The embodiment of peace, power and sanctity, Earayil Koottummel Bhagavathy is the divine incarnate of the ever-loving, serene and ever-gracious Kodungalloor Bhagavathy. Centuries back, a namboothiri from the ‘Pazhoormana’ in Alappuzha District worshipped the divine mother. Later on their ‘Thevara Vigraha’ came to be worshipped as Earayil Koottummel Bhagavathy by millions. The blessed family of Eda
nattu Panickers offered the holy land for the divine mother’s abode. The entire construction of the temple including the ‘Nalambalam’ was completed in the year 950, according to the Malayalam Calendar. The gracious family of ‘Nainadathu’ rendered help in the form of gold and grains for the completion of the ‘Gopuram’ of the temple and the ‘Chuttambalam’. The devotees offered lots of paddy fields and plain lands at the divine mother’s feet and worshipped her. Bhagavathy’s divine presence was felt, identified and worshipped in the surrounding places of Earayil Koottummel like Neelamperoor, Valady and Moothedathu. Earayil Koottummel Bhagavathy is attended upon by ‘Arukula’, whose divine presence is strongly felt outside the Northern gate of the temple compound. A symbolic lamp is always lit glorifying the holy presence. Adjacent to ‘Arukula’, the divine presence of ‘Velichappad’ is also felt and worshipped. The Sanctum Sanctorum of Lord Shiva is on the North Eastern corner of the temple, Vettakkorumakan is on the South Eastern corner inside the chuttambalam. The nada of the Arukula and Velichapadu is on the North Eastern corner outside the chuttamabalam. The Prathishta of Lord Ayyappa and Lord Ganapathy are on the South Western corner in the ‘Thidappally’ behind the Sreekovil and Sarpakavu is situated on the South Western Corner outside the main gate. All the Upadevathas are worshipped with dedication and utmost bhakthi (reverence) by the thousands of devotees. The holy land of Earayil Koottummel was blessed and redeemed by the power of Bhagavathy during an outbreak of small pox in the area. The ‘velichappadu’ brought the blessings of the divine mother in the form of ‘Udavaal’ to the afflicted houses and cured them. From then on, this was observed as a tradition every year and Bhagavathy’s ‘thiruayudham ezhunnallippu’ is celebrated and conducted in all its sanctity and dedication along with ‘Parayeduppu’. May the incessant blessings and grace of the ever loving mother be always bestowed upon her devotees.
