Karikkakom Devi Temple or Karikkakom Chamundi Devi Temple is a famous Goddess Temple in Trivadrum, Kerala. This ancient temple, more than 600 years old, is situated at Karikkakom, around 7 km north of Sree Padmanabha Swami Temple in Thiruvananthapuram. The temple enshrines a Panchaloha idol (traditional five-metal alloys) of Goddess Karikakathamma – an incarnation of Goddess Parvati Devi. The annual Pongala festival at Karikkakom Devi Temple attracts thousands of devotees from around the state.
Karikkakom Devi temple or Karikkakom Chamundi Devi temple is a famous Goddess temple in Trivandrum. This ancient temple is more than 600 years old. The temple enshrines a panchaloha idol of goddess Karikathamma,which is an incarnation of goddess Parvathi Devi.
Legend has that people of the older generation and the astrologers attribute over 500 years of antiquity to the temple. At the time of the king’s rule, this temple was a place of Justice and Truth. In this temple, truth and justice were tested and punishments were also decided. Even today the cases which the police and the Court failed to prove, are being proved in the presence of the deity, which is another speciality of this famous temple. Without any barrier of caste and creed, people flock from different places to seek the truth and take oaths not to commit further sins, which is a regular scene here. After a bath from the pool in the temple compound, the plaintiff and the defendant are brought before the diety and made to stand before the Goddess with folded bands. Then they are made to take an oath. Those who make false oaths, will get immediate retribution. Those who get justice will submit offering before Goddess which include gold, silver, money etc. It is said that certain valuable articles stolen from the royal palace, got located on submitting offering to the diety here. On the right side of the Devi, Nada is the Rakta Chamundi nada. There is no idol in this ‘Nada’ but only a wall painting of the Devi in a ‘Rowdra Bhava’. There was a ritual in the ancient times, of people standing before this shrine of the Devi and vowing to tell the truth. This ‘Nada’ will be opened only for this particular ritual. The person concerned will have to keep 21 coins in the Nada and promise to tell the truth. Those who made this promise believed that the Devi would protect them if they are truthful and punish them if they are not.
Karikkakom Chamundi Devi temple lies on the midst of evergreen scenery surrounded on all sides by coconut palms and other lush green plants. The temple also has separate shrines of Goddess Raktha Chamundi, Goddess Bala Chamundi, Sree Dharmashasta, Lord Maha Ganapathy, Bhuvaneswari, Ayiravalli (mountain Goddess), Nagaraja, Yakshi, and Yogiswaran. Bala Chamundi Devi, as the name suggests, is in childhood form. Couples without a child, worship her and present articles like cradles and toys to be blessed with a child. Offerings given to the Devi also help cure ailments in children. Outside the Devi temple wall, the nagar kavu and pond belonging to the temple are located. This nagar kavu is rich in numerous varieties of trees and crepers , as well as medicinal plants. To remove Sarpa dosha, devotees can offer Ayilya Pooja and Nurum palum, archana for Nagar every month on the Ayilyam day.
Some special rituals are followed in this temple like Bali Sadhya that takes place in the month of Karkitaka on the karthika day. On this day, special poojas are conducted and Brahmans are given food and dress. Another ritual called Nirayum Puthiriyam in which paddy from the land belonging to the temple is offered to Devi. Uthrada Taneerkuda is another important festival conducted during the month of Chingam on Uthradam day. This pooja is a very ancient and important pooja. Kodi Charthu of ‘Chinga’ month is a ritual conducted in the month of Chinga on Thiruvonam day, after the ‘Nirmalya Darshanam’. The devotees offer Devi, yellow dresses during the festival. On the first day of the month of Medom, people come here for the ‘Vishukani’ Darshanam. Devotees come in large numbers for the ‘Vishu Kani’ darshan.
The main offering which is said to be the most favourite of Goddess Chamundi is Kadum payasam. Other main temple offerings include Palpayasam, Panchamrta Abhishekam, Sari Charthu, Pidippanam Viral, Pournami pooja, Rakta Pushparchana, and Thakidu pooja. It is believed that conducting Raktapushparchana for 13 consecutive Fridays will help to remove all types of doshas and improve wellbeing.
Opening timings for karikkakom chamundi temple
All days of the week
5:00 AM – 11:50 AM
4:30 PM – 8:10 PM