Chembukkavu Karthyayini Temple

Datable to ancient period, the temple is one of the 108 Durga temples in the southwest coast of India. It is one of the temples participating in Thrissur pooram. The details on the origin of the temple are not available. The temple earlier belonged to the Nampoothiris of Thrissur. When the ooralars introduced certain vazhipadu and rites against the tradition of the temple, the Raja of Cochin intervened in 1719 A.D. and imposed certain punishments. This controversy further led to the stoppage of certain privileges to Namboothiris. Against the order of the Cochin Raja, some of the Namboothiris even approached the Dutch and the latter had to interfere. The Raja then heard their grievances, and the matter was settled amicably. As per the recommendation of the Committee constituted in 1815 A.D. this temple was taken over by the Cochin Sarkar from the eldest of Chembookaav mana who was the ooralar of the temple at that time. When the Cochin Devaswam Board was formed in 1950 the control of the temple was vested with them. The temple is now administered jointly by the Devaswam Officer of the Ashokeswaram Group and the local Kshetra kshema samiti elected by devotees once in two years.

The temple complex has an extent of two and a half acres. The structures thereon are sreekovil, namaskara-mandapam, deepastambhams, thidappali, vathil-maatam with agra-mandapam, chuttu-matil, valiya-balikkall, nadappura, sub-shrines, pradakshina-vazhi, gopuram and compound wall.

The square dwi-tala sreekovil of sandhaara-type and facing west has granite adhishthaanam with mouldings of paadukam, jagathi, vritta-kumudam, kumuda-padi, galam with Vaajana motifs and projections, gala-padi, utharam, galam with flower-motifs, valaru and padi. The sopanam has makara-simha face at the base, multi-faceted sundu and go-mukha end. The laterite-stone walls have three ghanadwaaras and a functional door. The roof is tiled.

The sub-shrine of Lord Ganapati is attached to the southern side of the Sreekovil, facing east. The namaskara-mandapam has four wooden pillars. It is covered with trelliswork. A deepastambham is installed at the front. There is a well at northeast of the akathe-balivattam.

The chuttambalam is recently renovated. It has three entrances, at west, north and east. The thidappali is at northeast. The valiya-balikkall is within the agra-mandapam. There is also a deepastambham within the nadapanthal. The pradakshina-vazhi made of laterite stones and cement. The sub- shrine of Lord Ayyappa is at northwest facing east. At its front there is a nadapanthal and a deepastambham. The Naga-thara is at northwest. There is a stage at southwest and a gopuram at west. At its front there are two deepastambham. The laterite stone compound wall has a height of 2.1 m. and a width of 60 cm.

The walls have beautifully stone-carved panjaras. On the greeva part of the sreekovil there are stone motifs of panjaras and bhootaganas and woodcarvings of elephants, vyaali and figurines.

The sila idol of Goddess Karthyayini is of standing pose with a height of 91 cm. with four arms holding conch and disc in the upper hands, lotus in the right lower hand and Kati bandha pose for the left lower hand. The idols of Lord Ganapati and Lord Ayyappa are made of sila and of sitting pose with height of 23 cm. and 30 cm. respectively. The Naga idols are of sitting poses with raised hoods

The temple is kept open from 5 AM to 9 AM and from 5 PM to 7-30 PM Three poojas are done daily, Usha-pooja at 6-30 AM, Ucha- pooja at 8-30 AM and Athazha-pooja (7 PM)

The main offerings are Chuttu-vilakk, pushpanjali, nay-payasam, pal-payasam, ashta-dravya homam etc. and all are popular.

The Thrikarthika festival is conducted as a three-day festival, the concluding day being Kartika nakshatram of Vrischikam. Niramala, Chuttu-vilakk and special tantric rites are performed. Navaratri days are observed with special poojas. However, the most important thing to be mentioned is the participation of the Goddess in the Thrissur pooram festival.

There is a specific order for the participants in the Thrissur Pooram festival starting with Kanimangalam, Chembookaav, Panamukkambilli, Karamukku, Choorakkottukavu, Laloor, Ayyanthol, Naithilakkavu, Thiruvambady, and finally Paramekkavu. As noted above Chembookaav is the second participant.

As in the case of all participants of Pooram festival, the Kodiyettam of the temple is also held on Makiryam nakshatram of Medam. The time of Kodiyettam is between 5 and 6 p.m. and it is on a temporary dhwajam after the Kodiyettam, Bhagavathi is taken for an aarattu in the temple pond accompanied by paani After the aarattu, there will be navakam, sreebhoothabali etc. On the second day of the festival after the aarattu, navakam, Uccha-pooja and Sreebhoothabali, by 8-30 AM, bhagavathi proceeds to Sree Karthyayini temple at Ayyanthol (considered to be the elder sister of Chembookaav Bhagavathi). After irakki-pooja there at Ayyanthol, bhagavathi returns before noon. On the same day evening elder sister pays her return visit. After Kodiyettam Sreebhoothabali is performed without elephant and with aarattu with elephant, both conducted on all festival days. On the third day after the aarattu, navakam, Uccha-pooja and Sreebhoothabali, bhagavathi goes to mookkattukara Maha Vishnu temple, after an irakki-pooja and para-eduppu returns to the temple. On the fourth day, after the aarattu, navakam, Uccha-pooja and Sreebhoothabali, Bhagavathi proceeds to Chembookaav mana, Mullinezhi mana for irakki-pooja and after the para-eduppu in the nearby places returns to the temple. Fifth and Sixth day there is aarattu, navakam, sreebhoothabali and special pujas.

On the Pooram-day after aarattu, navakam and sreebhoothabali, by 6 AM bhagavathi proceeds with three caparisoned tuskers accompanied by panchavadyam moves through Chembookaav North, Cheroor road, Town Hall road and reaches eastern side of the Sree Vadakkumnathan temple. The procession then enters Sree Vadakkumnathan temple through the eastern gopuram. Panchavadyam ends there and with Pandi-melam, bhagavathi comes out through the southern gopuram and goes till the Swaraj round and then enters Sree Vadakkumnathan temple through the southern gopuram (the only deity who enter& exit via southern gopuram) and comes out through western gopuram and proceeds to Nilapadu thara then returns to Chembookaav temple via. Museum road. On the same day at 7-30 PM, the procession again starts from the Chembookaav temple and through Museum Road and enters the Stee Vadakkumnathan temple through eastern gopuram emerges out through the western gopuram before proceeding to Nilapadu thara. After pradakshinam of Nilapadu thara Goddess returns to Chembookaav by 10 p.m. It is believed that the Goddess prefers to have her procession in the morning and evening and the reason is that the Goddess is supposed to suffer from headache if taken at noon. On the Uthram day the aarattu is held at 4 PM. in the temple tank and thereafter kodi-irakkal is performed, marking the conclusion of the festival.

Since it is one among the 108 Durga temples, the consecration of the idol is attributed to Lord Parasurama. The present thantri is from Puliyannoor mana of Elavalli. The other staff includes Pisharadi, kaaraykar and adichu-tali.

Situated two km. northeast of Thrissur and near Museum building, the temple is connected by tarred road.