Mukkalkkal Sri Varaham Bhagawati Temple
This shrine locates at Mukkolakkal in Manakad, 2-km away from the renowned Sri Padmanabha Swamy temple in the city. The deity is goddess Bhagawati. There are sub-deities of Mahaganapathy, Nagar and Brahma Rakshas. The idol with eight manifestations made of Panchaloha (five metals) facing north is seen beside a self-grown Puttu (leap of soil created by white ants).
After killing King Pandya of Tamil Nadu Bhagawati went to Kondungallur in Thrissur district of Kerala to settle there. En-route she rested at various places. Mukkolakkal is one of them. All these places became sacred and devotees constructed temples at all these places. Her journey from Tamil Nadu was in a ferocious mood. However, when she reached Mukkolakkal the ferocity was sub-sided and she became qiet. The idol in Mukkolakkal is therefore with calmnees as against ferocious state in other places.
Bharani in the month of Meenam (March/April) is celebrated here with pomp and show as Uruttulsav. It is a 7-day long festival. There is Parakkezhunnullath on the 6th day. Parakkezhunnallathu is a procession with deity’s idol on the neck of an elephant for accepting Para, a full messure of paddy, from the houses of devotees in the villages around the temple. During the festival the surrounding places will be in festive mood.
