Vazhappully Sree Rajarajeswari temple is located at Edamuttam in Thrissur District, Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to Goddess Rajarajeshwari. Goddess Rajarajeswari is having the combined powers of Mahalakshmi, Saraswati, Parvathi and Bhadrakali. The annual festival in the temple is held on Makarm 10 (end of January).
As per history, the temple was initially a Goddess Kali temple. Animal sacrifice was practiced then. In 1947 (Edava Masam (May)) a beautiful Panchaloha murti of Sri Rajarajeswari was reinstalled as the main deity by Sri Narasimha Swamikal, the first disciple of Sri Narayana Guru.
It was predicted by Sri Narasimha Swamikal that this transformation from Goddess Bhadrakali to Goddess Rajarajeswari (from fierce form to meekness) may show some unusual changes in nature at the reinstallation time. Surprisingly during reinstallation of the murti in May 1947 the trunk of a huge Mimusops Elengi Tree at the south side of temple split into two and fell down showing the powers of Goddess Rajarajeswari.
The subsidiary deities worshipped in the temple are Aadi Guru, Suuranaatu Kaimal Muthappan, Avanappulli Muthappan, Ganapathi, Kandakarnan - Veerabhadran, Raktheshwari, Navagrahas, Nagaraja - Nagayakshi, Brahmarakshas and Gandharva.
The temple is famous for conducting Gandharva pooja. Gandharva dosha may cause frequent abortions, infertility, marriage obstacles, hysteria and depression in a woman. Gandharva pooja can help to eliminate the evil effects of Gandharva Dosha.
Mangalya Pooja is another famous ritual in temple and is performed to remove obstacles for getting married and to find a suitable life partner.
Makarapathu Maholsavam is the annual festival in the temple. This festival is celebrated every year, on the 10th day, in the month of Makaram (end-January) as per the malayalam calendar. On the day, 9 or more caparisoned elephants can be seen on the temple ground. Adding to the festive mood is the panchavadyam – traditional Kerala temple music. The fireworks in the evening hours after “deeparadhana” on the same day are a great crowd pleaser.
The annual Pongala festival is celebrated on Prathishta Dinam every year on Makeeryam star of Medam month (April – May).
Every year on Ayilyam star in the month of Mithunam Sarpa Bali is held in the temple.
Kalamezhuthu is a traditional form of worship by
drawing huge arts on the ground using powders. It is an essential ritualistic
art practiced in Vazhappully temple for Goddess Rajarajeshwari and sub deities
Aadi Guru, Suranaattu Muthappan and Avanappulli muthappan. This huge art is
made by bare hands without any geometrical tools.
Kalamezhuthu pattu celebration usually takes place in the month of December.