Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple

Nice temple. Seems to be very popular but not too crowded in the morning. Men must remove upper body clothing but they can be carried on the shoulder.

Divine & Powerful Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple. Appx 15 Km from Ernakulam. One of the famous main temple in Kerala. Tourists should confirm opening & closing time of temple before visit.

Beautiful temple architecture, clean and well maintained. But the temple timings are not clear. When asked for the darshan timings in the archana counter, security guard, and some locals working in temple, none of them said correctly, unfriendly local people and staffs.
Not a tourist friendly destination.
I’m aware that Goddess is powerful here, but with such poor management and staffs it’s not welcoming for tourists.
We waited for 1 hour since all these people here misguided us.
3 stars for the beautiful temple architecture and maintenance.
0 stars for the unfriendly staffs and people working here!
If you’re a tourist please double check in advance regarding timings.
#IndiaTrip #Kerala

Beautiful Temple with Rich history and lots of powerful positive energy. However I really feel sad to see the poor upkeep of the temple! Strongly feel that the Devaswam board to be using the funds from donations to maintain such historical and holy places. Unfair treatment by all past governments as all of them just didn’t bother about the majority community.

The temple gives a good inner peace while visiting. It may be crowded on special days and on particular timings. I visited there between 10:30-11 am and i entered inside without any queue.
Parking is available nearby temple premises.
Beware of scammers who approach directly.

It is one of the most visited Hindu shrines in South India and is dedicated to the Goddess Bhagavathy who is worshipped as Saraswati in the morning, Lakshmi during the day, and Durga in the evening.
HISTORY
The Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple is believed to be about 1500 years old. Legend has it that the temple was built in the midst of a dense jungle by a forest-dweller called Kannappan. Kannappan was a doting father who loved his young daughter. He sacrificed a beast to the Goddess Bhagavathy each day and one occasion could not find any animals to slaughter. He asked his daughter for her pet calf but the daughter preferred to give up her own life for the goddess. The calf spoke to Kannappan and revealed that it was the Goddess in animal form. A transformed Kannappan started to worship her at the place where the sacrifices were made by him. The shrine fell into disuse and was eventually discovered by a grass cutter.
The Chottanikkara Bhagavathy amman (goddess) and the Keezhu Kaavu Bhadrakali amman are worshipped as the healing goddesses. A steady worship of the deities in this temple is believed to cure even life-threatening diseases. The lower temple Bhadrakali is the patron goddess of exorcists of the Hindu faith. A 41-day worship of the Goddess is believed to cure the worst of mental maladies and supernatural possessions by evil spirits. The temple premises houses an ancient ‘pala’ tree (Alstonia scholaris). Those cured of possession by demons, and malevolent spirits drive a nail into the tree or into the fence that surrounds this tree. In earlier times, devotees are believed to have driven these nails using their foreheads instead of a hammer. The presence of thousands of such nails in and around the tree stands testimony to the miraculous cures that the goddess bestows and to the incredible faith that has been drawing thousands to the temple each year.In the morning you can have darshan upto 12 noon and in the evening upto 8 pm. Opening of the Nada or the main sanctum ————– 4 am Lord Shiva’s Dhaara——————————————— 5 am Ethruthu pooja—————————————————–5.30 am Morning Seeveli —————————————————–6 am Guruthi pooja at Keezhu kaavu Temple———————7.30 am Pantheeradi Pooja————————————————- 7.45 am Lord Shiva’s Dhaara————————————————11 am Uchapooja or noon pooja ————————————— 12 noon Noon Seeveli ——————————————————–12.10 pm Evening Nada Opening—————————————— 4.00 pm Deeparadhana/lighting of lamps —————————— 6.30 pm Athazhapooja ——————————————————-7.30 pm Evening Seeveli ——————————————————-8 pm Evening Guruthi at Keezhu kaavu Temple —————— 8.45pm
The Chottanikkara Bhagavathy temple is located about 20 kilometers from Eranakulam-Kochi, one of the main cities of Kerala.

Nearest Airport: Kochi International Airport – 38 km

Nearest Railway Stations:

• Eranakulam South Railway Station – 18 km
• Eranakulam North Railway Station – 20 km

Nearest State Bus Stations:

Eranakulam KSRTC Central Bus Station – 20 km
Kaloor Private Bus Stand – 22 km

One of the most famous temples in Kerala, beautiful design and real calming feel to it. When we went, it was just prior to a prayer ceremony and close to closing time, so the temple was nearly empty. Had ample time to get a really good darshan. This temple is renowned for being a really powerful one and has apparently helped cure lots of mental ailments. Situated some way out of Kochi in Chottanikara, but totally worth the visit.

One of the traditional and very powerful temples of Bhagavathi in Kerala. High energy is an understatement. It is one of our many pilgrimages and first one after onset of Covid 19. Guruthi the symbolic sacrifice ritual in Keezhkaavu before closing temple for the day is the highlight. Don't miss the evening Seeveli, a daily ritual procession In Melkaavu temple and in the procession of caparisoned elephant carrying the moorthi of Devi and it is considered Shri Mahamayi Bhagavathi (worshipped as Saraswati, Durga and Lakshmi at different times of the day)