In this land of Kerala known as God’s own country there are several temples that attract the attention of people and bless devotees who have great faith. One such temple is the Vadakkan Paravoor Veluthat Vadakkan Chowva Bhagavathy in Ernakulam District in a town called ‘Kedamangalam’ in North Paravoor. In this temple the Vadakkan Chowva Bhagavathy is worshipped in various forms as Saraswathy, Sree Durga, Parvathi, Ashtaiswarya Dayini Sree Lakshmi, and the Remover of enmity the fierce Bhadrakali. This temple of Kerala is one which gives a rare and special opportunity for Darshan. This Devi is supposed to be the
more family deity and “Upasana Moorthy” of a Nair family who left their country Malabar about 800 years ago and settled down in this new place. With the passage of time this temple became famous and the people of this place developed faith in the Devi and are now dependent on Her grace. The chief offering of this temple is Pushpanjali. To remove ‘Chowva Dosham’ (evil effects of planet Mars) and thus get rid of obstruction in marriage devotees perform ‘Swayamvara’ Pushpanjali and get good marriage proposals. To remove the evil effects of enmity for the fulfillment of various desires there are various Pushpanjalis like the ‘Shatrusamhara Pushpanjali and Dwadasakshari, Bhagyasooktam and those who have no children perform Purushasookta pushpanjali, Trayambakasooktam for good health, Aikamatya sooktam pushpanjali for understanding and amity. The number of devotees are increasing day by day.Though the goddess appears to be Fierce, she is ready to bless all her devotees by fulfilling all their desires. It seems she is fond of ornaments and decorations, she is decked with gold ornaments and fragrant garlands and the temple is lighted with lamps, thus the Divine Mother is easily pleased and blesses her devotees and gives them joy and happiness. Devotees believe that those who have Darshan of the Devi in the evening during “Deeparadhana” and give ‘Kanika’ or gifts to the Mother will surely receive immediate blessings. So, there is great rush in the evening for the “Deeparadhana”. A very important offering of the temple is the lighting of ‘ghee’ lamp. Every year during the annual festival of Veluthattu Devi Temple, Ratholsav is conducted. The place in which it starts from Dharmadaivasthanam on April 9th. Inside the compound wall there are other deities too besides Chowa Bhagavathy. There is Vettekaran Swami, Kalladikote Neeli Bhagavathy, Vellaam Bhagavathy. In the north-east corner there are the Navagrahas, in the south-west corner there is Dharma Shasta. Outside the compound wall there is the Rakshas couple, Durga Bhagawathy, Nagaraja, Nagayakshi and Nagas. Facing the temple there is Sri Muthappan Swami. Those who break coconuts on the steps leading to the Shrine of Velluthat Amma will be able to remove various obstacles. So, there is great rush of faithful devotees to perform this offering, to secure jobs, to get marriage proposals, to have children and for the fulfillment of various desires. Those who perform this particular offering can do so between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. They have to come to the temple and pray to the goddess for the removal of all obstructions and then perform the “Vazhipadu”. So, devotees in order to achieve their desires perform various poojas like Udayasthamanam, Guruthi, Poomoodal, Tulabharam etc. for the Goddess. Another important offering is “Paranirakkal” performance of Nellupara will give wealth and grains to the devotees. Malar and rice para is performed for fulfillment of desires, jaggery and turmeric para will remove all sorrows, this is the belief of the devotees. On the first day of Malayalam month, Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays many devotees come to this temple for Darshan.