Narayan Ravi - Mumbai

Aadi Story

This is a long story!

A tribal man lived with his daughter in the forests near Chottanikkara. He used to sacrifice an animal daily to Bhadrakali. Once when he did not have an animal to sacrifice he asked his daughter to give her pet cow which she did not have the heart to do. They stayed with the cow all night near the place of sacrifice. The next morning the cow had turned into a stone. This was none other than Bhagavathi Herself. Vishnu appeared before the man and forgave all his sins saying that He would stay with Devi there forever. Hence the concept of 'Amme Narayana'. Many years later the idol was discovered by a grass cutter when he tried sharpening his knife blade on the idol and blood oozed out of it. A proper temple was then constructed for Devi and regular poojas were begun. There is also a legend of a yakshi who followed a Namboodiri all the way to the temple but could not harm him since he had the Devi Bhagavatam with him. When he resumed his journey after a break at a friend's house, he carried an enchanted towel with him which he threw away as he entered the temple. The yakshi caught hold of his legs but Devi came out and killed her and then washed herself in the temple pond, which is now called Rakta Kulam. Here Vilwamangala Swamiyar noticed a divine glow many years later and established the temple of Keezhkavu Bhagavathi, which is also the site where the tribal used to perform animal sacrifices.

It is believed that Devi Mookambika visits Chottanikkara every morning. Mookambika temple opens only after She returns. She is worshipped as Saraswati in the morning, Lakshmi at noon and Durga in the evening. May Chottanikkara Bhagavathi bless us all. Amme Narayana

Om Shakti