Kavinpuram Devi Temple



Information of Kavinpuram Devi Temple, Kottayam, Kerala


Kavinpuram Devi Temple is located in the vicinity of the towns Pala and Ramapuram in the Kottayam district of Kerala. This temple is considered to be a unique one due to the idol that is instated here. The main idol that devotees worship here is a representation of Lord Shiva and his consort Goddess Parvati together which is very uncommon in the Hindu temples. The importance of this temple is further boosted by the legend which dates back to the years of the Mahabharata.

Kavinpuram Devi Temple Religious Importance

The temple is a highly revered one and the religious practices here are of the ancient times. This temple recognizes festivities and rituals that have long died out in many other parts of the country. The main festival of the temple is held during the month of Dhanu in the Hindu calendar. The 12th and 13th day of this month is considered very auspicious and therefore a grand celebration is held here. The main attraction of this festival is the "Kavipuram Thalappoli" which has the ritual of people in a procession with oil lamps at night. This particular ritual brings together almost the entire Hindu population of the nearby towns.

Other than this festival the temple also recognizes festivals such as Pongal and Naranga Vilakku which falls on the Hindu month of Vrischikom. The temple also has it set of daily rituals and worships which are known as Aaranaazipayasam, Niramala and Puspanjali. The temple is known to bless especially the longevity of the married life of its devotees along with happiness and prosperity. This particular ritual that is carried out to bless the married couples is known as Swayamvara Puspanjali and is carried out every Monday evenings.

Kavinpuram Devi Temple Mythology & History

The temple has been referred in the Hindu epic Mahabharata where Arjuna, the third brother of the Pandavas was passing through a forest when Lord Shiva and Parvati decided to humiliate him. His humiliation by the gods was brought about to crush his ego as an excellent archer and warrior. The lord and his consort disguised themselves as two primitive hunters of the forest known as "Kiratha" and "Kirathi" to challenge Arjuna in a fight which he accepted. He was defeated miserably and humiliated by them. He then realized that these two hunters must be Lord Shiva and Parvati in disguise, therefore he asked for forgiveness in humility. In return he was blessed by them and this vey posture of the gods blessing him is depicted in the temple idol.

Kavinpuram Devi Temple Architectural Significance

The temple is a vey ancient one and its proper date of establishment has never been discovered. The temple actually was found in ruins and with the help of the local community it has been revived. At present the temple has been fully renovated with a main shrine that holds the joined idol of Lord Shiva and Parvati, numerous other shrines dedicated to deities and gods of the Hindu culture.

The temple has an inner courtyard where there are small temples constructed for Lord Shiva's son Ganesha and another for Lord Sastha. In addition to these smaller temples, there are also others dedicated to Naga Raja, Naga Yakshi, Rakshas and Naga Kanyaka. All these gods and deities are related to Lord Shiva in some way or the other.

As this temple was built on the ruins of an ancient temple that has not been dated, the sanctity and reverence for it is very high among the devotees.