KODUNGALLUR SREE KURUMBA BHAGAVATHI TEMPLE

Sree kurumba bhagavathi devi temple is a Hindu temple at Kodungallur, Thrissur District, Kerala state, India. It is dedicated to the goddess Bhadrakali, a form of Maha Kali or Parashakthi worshipped in Kerala. This Maha Kali temple is one of the oldest functioning temples in India. The goddess is known also by the names "Sri Kurumba"" (The Mother of Kodungallur).This temple is the head of 64 Bhadrakali temples in Kerala. The goddess of the temple represents the goddess in her fierce ('Dugra') form, facing North, featuring eight hands with various attributes.

Sword, a Pot (vattaka), a tri-spear (Trishul), khatvanga (a weapon with a skull embedded), the head of demon Darika, a Snake, a bell, another weapon called kheta. The verse written by Mahakavi

Kunjikkuttan Thampuran is as follows:

വാളും വട്ടകയും ത്രിശൂലവുമഹോ ഖട്വാംഗവും ഭൂരിഗര്‍- വാളും ദാരികശീര്‍ഷവും ഫണിപനും നല്‍ഘണ്ടയും ഖേടവും

The western chamber of the inner temple is the seat of Sapthamatrukal (Seven Mothers-namely Bhram (the power of Lord Brahma) ,Maheswari, Vaishnavi, Vaaraahi and Narasimhi (the powers of Lord Vishnu including his incarnations of Varaham and Narasimham) Koumari (the power of Lord Subrahmanya), Iandri (the power of Lord Indra) and Chamunda (the power of Durga herself). These deities also face north in a separate chamber alongside the Sanctum Sanctorium. The idol of Ganapathi is located inside the main temple and that of Veerabhadra, in a separate adjacent chamber at the north-east corner of the main structure. . The former faces eastward and the latter westward

The idol of Her Holiness Bhagawati is about seven feet high and is made from seasoned Jackfruit timber. The structure of the idol is adequately protected by yearly “Chandattam” – or bathing with adhesive made of various ingradients.

Towards the west of the temple sits a small stone structure called 'the Samadhi of Vysoori', perhaps a medieval shrine for a deity of smallpox, chicken pox, mumps and other contagious diseases. Devotees make offerings of turmeric powder, sprinkled and rubbed on its walls. About fifty metres further is a sacred pond called (Pushkarini), where devotees bathe before entering the main shrine. It is believed that this pond was created by the goddess by striking the ground with her sword.