Sri MAHISHASURA MARDINI Temple - VAAL VACCHA GOSHTAM
Vaal veccha Goshtam (Malayalam) = Vaal vaittha Kottam (pure tamil)
is a beautiful place , 3 kms off Kaataathurai, in the Nagerkovil-Trivandrum
National Highway (NH47). Kings of the royal family (Travancore) had / have
great interest in this temple. Presiding Deity MAHISHASURA MARDINI.
Devi is in a standing posture.
Her right leg is placed on Mahishasuran’s head.
She is with 2 lions and a big sword in hand.
This is a 7 feet tall stone statue. The head is slightly slanted towards her left.
Though she is Mahishasura mardini, she looks so gracious, kind and benevolent.
She holds a Shanku and Chakra on her upper hands.
The lower hands are a right ‘ abhaya ‘mudra hastam and her left (lower/front)
hand resting on her left thigh – a posture named as Kati-bandha.
Mythology
Lord Parasurama after killing the Kshatriyas 22 times around the earth
came down to this place. He washed and purified his sword and placed it
in front of the Devi Mahishasuramardini. Hence this name was referred as
Vaal – kazhugi-veccha-goshtam ( a temple where the sword was washed and placed) .
this slowly became Vaal-veccha-goshtam. Its apt to note that we get a place
by name “Parasu vaikkal” near Neyyattinkara in Trivandrum district.
They say that, this is the place where Lord Parasurama placed his axe (parasu),
after his war against the Kshatriyas, and hence the name of the place
is parasu-vaikkal
Legend
The story goes around Kaalisankara Variyaar
(belonging to the ambalavaasi community – serving the temple).
He was an ardent devi devotee and a tantric too. He was working as an accountant
to Edathara Potti who was well known in this belt that time.
oNe day Variyar was returning home late after work. He found 2 beautiful ladies
crossing him in the night. He was able to identify that they were not normal ladies,
but were having divine powers. He gave the 2 dvine energies a seat beneath the near by
Marutha tree and left the place assuring that he will get a temple for the 2 deities -
The 2 deities being – Mahishasura mardini and her friend Yakshi. He discussed with
Edathara Potti and with the help of Venad king the temple was erected
under the supervision of Kalisanakara variyar.
continue ............
Vaal veccha Goshtam (Malayalam) = Vaal vaittha Kottam (pure tamil)
is a beautiful place , 3 kms off Kaataathurai, in the Nagerkovil-Trivandrum
National Highway (NH47). Kings of the royal family (Travancore) had / have
great interest in this temple. Presiding Deity MAHISHASURA MARDINI.
Devi is in a standing posture.
Her right leg is placed on Mahishasuran’s head.
She is with 2 lions and a big sword in hand.
This is a 7 feet tall stone statue. The head is slightly slanted towards her left.
Though she is Mahishasura mardini, she looks so gracious, kind and benevolent.
She holds a Shanku and Chakra on her upper hands.
The lower hands are a right ‘ abhaya ‘mudra hastam and her left (lower/front)
hand resting on her left thigh – a posture named as Kati-bandha.
Mythology
Lord Parasurama after killing the Kshatriyas 22 times around the earth
came down to this place. He washed and purified his sword and placed it
in front of the Devi Mahishasuramardini. Hence this name was referred as
Vaal – kazhugi-veccha-goshtam ( a temple where the sword was washed and placed) .
this slowly became Vaal-veccha-goshtam. Its apt to note that we get a place
by name “Parasu vaikkal” near Neyyattinkara in Trivandrum district.
They say that, this is the place where Lord Parasurama placed his axe (parasu),
after his war against the Kshatriyas, and hence the name of the place
is parasu-vaikkal
Legend
The story goes around Kaalisankara Variyaar
(belonging to the ambalavaasi community – serving the temple).
He was an ardent devi devotee and a tantric too. He was working as an accountant
to Edathara Potti who was well known in this belt that time.
oNe day Variyar was returning home late after work. He found 2 beautiful ladies
crossing him in the night. He was able to identify that they were not normal ladies,
but were having divine powers. He gave the 2 dvine energies a seat beneath the near by
Marutha tree and left the place assuring that he will get a temple for the 2 deities -
The 2 deities being – Mahishasura mardini and her friend Yakshi. He discussed with
Edathara Potti and with the help of Venad king the temple was erected
under the supervision of Kalisanakara variyar.
continue ............