Prasanna Shree Sree Panamkurussi Bhagavathy Temple Chethalloor, Mannarkkad, Palakkad

Panamkurussi Bhagavathy Temple is an ancient and well-known Hindu temple located at Chethallur in Mannarkkad Taluk of Palakkad district, Kerala. The main deity of the temple is Bhagavathy (Goddess Devi). Surrounded by natural beauty, the temple is regarded as one of the important Devi temples in the region. For centuries, it has been a place of worship and devotion, attracting a large number of devotees throughout the year for darshan and offerings.

Although no precise written records are available, historians estimate that Panamkurussi Bhagavathy Temple is around 400 to 500 years old (approximately the 15th–16th century), based on its architectural style and the age of the main idol. However, the site is believed to have a much older history as it originally existed as a sacred grove (kavu). According to local tradition, the temple was developed into its present form during the reign of Valluvakonathiri, the ruler of Valluvanad. Prominent Namboothiri families, including the Chethallur Athippatta Mana, along with local Nair tharavads (traditional ancestral families), played an important role in the construction and administration of the temple. Under their leadership, the sacred grove gradually developed into a major temple complex. Today, the temple is jointly managed by the government Devaswom Board, the traditional Ooraymakkars (hereditary trustees) and the local temple advisory committee. Major festivals, including the Panamkurussikkavu Pooram, are organised by committees representing Chethallur and the surrounding villages.

According to local tradition, this area was once a sacred grove (kavu) surrounded by forests and palm trees. When a large palm tree in the grove had to be cut down, the local people built a small temple to protect and worship the deity believed to be present there. It is believed that the place was originally known as ‘Panamurichukavu’, meaning ‘the grove where the palm tree was cut’ and that over time the name gradually changed to ‘Panamkurussi’. The deity was first worshipped in the form of a stone, but later a large wooden idol carved from jackfruit wood was installed so that the Goddess could be worshipped in her peaceful form. According to local belief, the Panamkurussikkavu Pooram developed as a symbol of unity among the people of Chethallur, Vellinezhi, Thazhekkode and the surrounding villages, with the festival growing into its present form through the combined participation of the different desams (local village communities).

A spacious entrance hall in front of the temple provides a place for devotees to gather and rest. A large banyan tree and the temple pond beside it add to the temple’s traditional village setting. The temple is surrounded by a tiled Chuttambalam (outer cloister) built in the traditional Kerala style. The walls of the Chuttambalam are fitted with lamp holders that are lit during festivals. Beyond the main entrance stands a large Balikkal (sacrificial stone), symbolically dedicated to the Goddess’s vehicle and attendant deities, which is one of the notable features of the temple.

The main shrine of Panamkurussi Bhagavathy Temple is a square Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) located at the centre of the temple courtyard. Built in the traditional Kerala style with a tiled roof, it houses the main idol, a beautifully carved wooden image of Bhagavathy in the peaceful form of Bhadrakali, seated with four arms and standing approximately 5 to 6 feet tall. The Sreekovil also contains symbolic stone representations of the Sapta Matrikas—Brahmani, Maheshwari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrani and Chamundi. Along the Pradakshina (circumambulatory path) around the main shrine are shrines dedicated to Ganapathy in the south-west corner and Ayyappa (Sastha) nearby. A distinctive architectural feature of the temple is that the main entrance gateway and the doorway of the Sreekovil are not aligned in a straight line. As a result, the main idol is not directly visible from the entrance, a design feature found in some traditional medieval sacred groves and temples in Kerala.

The main annual festival of the temple is the eight-day Panamkurussikkavu Pooram. The festival begins with the Pooram Purappadu on the Makayiram star in the Malayalam month of Meenam. The famous Thalappoli celebration is held on the Tuesday before the Makayiram Purappadu. On the sixth day, the Goddess is ceremonially taken to the temple pond for the Valiyaraattu ritual. The seventh day, Pooram, is the most important day of the festival, when ceremonial processions from Chethallur, Vellinezhi, Thazhekkode and other nearby desams (village communities) gather in the temple courtyard. The procession of caparisoned elephants, accompanied by Panchavadyam, Thayambaka and traditional Poothan-Thira performances, is one of the main attractions. The festival concludes on the eighth day with the sacred Aaraattu ritual at the nearby bathing ghat. In addition to the annual festival, Kalamezhuthu and Pattu is performed for about six months of the year as an important ritual dedicated to the Goddess. Special poojas are also conducted during the Mandala season, along with the Pattu Aghosham, the unique Purathu Vechu Nivedyam offering observed after the 12th day of the Malayalam month of Thulam and special poojas on every Tuesday and Friday of each Malayalam month.

Among the offerings at the temple, Chanthattam is the most distinctive. In this offering, a special medicinal sandalwood paste is applied to the wooden idol of the Goddess. Devotees perform this offering mainly for good health and recovery from illness. Other important offerings include Kalamezhuthu and Pattu, in which the image of the Goddess is drawn on the floor using natural coloured powders and worshipped; Guruthi Tharpanam, performed to seek the blessings of Bhadrakali; Purathu Vechu Nivedyam, a unique offering observed after the 12th day of the Malayalam month of Thulam, during which devotees prepare and offer food directly to the Goddess; and Kadumpayasam and Neypayasam. Offerings to the sub-deities include Ganapathi Homam and Appam Nivedyam for Ganapathy and Ellu Vilakku and Neerajanam for Ayyappa. In addition, Payasadanam, Archana and Pushpanjali are among the regular offerings made by devotees.

The temple is open daily from 05:00 AM to 10:00 AM and from 05:30 PM to 08:00 PM. After the temple opens in the morning, Nirmalya Darshan and Abhishekam are followed by Usha Pooja at around 06:30 AM. Ganapathi Homam for the sub-deity Ganapathy is also performed during the morning rituals. Ucha Pooja takes place between 09:30 AM and 10:00 AM, after which the temple closes for the morning. In the evening, Deeparadhana is performed around sunset, followed by Athazha Pooja at approximately 07:30 PM. The temple closes at 08:00 PM. During the Mandala season and major festivals such as Thalappoli and Panamkurussikkavu Pooram, the pooja schedule and temple opening hours may vary.

Sacred History & Spiritual Significance

This sacred temple stands as a testament to deep spiritual devotion, ancient architectural grandeur, and rich local cultural traditions.

Temple Sanctum & Architecture

The sanctum sanctorum houses the divine idol consecrated according to ancient Vedic traditions, surrounded by serene courtyards and traditional temple architecture.

Sacred Darshan Gallery