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Valayanad Devi Temple Information - History - Festival In Govindapuram Kozhikode – Kerala

Valayanad Devi temple is located at Govindapuram around 3 km from Kozhikode town center in Kerala. The temple is around 3 km east of the famous Kozhikode Tali temple. The eight day annual festival begins on the Karthika nakshatra day in Makaram month with kodiyettam. The Pallivetta observed in the shrine is famous.

An important event during the annual festival is the carrying of the Val or sword of Bhagavathi. The Val thiruchezhunellipu is held in Kumbha Masam.

The main deity worshipped in the temple is Goddess Bhadrakali. The deity was paradevata of the Zamorin of Kozhikode.

The temple is also known as Tiruvalayanattu Kavu. History has it that despite a better army and financial strength, Zamorin was unable to defeat Valluvakkonathiri who was his political foe. The Zamorin soon realized that he was unable to beat Valluvakkonathiri as he had the blessing of Goddess Bhagavathi.

The Zamorin Raja started worshipping Bhagavathi with single-minded devotion. It is said that he was able to have darshan of Devi. As boon he asked Devi to settle down in his kingdom. She agreed and thus she was consecrated at Valayanad in Kozhikode.

Another belief is that the temple has Shakti of Porkali Bhagavathi who was brought here (avahichu kondu varika). Another belief is that the moolasthanam of the Goddess is Azchavattathe Tharakal Bhagavathi.

Valayanad Devi Temple is a Shakthi temple where pooja is performed as per Rurujit ritual.

The presiding deity is based on Kashmir Shaiva tradition. She is referred to as Chandika, Maharatham and Kalasarppini. It is said that Bhadrakali resides in the temple along with Saptamatrikas. The Goddess worship is done as per Kashmiri Shaiva tradition by priests known as Moosads.

There is a powerful Sri Chakra in the Sreekovil which was created by Shivayogi Thayyavur Shivashankar.

The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Shiva, Bhagavathi, Ayyappa, Kshetrapala and Vighneshwara.

An important ritual conducted in the temple is the Guruthi Tharpanam done from the path way of Kshethrapalan.