Anikode Anchu Moorthy temple is located at Anikode – Palapotta near Kottayi in Palakkad district, Kerala. Anchumurthy means five deities and there are five deities in the temple with equal importance. They are Ganapathy, Mahadeva Shiva, Goddess Parvati Devi, Bhagavan Vishnu, and Hariharaputran Ayyappa.
The shrine lies on the banks of Nila River. As per history, the 4.5 Acre rare sacred spot was once a Brahmin Agraharam. The temple was in a dilapidated condition of several years and was restored in 2008 CE.
The shrine is famous for observing the Karkidaka Vavu Bali ritual dedicated to departed ancestors.
Pithru Yajnam, the most relevant in the five Maha Yajnas, is conducted here on the banks River Nila by the temple in the months of Karkidakam (July – August) and Thulam (October – November).
About Five Deities In The Temple
A union of 5 divine Hindu traditions, Ganapathyam, Shaivam, Shaktheyam, Vaishnavam and Shauram are followed in the temple.
The murti of Ganapati is installed in the temple as per the Ganapathya tradition. The murti is here known as Ananda Maha Ganapathi and is facing west. The face of the murti is turned to right to hear the problems of devotees. The right leg of Ganesha is towards down, to remove all the obstacles, and the worldly snake around the waist is a notable feature of this murti. The main offerings to the murti are jaladhara (water), karuga or durva garland, modhakam, neyyappam, lemon garland and coconut.
Shiva is worshipped in the form of a Banalinga and is known as Uma Maheswaran. The deity faces east. Unlike other Kerala temples, devotees can offer water to the deity on their own by taking water from the temple well. Presence of Goddess Parvati is there on the right of the deity and Goddess Ganga is worshiped on the left. Nandi sits looking at his Bhagavan in the front. The main offerings to the deity are dhara, koovalam or bilva garland, shankha abhishekam, Uma Maheshwara Puja, Pradosha Puja, Annabhishekam, Rudrabhishekam and Nandi Pooja.
Goddess Parvati Devi is worshipped here as Maha Tripurasundari – a combined form of Goddess Durga, Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati. The murti is in standing posture and faces east. She holds a lotus in her hand. Turmeric is an important offering in the temple.
The murti of Bhagavan Vishnu faces west and is made out of Anjana Shila. Vishnu holds conch, sudarshana chakra and mace. Goddess Lakshmi resides in the heart of the murti here. The main offerings here are Tulsi garland, Lakshmi Narayana puja, panakam, milk, Vishnu Sahasranama archana, and Vidya Rajagopala Mantra Archana.
Ayyappa murti is in Padmasana posture and faces west. He wears Jadamakudam and holds vessel containing amrit. The main offering and pujas are honey, neeranjanam, sesame lamp, Shani puja and rice pudding.
A spiritual and Vedic learning center, Sandeepany Sadhanalayam, is functioning in the temple premises.
Anikode Anchu Moorthy Temple Puja Timings
Morning puja and darshan timings are from 5:30 AM to 10:00 AM
Evening puja and darshan timings are from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM