Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathy Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Kannur International Airport is at Mattanur, 28 km east of Kannur city.

• By train

  Kannur railway station is the largest station serving Kannur city.

• By road

  Valapattanam is about 7 km north of Kannur, towards Taliparamba.

Why devotees come here

Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathy Temple stands in Valapattanam, Kannur district, Kerala. It is dedicated to the fierce form of Bhadrakali and is considered the mother of the martial art Kalarippayattu, which gives the temple its name. The Malabar Devaswom Board administers it as a Category A temple.

The shrine's deity is the fierce form of Bhadrakali. The temple is considered the mother of Kalarippayattu, the ancient martial art, and the name comes from it. Legend says Annapoornashwari came from Kasi to Chirakkal by boat, with her companions Kalarivatukkalamma and Madayikkavilamma, to see the Krishna temple, and never went back.

The temple was once owned by Vadakke illam and was later acquired by Chirakkal Kovilakom. It is built in traditional Kerala architecture style. Four sanctums hold shrines of Shiva, the Seven Mothers, Ganapathy, Veerabhadra and Kshetrapalakan, who is also called Bhairava.

The main idol is made of kadu sarkara yogam, so rites and ablutions use an archana bimbam, a separate image of the Devi. The Maathrushaala holds idols of the Seven Mothers, Veerabhadra and Ganapathi.

Festivals

• March to AprilPooram

  Nine days, starting under Karthika nakshatra and ending under Uthram nakshatra, in the Malayalam month of Meenam.

• JuneKalasham

  Concludes the year's Theyyam period.

• 10th IdavamPerum kaliyattam

  A Theyyam is performed during this festival, and the huge thirumudi of the Kalarivathukkal Amma Theyyam is one of its attractions.

Tips for your visit

• A Theyyam is performed at this temple during its festivals, so a festival visit is the best chance to see it.
• The temple has four sanctums, so one visit covers the shrines of Shiva, the Seven Mothers, Ganapathy, Veerabhadra and Kshetrapalakan.
• The main idol is made of kadu sarkara yogam, so rites and ablutions are done on a separate archana bimbam of the Devi.

Questions people ask