Irumkulangara Durga Devi Temple
Irumkulangara Devi temple is an ancient and oldest pilgrim center situated in Thottam, Manacaud. It is about 1.8 kilometres to the southwest of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram city.
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 from where it got its name: "irum" means two and "kulam" means pond. It is believed that the temple has a 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 pooja and rituals. Unlike other Durga devi temples, rituals like Thottampaattu and Ottam are restricted here. Red coloured flowers, except thetti, are banned. Other flowers such as tulsi, jasmine, lotus, Nandyarvattom, etc. are used.
A kavu (small forest patch) which houses the serpent Gods is common in Travancore. The pond in front of the temple gives a beautiful reflection of it. The Temple Thanthri Brahmasree Tharananalloor Parameshwaran Namboodiripad (same as Sree Padmanabhaswamy and Koodalmanikyam temples) and now the temple is under the control of Sree Irumkulangara Durga Devi Temple Trust.
It was renovated with a new chuttambalam and sivelippura which is an excellent example of Kerala Vasthu Vidya and temple architecture in the new age. The renovation was carried out under the guidance of Vastu Shasthra expert Kanippayyur Krishnan Namboodiripad; the temple architect was Manacaud S Narayanamoorthy and it was inaugurated by Sree Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma Maharaja of Travancore on 25 December 2009.
One important aspect of the temple is that the deity appears as Durgabhagavathi, an avatar of AdiParasakthi. Karthika is considered as the star of the deity. The sarpakavu (serpent grove) which houses the serpent gods was awarded by Kerala Government Department of Forest and Wildlife as one of the best maintained groves. In 2011, the temple created a Nakshtravanam (trees relating to birth stars) on the premises.
Location
Manacaud
Main Deity
Goddess Durga
Other Deities
Lord Ganesh, Nagaraja, Brahm Rakshas, Bhairava Moorthy, Madan Thampuran & Navagraha
Festivals
The Painkuni Mahothsavam, the major festival of the temple, is mostly held in the month of March. 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 and BhagavathiSeva — All days of Karkidakom (evening). Vavu Bali — In the month of Karkidakom.
Main Offerings
Aayilya Pooja (Nagaraja), Aikyasooktha Archana, Aravana Payasam, Bhagavathy Seva, Bhagya Sooktha Archana, Chuttu Vilakku, Kalabhabhishekam, Nagaroottu (during Festival) (Nagaraja), Sahasra Namaarchana, Visheshal Bhagavathy Seva.
How To Reach
By Air: Trivandrum International Airport is situated at 6.2KM from the temple.
By Rail: Trivandrum Central Railway Station is 3.5KM from the Temple.
By Road: Trivandrum KSRTC Bus Station is 8.3KM from the Temple.