Chottanikkara Temple, Chottanikkara

People believe that Mother Bhagavathi grants long happy life for married women and a suitable match for women awaiting marriage and child boon.  Those affected by spells and witchcraft and black magic pray to Mother for relief. 

Mother Bhagavathi graces in white robe as Saraswathi in the morning, in red in the midday as Mahalakshmi and blue in the evening as Durga. Generally Gods and Goddesses are seen showing their left hand to their feet and bless by the right hand. Mother Bhagavathi as the destroyer of our sins, appears showing Her right hand to the feet and bless by the left hand.

1000-2000 years old

Masi Magam in February-March; Purattasi Navarathri in September-October; Karthikai Mandala Puja in November-December and all new moon days and full moon days are the festivals celebrated in the temple.

The mandap in the east is the main entrance to the temple with a tall Deepasthamaba – Light Post.  The Prasad counter is at northwest side in the prakara with Kakkacheri Smarga Sannidhi nearby.  The devotee can have the darshan of Kodimaram-flag post and the Kalasa above the sanctum sanctorum from this point.  There are many lamps fixed around the temple lighted on the festival days.  Devotees can also light the lamps paying a fee.  The exit entrance after darshan of Mother Bhagavathi is on the southern side.  Next is a mandap where Theertha and sandal Prasad are given to the devotees.  The spacious Navarathri Mandap comes next. There is a big garden is on the south side of the prakara.  There is a Maha Mandap nearby from where the devotee can easily have the darshan of Amman and the flag post.  Those beginning the education of children perform pujas in the Saraswathi mandap.  The sthala Vruksha-sacred tree and shrines of Yakshi, Jeshta Bhagavathi and Nagar are in the centre of the prakara.  In the shrine next to these, Lord Shiva graces devotees facing east. Keel Kavu Bhagavathi Amman is praised as the Sister of Chottanikarai Bhagavathi Amman.  Those praying to Chottanikar Bhavathi Amman should pray to this Amman also according to faith and practice.  A big and vast tank is opposite the Keelkavu Bhagavathi with a Nagar shrine on the left.  There is a mandap here for firing crackers.  There are shrines for Lord Dharma Sastha, Lord Ganapathi and Sri Anjaneya on the right of this mandap.  South of these shrines is the elephant shed. Though there are entrances in the north and south side of the temple, majority of the devotees use only the western entrance only.  The history of the temple and the puja details are written at the entrance of the temple.  There is also a vast Pandal-tent for the convenience of the devotees to relax.  The office of the temple administration and stall selling puja materials are on the north of this mandap.  There is also a safety room.  There are paintings showing the upper look of the temple. Performing Pushpanjali with 12,000 flowers and offering Red Silk vastra is one of the prayer commitments followed in the temple.  Animal sacrifice was followed in earlier days but now totally stopped and replaced by blood offer in accordance with Saivite philosophy.

The idol of Mother Bhagavathi is said to have been made with Rudrakshas.  After the Nirmalya Darshan, Devi is dressed with Gold Angi and jewels.  As Lord Maha Vishnu is on the right side of Devi, people praise Her saying Amme Narayana, Devi Narayana, Lakshmi Narayana, Badri Narayana and other names.  Masi Magam is a very important festival.  When doors open after the Uchikala Puja-Midday Puja, Mother Bhagavathi appears gracefully with gold ornaments – Sarvalankara Vibushini.  This darshan is considered very lucky to the devotees present on the occasion.  Married women seeing this darshan will have long happy married life, those awaiting marriage shall have a suitable match and a good child seeking this boon.  The darshan offers total peace to those suffering from various mental agony and a relief and total cure to the mentally ill.  There is a jack tree in the temple.  Those seeking relief from mental agony use to fix nails on the stem of the tree.