Kalarivathukkal Temple
| Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathy Temple | |
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Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathy Kshetram
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 Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathy Temple
Location within Kerala
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| Name | |
| Other names | കളരിവാതുക്കൽ ഭഗവതി ക്ഷേത്രം |
| Proper name | Shri Kalari Vaatilkal |
| Devanagari | कलरी वातुक्कल भगवती क्षेत्रं |
| Malayalam | കളരിവാതുക്കൽ ഭഗവതി ക്ഷേത്രം |
| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 11°55′28.67″N 75°21′10.95″E / 11.9246306°N 75.3530417°ECoordinates: 11°55′28.67″N 75°21′10.95″E / 11.9246306°N 75.3530417°E |
| Country | India |
| State | Kerala |
| District | Kannur |
| Location | Chirakkal, Valapattanam |
| Culture | |
| Primary deity | Bhadrakali |
| Important festivals | Pooram, Kalasham |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural styles | Traditional Kerala style |
| Number of temples | 4 Sanctums |
| History and governance | |
| Creator | Parashurama, Chirakkal Kingdom |
| Temple board | Malabar Devaswom Board |
Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathy Temple, Bhadrakali Shrine located near Valapattanam river, is the family shrine of Chirakkal Royal Family. The deity of the shrine is the fierce form of Bhadrakali. Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathy is considered as the mother of the ancient martial art Kalarippayattu and hence the name. The shrine is administered by Malabar Devaswom Board and classified as Category A Temple of the board. Kalarivathukkal has come from the word Kalari Vaatilkal.
The holy shrine is one of the Devi temple triads of the erstwhile Chirakkal Kingdom. The other two being Cherukunnu Annapoornashwari Temple and Tiruvarkadu Bhagavathy Temple(Madayi kavu). The mythology says that Annapoornashwari came from Kasi to Chirakkal in a boat along with Kalarivatukkalamma and Madayikkavilamma who were her mates; to see the Krishna Temple and never returned. The Chirakkal Kings were the successors of Kolathiris' who in-turn was the direct descendants of the Mooshika kings. Mooshika of North and Ay of South were the oldest dynasties of Kerala. The Ay dynasty eventually became extinct but the Mooshika was able to sustain. The later name of Mooshika King was Kolathirippad after the amalgamation of Aryan culture to the local one by Brahmins. The Kolathiris' relocated their capital from Ezhimala to Chirakkal near Valapattanam river. The temple was once owned by Vadakke illam and was acquired by Chirakkal Kovilakom.
The temple is in traditional Kerala architecture style. The temple design is Rurujith Vidhanam(Kaula Shakteya Sampradaya) where in there are shrines of Shiva, Sapta Mathrukkal, Ganapathy, Veerabhadra and Kshetrapalakan(Bhairava) in 4 sanctums. The main deity is facing west. The shrine of Shiva is facing East, Shrine of Sapta Mathrukkal (Maathrushaala) facing North and the Shrine of Kshetrapalaka (Bhairava) facing East. The Maathrushaala has idols of SapthaMathrukkal (Brahmani, Vaishnavi, Shankari, Kaumari, Varahi, Chamundi, Indrani), Veerabhadra and Ganapathi. Every morning after the rites the Sacred Sword is taken to the Mandapam adjacent to the Maathrushaala and taken back in the evening after the rites. The main idol is made of KaduSarkaraYogam so for performing rites and rituals a Archana bimbam of Devi is used for rites and ablutions. The temple is opened throughout the year, in morning there will be Usha Pooja, at noon Pantheeradi Pooja and in evening Shakti Pooja
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