Irumkulangara Durga Devi Temple
Encyclopedia
Irumkulangara Durga Bhagavathi Temple (Malayalam:ഇരുംകുളങ്ങര ദുര്ഗ്ഗാ ക്ഷേത്രം) is a Hindu temple situated in Thottam, Manacaud
, Thiruvananthapuram
, Kerala
, India. It is situated about two kilometres to the south east from Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram City.
It is believed that the temple has got relationship with the famous Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple, one of the famous temples in Thiruvananthapuram. In ancient times, priests from Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple are believed to arrive at Irumkulangara by country boats for performing poojas and rituals.
is the main deity in this temple. One important aspect of the temple is that, the deity appears as 'Durgabhagavathi' which is an avatar of 'AdiParasakthi'. 'Karthika' is considered as the star of the deity. The major festival of the temple that is Painkuni Mahothsavam,mostly held in the month of March, lasts for 10 days and ends with Pongala & Ezhunnallathu. Unlike other Durga devi temples, rituals like "Thottampaattu" and "Ottam" are restricted in this temple. Red coloured flowers except thetti, are banned here. Other flowers such as Tulsi, Jasmine, Lotus, Nandyarvattom etc are also used here.
A Kavu ,(a patch of small forest) which houses the serpent Gods,is common in Travancore & the pond in front of the temple gives a beautiful reflection of the temple.The Temple Thanthri Brahmasree Tharananalloor Parameshwaran Namboodiripad (Same as Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple and Koodalmanikyam temple) and now the temple is under the control of Sree Irumkulangara Durga Devi Temple Trust.
The temple has been recently renovated with a new chuttambalam and sivelippura which is an excellent example of Kerala Vasthu Vidya and temple architecture in new age. The renovation was carried out under the guidance of noted Vastu Shasthra expert Kanippayyur Krishnan Namboodiripad and the Temple architect Manacaud S Narayanamoorthy.
The main Upadevathas in the temple premises are
We can see a Kavu (a patch of small forest) which houses the serpent Gods, and is common in Travancore. The temple Kavu was Awarded by Kerala Government Department of Forest and WildeLife as One of the Best maintained Kavu
Also Last Year the Temple created a Nakshtravanam(Trees relating to Birth Stars)in temple premises
The other festivals in this temple are:
♦ Mandala Vratham - Festival in connection with the annual Utsavam of Sabarimala.
♦ Vinayaka Chathurthi - Pooja to the Lord Ganapathy.
♦ Pooja Vaypu - Identical to Dussera festival (Saraswathy Pooja and Vidyarambham).
♦ Karthika - Kazhchakula Samarpanam, Navakabhishekam, Karthika Pongala, Annadhanam (All Months).
♦ Ayilya Pooja - Milk, flowers etc. Offered to serpent God and special rites. Monthly Pooja in Ayilyam day except in the months of Mithunam and Karkidakom.
♦ Ayilyolsavam - Nagaroottu and Sarpabali in the month of Thulam,by Pambumekkattumana Karanavar Brhamasri P S Sreedharan Namboodiripad.
♦ Ramayana Parayanam & BhagavathiSeva - All days in Karkidakom (Evening).
♦ Vavu Bali - In the month of Karkidakom.
On all Vidyarambham day evening
Temple and its Devotees Part with this event by giving Cash awards to SSLC & Plus Two students living around the temple based only on Merit. Give Cash Prizes to economically backward Students of neighbouring schools those who are good in their studies
For this the Temple have an Education Fund and most of the devotees give cash prizes in memory of their Relatives
Manacaud
-Location:Manacaud is 2 km from the city centre. Privately owned and KSRTC buses plying in the Kovalam route from East Fort pass through Manacaud....
, Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India. It is situated about two kilometres to the south east from Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram City.
History
The abode of Sree Irumkulangara Durga Bhagavathi is one of the most ancient temples in Kerala. The temple is located on the bank of two ponds and hence it got the name "Irumkulangara" ("Irum" means two and "Kulam" means pond). It is hard to find any other temple in Thiruvananthapuram, which preserves the beauty and atmosphere gifted by the nature.It is believed that the temple has got relationship with the famous Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple, one of the famous temples in Thiruvananthapuram. In ancient times, priests from Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple are believed to arrive at Irumkulangara by country boats for performing poojas and rituals.
Overview
The Goddess DurgaDurga
For the 1985 Hindi Film of Rajesh Khanna see DurgaaIn Hinduism, Durga ; ; meaning "the inaccessible" or "the invincible"; , durga) or Maa Durga "one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress" is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having eighteen arms, riding a lion...
is the main deity in this temple. One important aspect of the temple is that, the deity appears as 'Durgabhagavathi' which is an avatar of 'AdiParasakthi'. 'Karthika' is considered as the star of the deity. The major festival of the temple that is Painkuni Mahothsavam,mostly held in the month of March, lasts for 10 days and ends with Pongala & Ezhunnallathu. Unlike other Durga devi temples, rituals like "Thottampaattu" and "Ottam" are restricted in this temple. Red coloured flowers except thetti, are banned here. Other flowers such as Tulsi, Jasmine, Lotus, Nandyarvattom etc are also used here.
A Kavu ,(a patch of small forest) which houses the serpent Gods,is common in Travancore & the pond in front of the temple gives a beautiful reflection of the temple.The Temple Thanthri Brahmasree Tharananalloor Parameshwaran Namboodiripad (Same as Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple and Koodalmanikyam temple) and now the temple is under the control of Sree Irumkulangara Durga Devi Temple Trust.
The temple has been recently renovated with a new chuttambalam and sivelippura which is an excellent example of Kerala Vasthu Vidya and temple architecture in new age. The renovation was carried out under the guidance of noted Vastu Shasthra expert Kanippayyur Krishnan Namboodiripad and the Temple architect Manacaud S Narayanamoorthy.
Sub-Deities
There are many upadevathas (Sub-Deities) adjacent to the temple, and the temple has remaded, according to the Deva Prashnam by expert astrologers recently.The main Upadevathas in the temple premises are
- Lord Ganesh
- NagarajaNagarajaNagaraja is a Sanskrit word from naga and raj meaning King of Snakes. It is applied to three main deities, Anantha , Takshak, and Vasuki. Anantha, Vasuki and Takshak are brothers, children of Kashyap and Kadru, who are the parents of all snakes...
- Brahmarakshassu
- Maadan Thampuran
- Sri Bhairava Moorthy
- Navagrahas (Prathishta on 16 March 2011 at 7 am onwards)
We can see a Kavu (a patch of small forest) which houses the serpent Gods, and is common in Travancore. The temple Kavu was Awarded by Kerala Government Department of Forest and WildeLife as One of the Best maintained Kavu
Also Last Year the Temple created a Nakshtravanam(Trees relating to Birth Stars)in temple premises
Festivals
The Painkuni Mahothsavam, major festival of the temple is mostly held in the month of March, lasts for 10 days and ends with Pongala & Ezhunnallathu. In 2011 Painkuni Mahothsavam from March 29 to April 8. Main Ulsavam on April 7.The other festivals in this temple are:
♦ Mandala Vratham - Festival in connection with the annual Utsavam of Sabarimala.
♦ Vinayaka Chathurthi - Pooja to the Lord Ganapathy.
♦ Pooja Vaypu - Identical to Dussera festival (Saraswathy Pooja and Vidyarambham).
♦ Karthika - Kazhchakula Samarpanam, Navakabhishekam, Karthika Pongala, Annadhanam (All Months).
♦ Ayilya Pooja - Milk, flowers etc. Offered to serpent God and special rites. Monthly Pooja in Ayilyam day except in the months of Mithunam and Karkidakom.
♦ Ayilyolsavam - Nagaroottu and Sarpabali in the month of Thulam,by Pambumekkattumana Karanavar Brhamasri P S Sreedharan Namboodiripad.
♦ Ramayana Parayanam & BhagavathiSeva - All days in Karkidakom (Evening).
♦ Vavu Bali - In the month of Karkidakom.
Other Events
Educational Aid Distribution and Socio-Cultural(Secular)EventOn all Vidyarambham day evening
Temple and its Devotees Part with this event by giving Cash awards to SSLC & Plus Two students living around the temple based only on Merit. Give Cash Prizes to economically backward Students of neighbouring schools those who are good in their studies
For this the Temple have an Education Fund and most of the devotees give cash prizes in memory of their Relatives