Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple

Kodungallur Sree Kurumba Bhagavati Temple കൊടുങ്ങല്ലൂർ ശ്രീ കുരുംബ ഭഗവതീ ക്ഷേത്രം
Kodungallur Sree Kurumba Bhagavati Temple
Name
Other names	Kodungalloor Bhadrakali Temple
Proper name	Kodungalloor Sree Kurumba Bhagavati Temple
Devanagari	कोदुङ्गल्लॊर् श्री कुरुम्बा देवी (महाकाली) मन्दिर
Sanskrit transliteration	कोटिलिङ्गपुरं भगवती क्षेत्रं
Tamil	கொடுங்கல்லூர் அம்மன் கோயில்
Geography
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Thrissur district
Location	Kodungallur
Culture
Primary deity	Bhadrakali (Maha Kali, Durga, Maha Lakshmi, Kannaki)
Architecture
Architectural styles	Architecture style of Kerala
History and governance
Date built	Not Known

Sree Kurumba Bhagavati Temple (alternatively Kodungallur Devi Temple) is a Hindu temple at Kodungallur, Thrissur district, Kerala state, India. This is one of the most ancient temples in India. The idol of supreme mother Sree Bhadrakali or Sree Kurumba (popularly known as "Kodungallur Amma") in the temple is unique and fierce, as it has eight hands with various attributes. One is holding the head of demon king Daruka, another a sword, next an anklet, another a bell, and so on. Bhadrakali (a form of mother Mahakali) is believed to be 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 often referred as the goddess of prosperity, time and salvation. Kodungalloor devi is the ferocious form or ugra form of divine mother 'Shakthi devi' or 'Durga', the goddess of power. Routine worship at the temple every day at 03:00 and ends at 21:00 local time. Bhadrakali is often worshipped in three different forms such as Maha Saraswati (goddess of knowledge), Maha Lakshmi (goddess of wealth), Sree Durga/ Parvathy (goddess of power)and Kannaki.

The temple is often accredited as the original form of Goddess Kali. Sree Kurumba Bhagavati Temple is where Kannaki, heroine of Ilango Adigal's Tamil classic Silappathikaram attained salvation. During the reign of Later Cheras, Mahodayapuram (Kodungallur) was the capital of the Chera empire and one of the most important parts of the region. The temple is in the centre of Kerala and is referred as Malayala Bhagavathi by Tamil speaking communities. The Temple was built in a remote past and have ancient Dravidian customs which are rarely observed in contemporary kerala temples.

It is said that sixth avatar of Vishnu, Sage Parasurama built this temple for the prosperity of the people. According to the old chronicles, this Bhagavathi temple was created in the heart of the town many centuries ago to serve a special purpose. Legend says that, after the creation of Kerala by Parasurama, he was harassed by a demon called Daruka. To kill this evil demon, Parasurama prayed to Lord Shiva for help. As advised by Shiva, Parasurama constructed the shrine and installed the Shakti Devi as Bhagavathi/Bhadrakali. The deity in the temple, it is believed, is Parashakthi herself. According to legends, it was Bhadrakali who killed the evil demon Daruka.