Saturday, January 2, 2016

Cherunatturi Bhagawathi of Chithilamcheri

Cherunatturi Bhagawathi of Chithilamcheri

Compiled  by
P.R.Ramachander



   Chithalancheri   is a small village in Melarcode Panchayath   and is located  on the way to Pollachi from Trichur . This village ias about 20 km from Palghat   town and is 4 km from the small town called Nemmara..  It is believed that the name of the village is derived from  the word Chuthu illam cheri (Village surrounded by Namboodiri  houses) The goddess  presiding in the temple here  is  called Cherunatturi Bhagawathi. Apart from the Bhagwathi  , the temple also has sub temples for Shiva, Ganesa  as well as NavaKanyas. Apart from this  is also a  statute  of a five headed  serpent. Worship is also  offered to this   Naga devatha,This main statue  is kept over    statues of other serpents. Devotees believe that if we worship Cherunatturi Bhagawathi   by doing  Pushpanjali (Ashtothara   which is common   in  temples of other   states in South India  is uncommon in Kerala. The Priest worships the Goddess   with flowers , mainly red hibiscus using thanthric methods . A special pooja   is called  Rakthapushpanjali) then the fear  for snakes or dreams  involving snakes  would get cured. Another peculiarity of this temple  is the freely  roaming cats  in the temple.


     The major festival of the temple is Chithilancheri Arattu , which is celebrated in the month of Makaram(January 15th to February 15th).The Chithilamcheri vela   is celebrated in the month of Medam.