Haripad Muttom Kannampallil Kakkathi Devi temple is located at Evoor Muttom on Haripad – Mavelikkara road in Alappuzha district, Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to Mother Goddess Bhuvaneshwari Devi. The temple is popular in the name of Kakkothi Amma – subsidiary deity who is in pregnant form. With a history spanning more than 900 years, this ancient temple is renowned for its rare deities, unique traditions, and fascinating historical background, making it one of the most distinctive temples in the state.
The main feature of the temple is that Kakkathy Amma is worshipped in a separate shrine outside the main temple. The murti is in the form of a pregnant woman carrying a basket on her head. The devotees themselves can offer their worship.
This is believed to be a unique representation not found in
any other temple in Kerala.
The approximately four-foot-tall wooden idol, carved from
the trunk of a jackfruit tree, is considered a powerful symbol of fertility,
maternal protection, and family well-being. Devotees from across the region
visit the shrine seeking blessings for safe pregnancies, childbirth, and family
prosperity.
This is a family temple or kudumba
kshethram with a history for more than 900
years. Kakkathy Amma was enshrined by Vazhappally Valiachan one of the
ancestors of Vazhappally family to which this temple belongs.
A Rare Ritual Inside the Shrine
Evoor Kannampalli Devi Temple is believed to be the only
temple in Kerala where devotees are permitted to enter the shrine of a
sub-deity and personally perform offerings. This rare custom reflects the
temple's distinctive traditions and strengthens the personal connection between
devotees and the deity.
Legends and Historical Background
The Origin of Kakkaathiyamma
According to local tradition, the consecration of
Kakkaathiyamma is associated with a tragic incident that took place near
Changanassery. It is believed that spiritually accomplished elders of the
Vazhappally family invoked the wandering spirits connected to the tragedy and
established them within the temple, where they came to be worshipped as
Kakkaathiyamma.
This legend continues to be an important part of the
temple's oral history and spiritual identity.
The Arrival of the Goddess's Idol
Temple tradition states that a large jackfruit tree trunk
floated down the Achankovil River and was discovered by local devotees. The
sacred wood was later carved into the idol of Goddess Bhuvaneshwari.
The divine presence was then ceremonially invoked into a sacred copper vessel before the idol was consecrated beside an existing Shiva temple, eventually becoming the principal deity of Evoor Kannampalli Devi Temple.
Unique Features of the Temple
The Two Divine Forms of the Goddess
The presiding deity is Goddess Bhuvaneshwari. According to
temple tradition, the Goddess is worshipped in two distinct forms:
- During
the daytime, she is believed to embody a calm, compassionate, and
benevolent form.
- At
night, she is revered in her fierce and powerful manifestation,
symbolizing divine protection and the destruction of evil.
This dual aspect of the Goddess is one of the temple's most
remarkable spiritual concepts.
Five Deities in a Single Sanctum
One of the temple's rare architectural and spiritual
features is the presence of five deities within the same sanctum (Sreekovil).
Alongside Goddess Bhuvaneshwari, the sanctum also houses:
- Lord
Ganesha
- Lord
Vishnu
- Lord
Shasta (Ayyappa)
- Goddess
Durga
Within the Chuttambalam (the enclosed temple courtyard),
separate shrines are dedicated to Lord Shiva and Yakshi, further enriching the
temple's sacred significance.
The temple has a traditional Kerala style architecture. The shrine has a chuttambalam, namaskara mandapam, and shrines of upa devatas. The main deity is worshipped in a chathura sreekovil.
The temple is famous for its
Jeevitha Ezhunnallathu and Ashwathy utsavam in Meena Masam.
A unique offering to Kakkathi
Amma is cradle. This is offered by couples to beget healthy and intelligent children.
It is also offered to find solution to pregnancy related problems.
Royal Patronage
The temple shares a strong historical association with the former Kingdom of Kayamkulam. Among its treasured possessions are:
- The ceremonial sword presented by the King of Kayamkulam.
- The temple's sacred golden Jeevatha (a ceremonial representation carried during processions), both of which hold significant historical and ritual importance.
The temple continues to remain under the traditional ownership and stewardship of the Vazhappally family, who have preserved its customs and heritage across generations.
Temple Festivals and Rituals
Annual Festival
The annual temple festival is celebrated during the final three days of the Mandala season. The festivities attract numerous devotees and include several traditional Kerala temple rituals such as:
- Kalam Ezhuthu (ritual floor drawing using natural colored powders)
- Pattin Kottu (traditional devotional musical performance)
- Procession of the Golden Jeevatha
- Thalappoli ceremony performed by women carrying ceremonial lamps and offerings
- Guruthi ritual, a symbolic offering associated with the fierce aspect of the Goddess
These ceremonies preserve centuries-old traditions and create a vibrant spiritual atmosphere throughout the temple.