Lokanarkavu, also known as LOKAMALAYARKAVU, is a temple village located in the Memunda area within the Villiappally village, Vadakara Taluk of Kozhikode District. Situated approximately 5 kilometers east of Vadakara town, the temple complex is easily accessible via road. What sets Lokanarkavu apart is its distinctive arrangement of three principal deities, each housed in separate temples within the compound. These temples have their own sanctum sanctorum, outer sanctum, rituals, and festivals. The deities worshiped here are Vishnu, Parasakthi, and Siva, ordered chronologically according to their age. The Vishnu temple, in its present form, dates back around 2000 years, while the Bhagawathi temple is believed to be approximately 1300 more to 1500 years old. The Siva temple, on the other hand, is relatively newer, with an age of approximately 400 years. PARASAKTHI is one among the three primary deities and is worshipped by devotees as the Mother Goddess (AMMA). One of the primary deities worshipped by a group of migrant businessmen, known as Nagariks or Nagarakkar, was Parasakthi, the Mother Goddess also known as Amma. Originally from the Sindh region of India, these businessmen belonged to the Vysya class and were engaged in trade with various countries like Egypt, Arabia, and China. They specialized in trading silk, gold, diamonds, and spices, and owned their own shipping facilities. Drawn to the coastal region of Kerala due to its proximity to sea ports and availability of spices, they initially settled in Kollam (Quilon) and named their settlement Lokamaleswaram, dedicated to their revered Amma Goddess. For reasons such as expanding their business or possibly due to a rift with the ruling family, they later moved to Kodungalloor, where better sea port facilities were available. Once again, they named their settlement Lokamaleswaram. In their pursuit of further expanding their business, some members of the group settled in Panthalayani (Koyilandy) and named their settlement Kollam, which has since become a prosperous town in the Koyilandy Municipality. The group in Kollam worshiped their own Amma Goddess named Shri Pisharikavilamma. It is also believed that another faction of the group sailed to Colombo and established a settlement there. Continuing their journey, the group arrived at Vadakara, which had favourable sea port facilities and strong business relations with foreign countries involved in the trade of copra and spices. However, the locals in Vadakara became jealous of the migrant businessmen's sincerity, loyalty, and success. The situation escalated when some locals accused one of the Nagariks of immorality, a crime that was highly abhorred by the Nagariks, who strictly adhered to monogamy and noble ethical practices inherited from their North Indian Aryan community. This accusation brought immense disgrace and dishonour to the entire community, and the accused individual, though innocent, felt humiliated in front of his own people. Unable to bear the shame, he tragically took his own life by jumping into the Mooradu river, cursing the region of Puthuppanam to never rise to true glory. To commemorate him, the 'Pidivilakku' is carried in a procession to the temple on auspicious occasions. Deeply saddened and wanting to leave the area, the Nagariks, led by their Karanavars (chieftains), traveled eastward and reached Memunda, where a Nattukoottam (general body meeting) was taking place. The Karanavar approached the Chief of the Nattukoottam and requested permission to settle in their village, guided by their family Goddess who had accompanied them on their journey. The Chief inquired about the lone mother among them, and the Nagariks realized that the Amma Goddess had been traveling with them, searching for a suitable place for her "offspring" to settle. Overwhelmed by the presence of the Amma Goddess, the Chief and members of the Nattukoottam prayed with folded hands and tears in their eyes. They gladly allowed the Nagariks to settle wherever they pleased. At that moment, the followers heard Amma's command to proceed to the nearby hilltop and send an arrow. Amma declared that she would sit where the arrow landed. Chanting and singing songs in praise of Amma, the group and the Nattukoottam journeyed to Kotakkat Mala, and the Chief Karanavar shot an arrow that pierced a nameless tree (known as perariya maram according to thottam pattu). The tree became the "Moola Prathishta" or original idol of the Bhagavathy temple, a symbol of the divine event. This event is now celebrated as Mandalam 16 Vilakku by the descendants of the Nagariks' founders. During the celebration, a group of young people, representing the Nagariks and Nattukoottam, ascend Kotakkat Mala and break 11 metallic canisters (Kathinas) to announce the arrival of the Amma Goddess. They then joyfully return to the temple to celebrate other significant events of the day. With the blessings of Amma, the Goddess Lokambika, the businesses of the Nagariks flourished, leading to less time being devoted to the temple's affairs. The temple manager, Nelliyot Mooss, diligently handled the temple's responsibilities. However, as Mooss grew older, he requested to be relieved of his duties. At that time, a member of the ruling family of Kadathanadu approached Mooss and pressured him to nominate him as the new manager. Yielding to this pressure, Mooss recommended him to the Nagariks. Trusting Mooss, the Nagariks entrusted the temple's management to this member. Over time, the temple fell under the control of the Kadathanadu ruling family. As time went by, the Nagariks realized that the temple's administration was in jeopardy, and the temple properties were being lost. Weakened in their trade and social status, the Nagariks demanded that the ruling family return the temple and its properties. However, by that time, the ruling family had become loyal to the British and refused to relinquish control. A civil case was filed in the District Court and the Madras High Court, but due to insufficient evidence, the Nagariks' claim was not accepted. Nonetheless, the learned judges reiterated the Nagariks' stance and confirmed that the Kadathanadu Raja was merely a "manager" of the temple and not its owner or ooralan. The court ordered that the temple be administered by the HR & CE (Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments) board, a government agency of the then Madras Government. The Kadathanadu Raja was allowed to retain hereditary trusteeship. Eventually, with the formation of the state of Kerala, the temples in the former Malabar District came under the purview of the HR&CE board of the Kerala Government, which later became the Malabar Devaswom board. While the descendants of the Nagariks were unable to regain control of the temple's administration, their hereditary rights and privileges in the temple rituals were preserved and continue to be upheld to this day at the behest of Lokambika, the divine deity. The Bhagawathi, also known as Lokambika universally, is one of the four Ambikas. The other three Ambikas include the famous Kollur Mookambika, the renowned Hemambika (from where late Mrs. Indira Gandhi chose her party's symbol, the palm) near Palakkad, and Hemambika again at Kanyakumari. It is also believed that Kodungallur Bhagavathi and Chottanikkara Bhagawati are also considered as Lokambikas. At Lokanarkavu, Bhagavathi is worshipped in three different forms: in the morning as Saraswathi, the Vidya Devatha (Goddess of knowledge), at noon as Lakshmi Devi, the devatha of wealth, and in the evening as Bhadrakali, Siva's daughter and the destroyer. Prominent figures like the renowned martial arts warrior Thacholi Othenan and the maestro of Carnatic music, Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, were devoted followers of Amma Bhagavathi. Othenan's birthplace, 'Meppayil,' was located just 2 kilometers away from Lokanarkavu. His days would commence with a divine glimpse of Devi at Lokanarkavu, and it is often said that Amma stood by him wherever Othenan went, be it in times of prosperity or adversity. As for Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, he was born in Lokanarkavu area, specifically at his mother's house, and spent his childhood in the temple's courtyards. It was in the presence of the omnipresent Shree Lokambika that he received his initial music lessons at Amma's sacred thirumuttam (temple courtyard).