Madayi Kavu
Encyclopedia
Madayi Kavu, also known as Thiruvar Kadu Bhagavathi Temple, is a famous Hindu
temple dedicated to Kali Amma
in Kerala
, India
. The temple, now under the administration of Devaswom Board, was originally under the control of the Kolathiri
kings. The temple, situated in Madayi
near Payangadi
, is an important site of worship in the Kannur District
and Kerala region.
The temple is also associated with Mannanpurathu Kavu (Nileshwaram) dedicated to Kali
, and Vadukunnu Temple dedicated to Shiva
.
Madayiis a small place in Kannur District of Kerala State which is blessed with immense beauty of nature.
When one travel’s from Mangalore to Thiruvananthapura on National Highway 17, 170 km away is Kannur District. It is the native place of Goddess ‘Madayikavu Amma’.
Madayi is famous for Madayikavu (Thiruvar Kadu Bhagavathi Temple) where devotees worship as ‘Madayikavu Amma’.
'Madayikavu Amma', Goddess who is known for her blessings on devotees is worshipped as Mother Kali and it is a belief that any devotee who worship this Goddess with faith will be free from the black magic’s and witchcrafts of the enemies.
The origin of the temple is ancient, and the main deity worshipped here is Madayi Kavu Amma or Thiruvar Kadu Bhagavathi in the form of Maha Kali.
As per the history the temple existed from ancient time and there are two different stories about the existence of the deity.
In one of the stories, Madayikavu Amma who is in the form of Bhadrakali originally was existing in Shiva Kshethara Thiliparambha Rajarajeshwari temple. But, as she was non- vegetarian and could not continue to exist at Thiliparambha Rajarajeshwari temple, she ordered the then King of that region to construct a separate temple in her name. Then ‘Madayikavu’ temple came into existence as per the deity’s wish.
In another ancient story it is believed the people of Madayi were troubled by a demon named ‘Dharaka’ and Madayikavu Amma in the form of Kali killed him and requested Lord Shiva to give a place on earth where people can worship her always. Lord Shiva ordered his disciple Parashuram and as per his orders Parashuram hit the ground with his sword and the sea which made way for a hill was transformed into a “Punya Kshethara’ of mother Kali very popularly known as Madayi Kavu Ammaor Thiruvar Kadu Bhagavathi.
The origin of the temple is ancient, possibly preexisting Vedic
times. The main deity worshipped here is Madayi Kavu Amma or Thiruvar Kadu Bhagavathi who is Bhagavathi
in the form of Kali. The Bhagavathi is worshipped as the daughter of Shiva. Other deities are also present. The temple also contains a Shiva shrine. The Shiva shrine faces East, while the Mata Kali shrine faces towards the West. The Brahmin
priests at the temple, known as Podavar Brahmins, belong to a particular sect associated with Kali worship, and are not barred from consumption of meat. A particular aspect of the temple is Kozhi Kalasham, which is the sacrifice of poultry for the goddess which is held in high regard.
The temple was spared from destruction by Tipu Sultan
(whose followers destroyed the nearby Vadukunnu Temple). The Madayi Kavu temple was saved from destruction by a Nair
warrior, Vengayil Chathukutty Nayanar, who received the title of Nayanar
from the temple authorities for his bravery (Sthanaperu). Till this day members of the Vengayil Nayanar family are held in high esteem at the temple.
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
temple dedicated to Kali Amma
Kali
' , also known as ' , is the Hindu goddess associated with power, shakti. The name Kali comes from kāla, which means black, time, death, lord of death, Shiva. Kali means "the black one". Since Shiva is called Kāla - the eternal time, Kālī, his consort, also means "Time" or "Death" . Hence, Kāli is...
in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The temple, now under the administration of Devaswom Board, was originally under the control of the Kolathiri
Kolathiri
Kolathiri or Kolathiri Rājā was the title by which the senior most male along the matilinial line of the Mushika or Kolathunādu Royal Family was styled...
kings. The temple, situated in Madayi
Madayi
Madayi is a small place in Kannur district, Kerala, South India. It is located near Payangadi.Madayi is also the site of the famous Madayi Kavu where devotees worship Mother Kali, Shakthi. The Goddess is known for Her blessings on devotees, and the temple is also famous for the Koyikalasham...
near Payangadi
Payangadi
Payangadi means old market. Payangadi is a small township approximately 22 kilometers north of Kannur town, in Kerala, South India. The west side of this town is Madayi Hills and one side is Payangadi Rivers. Ezhimala, the hills with lot of medical herbs and ancient history is situated nearly 4...
, is an important site of worship in the Kannur District
Kannur district
Kannur District is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala, India. The town of Kannur is the district headquarters, and gives the district its name. The old name Cannanore is the anglicised form of the Malayalam name Kannur. Kannur District is bounded by Kasaragod District to the north and...
and Kerala region.
The temple is also associated with Mannanpurathu Kavu (Nileshwaram) dedicated to Kali
Kali
' , also known as ' , is the Hindu goddess associated with power, shakti. The name Kali comes from kāla, which means black, time, death, lord of death, Shiva. Kali means "the black one". Since Shiva is called Kāla - the eternal time, Kālī, his consort, also means "Time" or "Death" . Hence, Kāli is...
, and Vadukunnu Temple dedicated to Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
.
Madayiis a small place in Kannur District of Kerala State which is blessed with immense beauty of nature.
When one travel’s from Mangalore to Thiruvananthapura on National Highway 17, 170 km away is Kannur District. It is the native place of Goddess ‘Madayikavu Amma’.
Madayi is famous for Madayikavu (Thiruvar Kadu Bhagavathi Temple) where devotees worship as ‘Madayikavu Amma’.
'Madayikavu Amma', Goddess who is known for her blessings on devotees is worshipped as Mother Kali and it is a belief that any devotee who worship this Goddess with faith will be free from the black magic’s and witchcrafts of the enemies.
The origin of the temple is ancient, and the main deity worshipped here is Madayi Kavu Amma or Thiruvar Kadu Bhagavathi in the form of Maha Kali.
As per the history the temple existed from ancient time and there are two different stories about the existence of the deity.
In one of the stories, Madayikavu Amma who is in the form of Bhadrakali originally was existing in Shiva Kshethara Thiliparambha Rajarajeshwari temple. But, as she was non- vegetarian and could not continue to exist at Thiliparambha Rajarajeshwari temple, she ordered the then King of that region to construct a separate temple in her name. Then ‘Madayikavu’ temple came into existence as per the deity’s wish.
In another ancient story it is believed the people of Madayi were troubled by a demon named ‘Dharaka’ and Madayikavu Amma in the form of Kali killed him and requested Lord Shiva to give a place on earth where people can worship her always. Lord Shiva ordered his disciple Parashuram and as per his orders Parashuram hit the ground with his sword and the sea which made way for a hill was transformed into a “Punya Kshethara’ of mother Kali very popularly known as Madayi Kavu Ammaor Thiruvar Kadu Bhagavathi.
The origin of the temple is ancient, possibly preexisting Vedic
Vedic
Vedic may refer to:* the Vedas, the oldest preserved Indic texts** Vedic Sanskrit, the language of these texts** Vedic period, during which these texts were produced** Vedic pantheon of gods mentioned in Vedas/vedic period...
times. The main deity worshipped here is Madayi Kavu Amma or Thiruvar Kadu Bhagavathi who is Bhagavathi
Bhagavathi
Bhagavathi or Bhagavati is the general way people refer to the Hindu goddesses in Kerala, Goa and Maharashtra states of India. It can be used to refer any of the Hindu goddesses like Durga, Kannaki, Parvati, Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Kali...
in the form of Kali. The Bhagavathi is worshipped as the daughter of Shiva. Other deities are also present. The temple also contains a Shiva shrine. The Shiva shrine faces East, while the Mata Kali shrine faces towards the West. The Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
priests at the temple, known as Podavar Brahmins, belong to a particular sect associated with Kali worship, and are not barred from consumption of meat. A particular aspect of the temple is Kozhi Kalasham, which is the sacrifice of poultry for the goddess which is held in high regard.
The temple was spared from destruction by Tipu Sultan
Tipu Sultan
Tipu Sultan , also known as the Tiger of Mysore, was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore. He was the son of Hyder Ali, at that time an officer in the Mysorean army, and his second wife, Fatima or Fakhr-un-Nissa...
(whose followers destroyed the nearby Vadukunnu Temple). The Madayi Kavu temple was saved from destruction by a Nair
Nair
Nair , also known as Nayar , refers to "not a unitary group but a named category of castes", which historically embody several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom bore the Nair title. These people historically live in the present-day Indian state of Kerala...
warrior, Vengayil Chathukutty Nayanar, who received the title of Nayanar
Nayanar
Nayanar can refer to:*Nayanars, Shaivite saints from Tamil Nadu, India.*Nayanar , an honorific title used by certain clans of Nair caste from the north Malabar region of Kerala, India.*Nayanar, title used by Isai Vellalar of Tamil Nadu...
from the temple authorities for his bravery (Sthanaperu). Till this day members of the Vengayil Nayanar family are held in high esteem at the temple.