Attukal Temple

DEITIES/SHRINES
Attukal BhagavathyTemple enshrines
Goddess Parvathi Devi as the presiding
deity. It is believed that Attukal Bhagavathy
is the divinised form of Kannaki, an
incarnation of Goddess Parvathi and the
famous heroine of Chilappatikaram
(Shilappadikaram). The temple also has
shrines dedicated to Lord Ganesh, Lord
Shiva and Lord Nagaraja.

LEGEND
Attukal Bhagavathy Temple, one of the ancient temples of
South India, is dedicated to the Goddess Bhagavathi, one of
the forms of Parvathi.

MODE OF WORSHIP
The main offerings are
Pongala,Muzhukkappu and
Kalabhabhishekam.Besides these
"Kunjoonu" (Choroonu - first rice
feeding ceremony for
children),Thulabharam, Vidyarambham,
Archana etc. can be done at this temple.

LOCATION
Attukal Bhagavathy Temple is located at
Attukal, 2 km away from the city. It is
situated on the banks of the Killi river,in
Thiruvananthapuram.

ARCHITECTURE -The exteriors of the temple are carved with hundreds of

sculptures of gods, goddesses, the stories of Dasavataram of Lord Vishnu, Goddess
Kannagi (Kannaki), Dakshayaga etc. The main building also depicts Goddess Kali,
Sree Parvathy, Lord Siva, Rajarajeshwari, and several others. The Gopura (main rise
building) is covered by such idols.

FESTIVAL - Attukal Ponkala is the most reputed festival of this temple. Pongala
Legend is that Devi Bhagavathi gave darshan to a devotee,
the head of the Mulluveettil family, as a 12-year-old girl near
the Killi river. In a dream, she demanded him to establish an
abode for her in the nearby sacred ground of shrubs and
herbs (kavu), at a consecrated spot marked by three lines.
The devotee later built a temple at this sacred spot.
The Temple is considered as the Sabarimala of Women

(means to boil over, and refers to the customary offering of things to Devi) is an
exclusive festival for women. On the day of Ponkala, lakhs of women devotees
assemble from different parts of Kerala as well as other states and prepare ponkala, a
sweet offering of rice, jaggery and coconut, in earthen pots.