Thanikkudam Bhagavathi temple is located around 10 km northeast of Thrissur on the banks of Thanikkudam River or Puzhakkal River in Kerala. Thanikkudam Bhagavathi temple festival 2024 date is April 14. The annual festival in the temple is observed on Vishu in medam month.
The shrine also observes a three day festival when the waters of Puzhakkal river enters the temple.
The festival is noted for panappara and guruthi. Kuthiras are brought from different desams to the temple.
The 41 days during Mandala Kalam is of great importance. Kalamezhuthu Pattu is also observed in the temple.
The Panappara ritual is held on the Makarachowa day.
The temple is dedicated to Goddess Vanadurga. The moola prathishta is under a tree behind the sreekovil inside the temple compound. The tree was earlier Thani maram now it is a poovam maram. There is a shila under the tree but it is not visible to devotees who visit the temple.
The sreekovil of the temple does not have a roof and is built out of granite stone. The Vigraham here is kannadi vigraham carved out of shila (stone). There is a hole connecting the sreekovil with the moolasthanam.
The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Keshatrapalan, Chini Ayyan, Malikapurathamma, Nagaraja and Nagayakshi.
The temple is managed by a committee of seven desams.
Story of Thanikkudam Bhagavathi Temple
There was in a nearby region a temple dedicated to two goddesses – Goddess Parvathi and Vana Durga. The temple was managed by Nairs and Namboothiris. Once there was a difference of opinion between the two communities and the Nairs carried the Vana Durga murti to the present Thanikkudam Temple. It is said that the Namboothiris did not give the sword of the oracle of Vana Durga. There even today the Velichappadu in the Thanikkudam temple do not carry a sword.
Natural Arattu
The temple is surrounded on three sides by rivers.
The deity from the temple is never carried outside for Arattu in the temple. During peak monsoon season the Puzhakkal River overflows and enters the sanctum sanctorum and performs natural arattu. Thousands of devotees arrive on the day in temple to take a holy dip in overflowing river in the temple.