Urakathamma Thiruvadi Temple
The temple also known as Valayadheeswari Temple is close to the famous Peruvanam Sree Mahadeva temple. The magnificent ancient Devi temple is situated in Urakam, a serene village. The Temple is one amongst the 108 Durga temples in Kerala.
The legend has it that the deity is the same as of Sree Kamakshi of Kanchi in Tamil Nadu. According to the local history, Poomulli Namboothiri (also sometimes referred to as Thiruvalayannur Bhattathiri) founded Ammathiruvadi temple about 700–1000 years ago. Due to the atrocities and calamities happening within the Desham, elders suggested three prominent members from the community, viz, Valaya Bhattathiri, Kadalayil Namboothiri and then Komarathu Menon to travel to Kancheepuram and pray to goddess Kanchi Kamakshi and then please her and bring favourable solutions to ward off the evil effects happening that time. They all went and pleased with their prayers, happy with the devotion, Devi agreed to come with them to Urakam. Accordingly, Kanchi Kamakshi decided to come to Kerala on the palm leaf umbrella of Poomulli (Valayannur) Namboothiri. He reached home and placed the umbrella on the floor of his house. After a short nap, he came back and found that he was unable to take back the umbrella from the place where he kept. It was heavily grounded to the floor. Later upon further investigation it was confirmed that Kanchi Kamakshi was residing on that umbrella. The goddess came in Namboothiri's dreams that night and let him know that he was supposed to build a temple for the goddess and leave Ūrakam towards North. She also let him know that he was to find an idol in a well far away and reinstate the goddess from the umbrella onto that idol. Namboothiri did as the goddess wished. He built the temple, after a short period of administration of the temple matters by the Poomulli family, he left all that he owned to the temple, and gave the administration to the Maharaja of Cochin. From then on the goddess was known as the Ammathiruvadi.
Location
Urakam
Main Deity
Goddess Durga
Other Deities
Lord Ganesha & Lord Ayyappa
Festivals
Trikarthika in the Malayalam month of Meenam & Navarathri are the main Festivals.
Main Offerings
Pushpanjali, Otta Appam Ney Vilakku, Appam and Neipayasam
How To Reach
By Air: Cochin International Airport is situated 44.8 KM from the Temple.
By Rail: Thrissur Railway Station is situated 13.3 KM from the Temple.
By Road: Thrissur KSRTC Bus Stand is situated 13.4 KM from the Temple.