Madayi Kavu Temple is a sacred Hindu temple and well known among the devotees with the name- Thiruvarkkadu Bhagavathy. This holy temple is positioned in Madayi, Payangadi and is also known as Madayi Kavu It is a very popular pilgrimage as it is famed with as the mother temple of all Bhadrakali shrines of North Kerala. Mythology says that the temple is a revered idol of Chirakkal Royal Family and a shrine of Chirakkal devaswom also.
Sree Madayi Thiruvarkkadu Temple Timings:
Morning: 5:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Evening: 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Sree Madayi Thiruvarkkadu Temple History:
Thiruvarkadu Bhagavathi Temple (a.k.a. Madayi Kavu) is the mother temple of all Bhadrakali shrines of North Kerala. The deity is the Fierce form of Bhadrakali. The Bhagavathy is addressed by tantric in the vicinity as Tiruvarkkad Achchi due to this. The temple administration is Malabar Devaswom Board. The temple is a revered shrine of Chirakkal Royal Family and a shrine of Chirakkal devaswom before. The temple is situated in Madayi, Payangadi, hence prominently known as Madayi Kavu.
The temple is addressed as Thiruvarkkadu Bhagavathy, Thiruvar-in proto-Tamil-Manipravalam is used to address Shiva of the shrine, i.e. The most respectable one. The temple architecture of some shrines in the region shows how the Goddess is perceived in the region. The temples such as Annapoorneshwari temple and Madayikkavu has strong Brahminic influence. The Brahmin women in ancient time were not allowed to show their faces in the sit-out, they were mostly inside their home and was addressed as Andarjanam by Kerala Brahmins. The Goddess is considered as Brahmin Mother and hence do not face the temple entrance gate, her sanctum is inside the shrine; the sanctum that one can see while entering from the front entrance is of Shiva (also due to the tantric temple architecture Rurujith Vidhanam) and in Annapoorneshwari Temple it is Krishna’s shrine in the front entrance. So the temple is known by the name of Shiva rather than the Goddess. Tiruvarkaadu means The forest of the Lord.
There are different folklore about the origin of the temple. One of the legends says, The Bhagavathy, Madayikkavilamma was residing in the Rajarajeshwara Temple. But, as she was non-vegetarian she could not exist in the Shiva temple. She ordered the then King of that region to construct a separate shrine for her.
In another legend, long ago Madayi was troubled by a demon Darika and Madayikavilamma killed him and requested Shiva to enshrine in a temple near him. Lord Shiva ordered his disciple Parashuram to consecrate a shrine for the Shakti. Parashurama created the Madayippara and the Holy shrine on it. The shrine is considered the last resort for the removal of Occult Sorcery(Black Magic and Witchcraft).
There used to be a “strothasamuchayam” known as “panchasthavi” in Kashmir province. There were Laghustuthi, ghatasthi, Charchasthuthi, Ambasthuthi, Sakalajananeestuthi. These five came unbder “sreevidyasambrathaaya” which stipulates like Aanavopayam, Saakthopayam, Saambhavopayam, anupoyam etc. These were practiced by the Bhattakaaras of Kashmir. One of the Bhattakarar traveled from Kashmir towards the south and he has built 13 temples of Saakthyaaradhana. they are from the north starting from mannampurath kavu of Neeleswaram, Thiruvarkkattu Temple or Madaayi Temple, Kalarivathulkkavu of Valapattanam, Mamanikkunnu Temple near Mattannur, Thiruvancheri Temple near Koothuparambu, Kaliyam Temple near edacheri of Vadakara, Koyilandi Kollam Pisharikkavu, Thiruvalayanaadu Temple of Kozhikode, Modikkunnathu Temple near Pattambi, Thirumandamkunnu Temple of Angadipurath, Kodungallurkkavu, Muthoot Temple of Thiruvalla, Panayannar Temple of Mannar near thiruvalla.
The Pradanmar or the Brahmins performed the poojas came from Kashmir and they practiced Saaktheya pujas, which is practiced here at Madaayikkavu
During the incursion of Hyder Ali into Malabar, Circa 1780, Madayi Kavu was desecrated with the entrails of slaughtered cattle, following which a local Nair warrior named Vengayil Chathukutty beheaded the miscreant responsible for the act, delivering the severed head to temple authorities. Thereby the Nair family of Vengayil received the title of Nayanar.
Sree Madayi Thiruvarkkadu Temple Special Pooja::
Niramala
Valiya pooja
Shatrusamhara Pooja
Pushpanjali
Raktha Pushpanjali
Enna Vilakku
Nei Vilakku
Trumadhuram
Vella Nivedyam
Choroon
Swarnam Thali
Sree Madayi Thiruvarkkadu Temple Festivals:
Kartika Sankramam
Chingam Onnu
Onam
Ashtami Rohini
Vinayaka Chaturthi
Navarathri
Durgashtami
Mahanavami
Vijayadasami
Deepavali
Mandalam Start
Guruvayoor Ekadasi
Trikkarthika
Mandala Pooja
Kadalayi Sri Kalarivathukkal Temple Dress Code:
For Men: Dhoti or Mundu without shirts or banyan
For Women’s: Saree and Pavada are allowed. (Salvar sets and modern dresses are not allowed)
Note:
How to Reach SreecTemple:
By Air
The nearest airport to Sree Madayi Thiruvarkkadu Temple is Kozhikode International Airport is 138 km and Mangalore International Airport is 126 km.
By Rail:
Mangalore Railway Junction is the nearest Railway Junction which is just 152 km from the temple.
By Road:
Pazhayangadi is well connected to other major cities of the country via regular buses.
Sree Madayi Thiruvarkkadu Temple Address:
Madayi Para,
Pazhayangadi,
Kannur,
Kerala – 670334
