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Ayyankavu Temple Irinjalakuda Festival – Story – Information

Ayyankavu temple at Irinjalakuda in Thrissur district, Kerala is dedicated to Goddess Bhadrakali in both peaceful and ferocious form. The most important festival in the temple is the week long Ayyankavu Thalappoli festival held in Kumbham month (February – March) as per traditional Malayalam calendar followed in Kerala. Ayyankavu Thalappoli 2024 date is March 14

The annual festival in the temple is noted for unique traditional Kerala temple arts like Panchamadalakali, Panchari Melam, Panchavadyam, Sopana Sangeetham, Brahmani Pattu, Nadaswaram, Thayambaka etc.

The final day of the festival is noted for Thalam Varavu from various desams in the area, procession of ancient art forms and effigies, and Vilakkezhunellippu.

Ayyankavu Temple Story

The story of Ayyankavu temple is associated with a local king named Ayyan Thirukandan. He belonged to the lower caste. It is said that Ayyan Thirukandan was so powerful and rich that welcomed king with 101 para (measuring vessel in Kerala) filled with gold coins.

The Kochi king was jealous about the prosperity of Ayyan Thirukandan. He also despised the fact that a lower caste person had the audacity to sit with him on the same level. The jealous and unruly king got Ayyan Thirukandan killed.

The Kuladevata of Ayyan Thirukandan was Goddess Bhadrakali. When Ayyan Thirukandan got killed, the people of the region took the Kuladevata of their beloved rule and consecrated in an incomplete temple which was meant for Ayyappa. The temple was initially known as Ayyappan Kavu and it later got metamorphosed into the present Ayyankavu.

The pratishta of Goddess Bhagavathi in the temple is in Valkannadi form (mirror). Due to some auspicious events during the Prathishta ceremony – Goddess is worshipped here as ferocious Bhadrakali and also as all providing benign Mother Goddess.

Devotees built a separate shrine for Ayyappa adjacent to the Ayyappan Kavu and here Ayyappa is worship along with along with Purna and Pushkala. Thus Ayyappan here is Grihasta or having family ties. The annual pratishta festival in the temple is held in Malayalam Mithuna Masam (June - July).

The subsidiary deity worshipped in the temple is Vighneshwara or Ganapati. Rudirakamala form of Mother Goddess is worshipped facing Ayyappa outside the main sanctum. All the komarams of the temple who died are worshipped in the temple complex.

The most important festival in the temple is the week long Ayyankavu Thalappoli festival held in Kumbham month (February – March) as per traditional Malayalam calendar followed in Kerala.

The annual Pratishta festival in the temple is held in Makara Masam.