Located in the village of Akathethara in Palakkad, the Sree Shakti Maha Ganapathy Temple, also known as the Manthakkara Maha Ganapathy Temple, is a revered shrine where Lord Ganapathy is worshipped as the main deity. This ancient temple holds deep historical and spiritual significance, especially among the Vedic scholars of Kalpathy village. It is believed that the temple was established centuries ago by Tamil Brahmins, with the idol of Lord Ganapathy brought from the sacred city of Varanasi, and carried from the holy waters of the Ganga. According to legend, the great devotee Bana once worshipped here. Originally, an idol of Ganapathy was enshrined beneath a more banyan tree on the eastern side of the agraharam, in a locality known as Manthakkara. The idol was later installed at the present site, strategically facing the powerful Lord Viswanatha Swamy, to safeguard the community from recurring fire hazards and other calamities. Deeply rooted in Vedic tradition and culture, the temple continues to be a centre of spiritual strength and protection for devotees.