Kattil Mekkathil Sree Devi Temple is situated on the western side of the beautiful village of Ponmana that lies between the Arabian Sea and the lake. The Goddess is here consecrated in the fierce form as she returns with the severed head of Darika. Though fierce in the concept of consecration, the Goddess is like a mother, the embodiment of gentleness, ever ready to shower blessing on the worshippers. Thousands of devotees from within the state and outside visit the temple seeking prosperity with the blessings of the Goddess. Apart from the main consecration of the Goddess, there are the minor consecrations of Ganapathy, Durga devi, Yakshiyamma, more Madan Swami, Brahmarakshas, Muhuoorthi and the Nagas. There are five wells in the temple which are at a distance of 5 to 10 meters from the sea. But the pure potable water that is got from these wells fills the minds of the devotees with wonder.  Even the Tsunami that lashed this coast on 26th December 2004 did not touch the temple. The thundering waves came on to the shore about a hundred meters to the south and north of the temple. The temple stood like a huge mountain, withstanding the powers of the sea, strengthening the hearts of the devotees with the power of the Goddess. The temple is hundreds of years old and has a historical legend about it. The rites and rituals of the temple are also in keeping with this legend. It was in AD 1781 that Maharaja Marthanda Varma had a dream while returning by Canal after visiting the King of Odanadu. In his dream the King saw the visage of the Goddess appear on the western horizon and then disappear into the sea. This happened on the day of the star Pooyam in the month of Pousha. The Maharaja had the boat brought to the shore and went in search of the place where the visage of the Goddess had been seen.  He reached the place where the temple is situated today. After sitting in meditation for a long time in which he had a glimpse of the Goddess, the king declared that the power of the Goddess was present there. He added that a temple that would become famous all over the country would be built there. He constructed a palace on the bank of the lake where he and his descendents could stay when they came to worship the Goddess. This place is known as Kottarakadavu even today. There is another legend which says that the Goddess travelled from Champakulam in Alapuzha to this place on the back of a crocodile and was  consecrated here. The most important offering here is to tie a bell that has been offered for worship in the sanctum sanctorum, on the banyan tree standing to the right of the sanctum sanctorum after circumambulating the tree seven times. Devotees vouchsafe that whatever is prayed for in earnestness will be granted by the Goddess, including being blessed with children, prosperity, removal of all obstacles in life, good education, progress in professional life and a good married life. This is one of the very few temples in Kerala where Pongala and Annadanam are offered every day. There are two main festivals, one in the month of Vrischikam and the other in the month of Kumbham. Thousands of devotees remain in the tents constructed in the temple compound, immersed in prayers and various rituals for twelve days from the first of Vrischikam. The festival is celebrated with Thottam Pattu, the ceremonial procession with the Thangayangi and Thirumudy as well as various cultural programmes like Kathakali and meetings. Devotees can reach the temple by taking the jankar. The jankar jetty can be reached by going one and a half kilometers towards the North West from the Shankaramangalam Junction on the NH 66 between Kollam and Alapuzha. For those who come from Kayamkulam or Karunagapally, there is a road that goes one and a half k.m to the west on the northern side of the KMML Company to the south of the Edapally  Kotta junction.