Chettikulangara Devi temple
| Chettikulangara Sree Bhagavathi temple | |
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 Chettikulangara Sree Bhagavathi temple
Location in Kerala
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| Name | |
| Proper name | Chettikulangara Sree Bhagavathi temple |
| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 9°13′37″N 76°31′01″E / 9.227°N 76.517°ECoordinates: 9°13′37″N 76°31′01″E / 9.227°N 76.517°E |
| Country | India |
| State/province | Kerala |
| District | Alappuzha |
| Locale | Chettikulangara, Mavelikkara |
| Culture | |
| Primary deity | Bhadrakali (Maha Saraswati, Maha Lakshmi, Maha Kali/ Durga devi) |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural styles | Traditional Kerala style |
| History and governance | |
| Date built | Records indicate the temple to be at least 1200 years old |
| Governing body | Travancore Devaswom Board |
Chettikulangara Sree Bhagavathi temple is one of the most renowned Hindu temples in Kerala. Main deity Sree Bhadrakali, The temple is located at Chettikulangara in Mavelikkara taluk of Alappuzha district in the south Indian state of Kerala. The temple is situated about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) west of Mavelikkara, 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) north of Kayamkulam on SH6 (Kayamkulam - Thiruvalla Highway). Bhadrakali, is an incarnation of supreme mother Shakthi devi, born from the third eye of Lord Shiva, to kill the demon king Daruka. 'Bhadra' means good and 'Kali' means goddess of time. So Bhadrakali is worshipped for prosperity and salvation. Devi is considered as the creator, protector, destructor, nature, power and Kundalini shakthi.
Chettikulangara devi is the supreme mother goddess, Shakthi devi in Hinduism.
The temple has 13 "Karas", or territories. The temple is at the centre of the oldest four Karas (Erezha South, Erezha North, Kaitha South and Kaitha North) and the rest of the Karas (Kannamangalam South, Kannamangalam North, Pela, Kadavoor, Anjilipra, Mattam North, Mattam South, Menampally and Nadakkavu) surround the temple, which is believed to be 1,200 years old.
The Thantric rights of the temple belongs to Plackudy Illom, With its Tharavadu (Base) in Ambalapuzha. Plackudy is one among the ancient Thantric families of Kerala.
Recently UNESCO collected details about the temple and its customs (Kuthiyottam, Kumbhabharani) in order to examine whether the temple is eligible for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
This is the second largest temple in terms of income under the control of Travancore Devaswom Board, second only next to Sabarimala. It is estimated that the temple has earnings worth many crores per year. In 2009 it earned around 1.7 crore Rupees from a single type of offering called "Chanthattam". A major part of the Nellu offered to the Bhagavathi is also used to make Appam and Aravana prasadams at Sabarimala. The income from the temple is also helpful to run the daily rituals and Poojas at various temples under the Travancore Devaswom Board.
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Wikipedia