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Vellayani Devi Temple is a popular devotional centre in Trivandrum, situated about nine kilometers away from Trivandrum Railway Station. Vellayani Devi Temple is said to be build in the 14th century AD. The main attraction of this temple is its picturesque view, since it is situated on the banks of Vellayani Lake. Goddess Kali is the major deity worshipped here. Other sub deities of Vellyani Devi Temple include Lord Ganapathy, Lord Siva and the Nagaraja. There is a separate shrine for Madan Thampuran in the Temple.
Vellayani Devi Temple is famous for celebrating the lengthy festival lasting for 50 days, which is a record in South India. The name of this festival is Kaliyoottu Mahothsavam, means the festival of feeding the Goddess Kali. People from different places visit this temple for workshipping their favourite Goddess during Kaliyoottu Mahothsavam.
This old shrine is situated on the banks of the beautiful Vellayani Lake. It is one of the most famous and historic temples in Kerala. The main deity for worship is Devi, in her form as Goddess Kali. (It is important for western tourists to note that this confirms the Hindu ideology that God exists in different forms and that the underlying spark of life is one and the same. The tourists should recognize that such an ideology has enabled Hindus to accept other religions and sects).
The temple has a big idol known in the local Malayalam language as Thirumudi. This idol is four and a half feet in height as well as width. The idol is Bhadrakali, supposed to have incarnated as the daughter of Lord Shiva. Pure gold ornaments and several precious stones decorate the frontal view of this impressive and large idol.
The Vellayani Devi temple is also noteworthy because it has no inhibitions against other religions and allows Christians, Muslims, and Jews etc also to enter and worship here. This is a good holiday spot for visitors interested in places which are off the beaten track.
Location : Vellayani Devi Temple, Kalliyur, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
Gods : Goddess Bhadrakali, Lord Ganapathy, Lord Shiva, Nagaraja
Landmark : Nearest Airport : Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (15 km) Nearest Railway Station : Thiruvananthapuram Railway Station, about 9 Kms. Nearest Bus Station : Thiruvananthapuram
Festivals :
The Vellayani Devi Temple Pongala Festival attrats thousands of devotees from in and around Trivandrum, Kerala.
Kaliyoottu Mahotsavam at Vellayani Devi Temple is the major festival celebrated here, once in 3 years. Vellayani Devi Temple Kaliyoottu Mahotsavam is renowned for being the longest non pilgrimage festival of South India, celebrated for 50 days.
The main festival is ‘Kaliyoottu Mahotsavam'.This is the longest (50 days) non pilgrimage festival any where in India. It is held once in 3 years. The literal meaning is "the festival to sumptuously feed the Devi”; in all her resplendent power and glory. During this occasion of the tri-annual festival, thousands of people from all over the State visit the temple to offer their prayers and respects to the deity.
The second most important festival at Vellayani is called 'Kalamkaval'.In this ritual, the chief priest, not necessarily a Brahmin, carries the main idol on his head and performs some trance like dances until he is unconscious. Local people believe that the priest gets strength to carry on the trance with the idol on his head, due to the blessings of the Devi...
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The Vellayani Devi is a highly revered shrine in Kerala, India, dedicated to goddess Bhadrakali. The shrine is situated in Vellayani 1.5 km west of Vellayani junction, 12 km southeast of Thiruvananthapuram on the eastern bank of Vellayani Lake. The temple is under the management of Travancore Devaswom Board.The temple structure has a bronze roof with traditional art work and carries Dravidian architecture.The temple has eastern and northern towers called Gopurams with statues of different Gods sculptured in them. The Gopurams function as gateways through the walls that surround the temple complex.The temple enshrines Goddess Bhadrakali as the presiding deity. The idol stands for Goddess Bhadrakali, the daughter of Lord Shiva. Goddess Kali is situated toward the north (vadakke nada). The idol is known in the local Malayalam language as Thirumudi. The idol of the Goddess in the Vellayani temple is one of the largest among the idols of Kerala Kali temples.The idol is four and a half feet in height as well as width. Pure gold and precious stones decorate the frontal view of the idol.
Other deities worshipped at the Vellayani Devi temple called Upadevatha's temples include Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesh and Nagaraja. The temple also has a small sub-temple where another deity Madan Thampuran is enshrined.
In the temple Antler is also worshipped. The circulating notion about this is that the antler serves as a medium to invoke the spirit of the divinity at a new-built temple. One of the antlers kept in the Sanctum sanctorumoriented towards the east is from...
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About Thirumudi...... "Three thousand crore cobra snake's hair is cut, Goddess Mother"... It says in the song of defeat.... The concept is as the crown of Thirumudi Bhadrakali Devi.... Thirumudi is taken in Varikkaplavu.... The sculptor fasts very hard with worship, wears tears and works only till that wet dress dries.... Thirumudi is done with the sculpture called Sarpakettu. In this crown, the sculptor has been carved out of snakes, mate snakes and single snakes.. These snakes are known as "Maninagangal". With the size and relevance that is familiar to us all, the Thirumudi 8 Nair family of Vellayani which is the most beautiful in Thirumudikal today was dedicated by the 8 Nair families of Thirumudi, gold, expensive jewels and royal family in Thirumudi.. Even the Thirumudi in Vellayani is made of beads of snake beads and is adorned by an elephant in two branches on both sides. Elephant and lion are kept as ornaments in some Thirumudiks. This is being put as symbols of strength. Bhadrakali emerges as a powerful Shakti Swaroopini to destroy all kinds of evil forces and evils belonging to man, representing that Bhadrakali.... Though she is a goddess when Thirumudi is worn on her head, that blessing means "praising peace" is imagined as a goddess when the thirumudi is put on the head. When walking with Thirumudi, that is on the shoulder, he is seen as an obedient Vethali of...
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