Thottippal Sree Bhagavathy Temple is situated in Thottippal in Thrissur District. The idol in the form of the Virgin Goddess is believed to have been consecrated by Sage Parasurama. The temple is believed to have been constructed about 1490 years ago. At a time when the temple was at its glorious best, Tipu Sultan attacked this area. The temple was completely destroyed in that aggression. Slowly the people forgot about the Goddess. Later when the divine displeasure was made evident, two Nair families in that area took up the initiative and rebuilt the temple and soon the temple regained its past glory. But with the new more land reforms, it became impossible for the then Devaswom and the two families to run the affairs of the temple. So, it was handed over to the Cochin Devaswom Board. The temple is open for worship from 5.00 to 9.30 in the morning and from 5.00 to 7.30 in the evening. In the morning after the usual ablutions and the offering of libation, there is the Ucha Pooja. In the evening there is Deeparadhana and Athazha Pooja. On special occasions, there will be Ganapathy Homam, Bhagavath Seva, Trikala Pooja, Divasa Pooja (One Day’s Pooja), Navakam and Panchagavyam. Devotees can offer Thrikala Pooja and special Thantri Pooja. The libations usually offered are Katum Madhura Payasam, Ney Payasam, Sharkara Payasam, Pal Payasam, Chathursatha Payasam and Vella Nivedyam. All archanas except for Sathru Samhararchana are performed here. The most important among them is the Thrishdup Pushpanjali. Offering 1008 Swayamvara Pushpanjali is believed to clear all barriers to a good married life. The most important festival in the temple is the Pooram in the month of Meenam. The purification rites are conducted on the days of stars Bharani and Karthika. On the day of star Karthika, as the first ritual of the Pooram, the Goddess is brought out of the Sanctum Sanctorum ceremoniously. The Goddess is taken around the locality of the temple and the festival culminates with the Goddess being taken into the Sanctum Sanctorum at 1 pm in the star of Atham. On all these days there will be only one Pooja for the Goddess. The most important ritual is the Pakal Pooram in the star of Pooram. There are no ablutions or Poojas on that day. On all these days the Goddess is taken out in procession to different places for poojas and for receiving the offering of Para. She participates in some of the festivals of other temples also. The other important days of the temple are as follows: Uthram Paattu and Ganapathy in the month of Meenam. The main libation for Ganapathy is Plavilakulath. Vishu in the month of Medam. The consecration day on star Makayiram in the month of Edavam. On that day there will be Navakam, Panchagavyam, Chathurshatham Nivedyam, Kalabham, three ceremonial processions and Annadanam. On the third of Karkidakam, Ashtadravya Ganapathy Homam, Aanayoottu (Giving food to the elephants) and Illam Nira are conducted. The Navarathri festival in the month of Kanni. Thiruvonam Pattu and Ganapathy in the month of Thulam. The offering to Ganapathy on that day is Kozhukatta. On that day the Goddess is taken out for a ceremonial bath in the river (Vavarattu). On the day of Thrikarthika in the month of Vrischikam, Navakam, Panchagavyam, Sree Bhoothabali and three ceremonial processions are offered. Pattini Sanku: Many special rituals are conducted in the 24 temples in connection with the Peruvanam-Aarattupuzha Pooram. One of the most important is the Pattini Sanku of the Thottippal Bhagavathy. On the night before the Pooram, Oorakathamma Thiruvadi (Valayadheeswari) stands facing the east while Aarattupuzha Sastha and Thottippal Bhagavathy stand facing the west near the Nilapadu thara of the Aarattupuzha temple. The concerned official from the Oorakathamma Thiruvadi Temple keeps raw rice and a Chengila (a gong made of bell metal) on a white cloth. Brahmins who had undertaken special austerities will then arrive there with lighted lamps and sit on either side of the cloth. Then the conch is blown by the official from the Oorakathamma Thiruvadi temple followed by those of the other two temples. After each of these, the Brahmins clap their hands and it continues for three times. When this ritual is over the Brahmins end their austerities after worshipping in the temple. Then Thottippal Bhagavathy goes for the ceremonial bath in the river, Oorakathamma Thiruvadi goes to Kadalasserry Keezhottukara Mana and Aarattupuzha Sastha goes for Para to the house of the Ooralan. This is a symbolic gesture by which Oorakathamma Thiruvadi and Aarattupuzha Shasta bestow all responsibilities for the conduct of the Pooram the next day on Thottippal Bhagavathy. Kappukkettu: This is the most important ritual in the Pooram festival of Thottippal Bhagavathy Temple. After the Goddess has been taken back to the Sanctum Sanctorum after the Pakal Pooram, 6 deities from different temples are ceremoniously brought to the temple. Chathukudathu Sastha is placed on the seat of the Goddess and the others are kept in front of the sanctum sanctorum. After the Poojas, a lamp is lit in the Namaskara Mandapam and some raw rice is kept in a Muram (flat shallow basket) in two heaps. Coconuts, betel leaf and areca nut, and a copper ring tied with a thread are kept along with it. The Brahmani Amma then sings hymns in praise of the Goddess. Once she has finished her hymns, she keeps the muram on the steps to the sanctum sanctorum and gives the muram to the priests who have brought Chathukudath Sastha in the presence of the priest of the Thottippal Bhagavathy. Both the priests enter the Sanctum Sanctorum and the ring is tied on the hand of the priest of the Goddess. This is called Kappukkettu. Devotees believe that those who witness this ritual and those who listen to the hymns in praise of Bhagavathy will be blessed with the fulfilment of all their wishes.