarkavu is located at Vadakara, a small town in Kozhikode - the renowned temple which is frequently alluded to in the Vadakkanpattu of kerala (ballads of North Malabar). The deity in this temple was worshipped by Thacholi Othenan, the legendary martial hero of Kerala.
Lokanarkavillama represents Amba, the feminine counterpart of the universal creator. It is believed that the goddess dwells in the sanctum's jewel studded pillar. The idol of goddess Durga is made of Panchaloha (an alloy of five metals, gold, silver, copper, brass and iron). With the 'Shanku' and 'Chakra' in two of her hands, the four handed deity also depicts the 'Abhaya' and 'Varada' mudras.There are numerous legends about the arrival of the goddess eulogized by Parasurama. One story holds that the local chieftains or landlords brought the Goddess from Lokamaleswaram in Kodungallur to Kadathanad. Another story is that the goddess is the patron deity of the Aryans who migrated to Kerala. In addition to the main deity of Lokanarkavillamma, this temple also has two adjacent shrines dedicated to Mahavishnu and Mahadeva. The shrine dedicated to Mahavishnu is at the south and the one dedicated to the goddess is at the north. At the centre lies the shrine dedicated to Siva. The deity of Vishnu is believed to be the oldest.
The pooramahotsavam during March-April is the most important festival. Mandala Utsavam is also celebrated here.
Kollur Mookambika
Kollur is a tiny hamlet in southern Karnataka lying on the banks of Sowparnika. It is here, in the lap of the Kudajadri hills that Mookambika, the goddess of vidya, resides. The Great trinity and the Parasakti together create the unified energy field of this temple.
The Goddess is seated in the Padmaasana posture and her hands hold the 'Shanku','Chakra' and 'Abhayabheeshta mudras. In front of the goddess there is a swayambhulingam (a self-manifested lingam). A golden line divides the lingam. The divine consciousness of the Great trinity (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) and the three virtues of Parasakti are innate in the left and right parts of the lingam. Mookambika symbolizes Mahalakshmi, Mahadurga and Mahavani. The devotee can worship the goddess in any form dear to him. The goddess is known as Mookambika because she slayed the demon, Kamhasura, who was dumb (Mooka means dumb, silent, unable to speak etc.). She is the goddess who grants the wealth of knowledge even to the dumb. The deities of Veerabhadra swami, Subrahmanya swami, Pranalingeshwara, Panchamukhaganapathi, Chandramouleeswara, Aanjaneya, and Vishnu are also present here. Initiation of any learning or vidya at the Saraswatimandapam in the temple is considered to be very auspicious. The pooja rites and rituals followed here are formulated by Sankaracharya.
Kudajadri, nestled in the forests of Ambavanam, is the moolasthana or the origin of Mookambika. Two small temples are located here. At a slightly higher elevation is the Sarvajnapeedom, the place where Sri Sankaracharya did tapasya. Behind Sarvajnapeedom, is the stone cave, Chitramoola, where Sankaracharya made the Devi appear. It is from here that the river Sowparnika originates.
Though the main festival of the temple is in March-April, it is the celebration of the Navaratri festival that Mookambika is well known for. Janmashtami is also celebrated here.
Travel Info
Kanyakumari Balambika
Location:
Kanyakumari district, Tamilnadu
How to reach:
By air: Trivandrum International Airport
By rail: Kanyakumari railhead is well connected to Trivandrum, Chennai, Madurai, Mumbai and Delhi
By road: 86 km south to Trivandrum, capital of Kerala. 19 km from Nagerkovil. 91 km from Tiruvelveli.
Temple timings:
4.30am-12.15pm, 4.00-8.30pm.
Contact Numbers:
STD CODE: 04652/ Kanyakumari temple: 246223/ Tourist Information Center, Kanyakumari: 246276/ Railway Station: 246247/ Govt. of Tamilnadu tourist office: 246276/ Information Center, Vivekananda rock memorial, Beach road, Ph: 246250/ Police Station: 246224/ Police station, Suchindram: 04652-240003
Stay, lunch and dine:
Vivekananda Kendra, Tariff: Rs. 210-600, Ph: 246250/ Hotel Singur International, Rs. 1795-4000, Ph: 04652-247992/ Hotel Parvathi, Rs. 705-1800, Ph: 04652-224709/ TTDC hotel: Near to seashore: Rs. 1200-1245, Ph: 04652-246257, 246258, 246426
Sights around:
Suchindram temple, 13 km/ Kumara kovil, 34 km/ Vattakkottai fort, 6 km/ Bay Watch Amusement Park, 2 km/ Nagarkovil, 19km/ Padmanabhapuram palace, 35 km/ Ulakkai Aruvi, 33 km/ Muttom beach, 32 km/ Maruthu mala, 30 km, Chothavila beach, 10 km/ Peer Muhammed Durga, 35 km
Kallekkulangara Hemambika
Location:
Akattethara panchayat, Palakkad district, Kerala
How to reach
By air: Coimbatore 55 km, Karippur International airport 125 km
By rail: Palakkad railway station, Railway station is 12 km southwest to temple.
By road: 7 km north to Palakkad at Kallekulangara junction on Malampuzha road and then deviate one km west.
Distance Chart: Coimbatore: 224 kms
Stay, Lunch and Dine:
Hotel Indraprastha Rs.800-2250, Ph: 2534641/ Sri Chakra International Rs.1250-2500 Ph: 2570901, Marhaba Residency Rs.450-1840 Ph: 2525262
Sights Around:
Malampuzha dam and garden, 12 km from Palakkad city/ Fantasy Park, near Malampuzha garden, 8 km from city (Ph:0491-2815124), Palakkad fort, built by Hyder Ali in 1766/ Jain temple of Jainamedu, West of the city/ Kalpathi, 3km from Palakkad city/ Nelliampathi hill station, 54km/ Silent Valley National Park, 80km via Mannarkkad
Loknarkavu Lokambika
Location:
Vatakara, Kozhikode district, Kerala
How to reach:
By air: Karipur Airport, 83km
By rail: Vatakara Railway station is a major railhead.
By road: 52 km north to Calicut via Quilandy/ 5 km east to Vatakara at Memunda (Viyappalli panchayat)/ Private buses are frequent from Vatakara old bus stand/ Autos and taxis are also readily available.
Sights Around:
Thacholi Manikkoth taravadu and temple, the birth place of the legendary warrior hero Thacholi Othenan, 3km/ Sand banks, Silent beaches just 1 km west to Vadakara town/ Kottakkal, the birth place of Kunjali Marakkar, on the banks of Murad river, 4 km from Vadakara/ Sidhashrama campus us near to temple
Kollur Mookambika
Location:
Karnataka, Udupi district
How to reach:
By air: Mangalore 130 km
By rail: Though all long distance trains won't stop, Byndoor (now Mookambika road station) is the nearest railway station. Kundapur station is a major rail head.
By road: 51 km east to Kundapur via Hemmadi, or via Byndur, 130 km from Mangalore.
Distance Chart: Coimbatore: 224 kms
Stay, Lunch and Dine:
Lalitambika Guest House, Tariff: Rs. 200-450/ Souparnika Rs. 258-328/ RNS guest house, Rs.400-600, Ph: 258328/ Beena Residency Rs.432-540-972, Ph: 258258
Sights Around:
Kodajadri peak, 45km from the temple by jeep (15 km by foot), jeeps are available up to the base from Kollur town/ Murudeswar 76km northwest/ Udupi 70 km South/ Sringeri 86km South.
P Manoj, Madhuraj
Photos: Rajan Poduval
Translation: Anuradha Ganesh
