Manarcad Devi Temple is located around 8 km from Kottayam town at Manarcad, Kerala. The main festival is observed on the Friday after 52 Kalam Pattu which begins on the first day of Vrischika Masam (November 16). On the Friday after 52 Kalam Pattu, desha kuruti, pattu kalam and kudal mahotsavam are held – the seven day festival is usually begins on the first Friday of January.
Meena Bharani and Pathamudayam are the other two festival observed in the temple. On Meena Bharani and Pathamudayam, Kumbha Kuda Ghosha Yatra, Kalamkariykkal, Thookam and Garudan Thookkam are held.
The main murti worshipped in the temple is Bhagavathi and She faces east. The murti is made of Panchaloha kannadi. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Subrahmanian, Nagaraja, Sastha, Ganapathi and Rakshas.
This temple is the 28th Kavu among the 64 Kavus (Kavukal) in Kerala.
The deity in the temple is paradevata of 28 karas. The temple was built by Vembanattu mannan (who ruled from Vennimala).
Story of Manarcad Devi Temple Kottayam
As per history, there lived a pious Brahmin in Thanniyil Ellam at Elambanakkadu. He was a great devotee of Kodungallur Amma. He visited Kodungallur Temple for prayers every month. Once during his usual visit, he prayed to Kodungallur Amma “Due to my old age and failing health, I may not be able to come again to Kodungallur Temple to worship. So, Amma please help me to continue my devotion towards you”.
The Brahmin slept on that day in the temple. That day night Amma came in dream “When you wake up, you will find a Kuda (traditional umbrella) near you. You go home with that and I will be in that Kuda. You will never again need to come to Kodungallur to worship me.”
When the Brahmin woke up, he found the Kuda near him and as directed by Amma, he went home with that. When he reached near Elambanakkadu, he broke his journey to take some rest placing the Kuda on the ground. But after taking rest, he was not able to lift the Kuda. He met the local ruler and informed the matter. An Astrologer was summoned and he detected the holy presence of Kodungallur Amma.
The Brahmin again got Amma’s direction in his dream – to build a Bhagavathy Temple in the nearby Choorakkad (bamboo forest) which was the abode of a Nagarajan (Snake God). Thus the Bhagavathy Temple was built with popular support.
During that time, a Yakshi (Demon) named Elambi was creating problems in that area. Amma killed Elambi and her cronies. Elambi’s Mani (bell) was thrown southwards in the area. Since the Mani was thrown, Elambanakkadu came to be known as Maniyerkadu – later became Manarcad.