Vellayani Devi Temple
| Vellayani Devi Temple | |
|---|---|
Idol of Vellayani Devi
|
|
 Vellayani Devi Temple
Location in Kerala
|
|
| Name | |
| Proper name | Major Vellayani Devi temple |
| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 8°26′44″N 76°59′29″E / 8.44556°N 76.99139°ECoordinates: 8°26′44″N 76°59′29″E / 8.44556°N 76.99139°E |
| Country | India |
| State | Kerala |
| District | Thiruvananthapuram |
| Location | Nemom, Vellayani |
| Culture | |
| Consort | Goddess Bhadrakali |
| Important festivals | Kaliyoottu Mahotsavam,Aswathy Pongala |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural styles | Dravidian architecture (Kovil) |
| History and governance | |
| Website |
|
The Vellayani Devi is a highly revered shrine in Kerala, India, dedicated to goddess Bhadrakali. The shrine is situated in Vellayani 1.5 km west of Vellayani junction, 12 km southeast of Thiruvananthapuram on the eastern bank of Vellayani Lake. The temple is under the management of Travancore Devaswom Board. The temple structure has a bronze roof with traditional art work and carries Dravidian architecture. The temple has eastern and northern towers called Gopurams with statues of different Gods sculptured in them. The Gopurams function as gateways through the walls that surround the temple complex.
The temple enshrines Goddess Bhadrakali as the presiding deity. The idol stands for Goddess Bhadrakali, the daughter of Lord Shiva. Goddess Kali is situated toward the north (vadakke nada). The idol is known in the local Malayalam language as Thirumudi. The idol of the Goddess in the Vellayani temple is one of the largest among the idols of Kerala Kali temples. The idol is four and a half feet in height as well as width. Pure gold and precious stones decorate the frontal view of the idol.
Other deities worshipped at the Vellayani Devi temple called Upadevatha's temples include Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesh and Nagaraja. The temple also has a small sub-temple where another deity Madan Thampuran is enshrined.
In the temple Antler is also worshipped. The circulating notion about this is that the antler serves as a medium to invoke the spirit of the divinity at a new-built temple. One of the antlers kept in the Sanctum sanctorum oriented towards the east is from the Thekkathu.
Legend says that a Kollan (blacksmith) named Kelan Kulasekhara saw a frog with divine spirit of Goddess near Vellayani Lake. He caught the divine frog with the help of his assistant who belonged to a low caste. They brought the matter to the Nair chieftains of the locality and with their help Kulasekhara consecrated the Thiru Mudi (idol) in which divine spirit is evoked. The right to perform Uchabali (a ritual connected with festival of the temple) is still held by the Nair families. Priest of the temple is not belonging to Brahmin community but a selected person belonging to the Kollan (blacksmith) community.
...
Wikipedia