Varanad Devi Temple — Attraction in Kerala

The Varanad Devi temple is a very ancient temple situated on the North Eastern side of Chertala. The legend has it that Varanad Bhagavathy is the deity that was worshipped by a respected, aged Thampuran belonging to the Vayalar Putiyaykkal Kovilakam.  One day the Thampuran started on a journey to a relative’s house in Mannancherry . While travelling on a boat (Villu vallam) on the Vembanad lake, Thampuran had with him a Panchaloha idol of the Goddess, which contained the power of the goddess.  No sooner had the boat sailed into the Vembanad lake, than dark clouds heralding rain started to roll on the sky.  Even though it was the month of Kumbha, seeing the signs of rain, certain doubts arose in Thampuran’s mind.

Suddenly a fierce storm started raging with thunder and storm .The lake became furious. Huge waves started juggling with that small boat. Sensing that there would be a terrible calamity,  if the boat was not immediately taken to the shore, Thampuran soon directed the boat towards a nearby forest area.  It was a place overgrown with shrubs and trees.  He saw a big tree at some distance.  Once he pulled the boat on to the sand shore, Thampuran took his bundle and the idol of Devi and ran for shelter. When he reached there, he felt extremely happy.  Seeing a hollow bark of a huge sprawling tree, Thampuran climbed into it quickly. After a long time the storm subsided.  Thampuran emerged from the hollow of the tree, seeing that dawn was breaking.  After his bath and other duties, he took the bundle and the idol of the goddess from the hollow.  He made a small peetam (seat) with the sand and fixed the idol on it.  After that,  he poured ghee into the kodivilakku (lamp) and lit the lamp with fire from the urakallu.  He brought water in a folded leaf and conducted abhisheka. With the erikku flowers plucked from the surroundings, he offered archana to the goddess.  Deciding to continue his journey in the morning, he washed his hands and tried to take the idol from the sand and found that he could not lift the idol. However hard he tried, he could not.  Hearing the news, the landlord Vathiyattu Panicker and the people nearby came to the place. Thampuran who understood that Devi was not interested in going to any other place, did not find anything amiss with the incident.  He agreed entirely with the desire of the goddess. Since he had collected the sand with his hands and made a sand peetam for the goddess, the place came to be known as Variya Nadu. Later on this became Varanadu.  This is the legend associated with this place.  Soon after this incident, the Kizhakkedathu family who were staying nearby and the landlord Vathiyattu Karanavar together constructed the temple and installed the Devi idol.

The Vathiyattu family donated 24 acres of land for the running of the temple. Till date, the first Nivedya(offering) at this temple is that of Vathiyattu Tharavad. There were hundreds of devotees who bought property in the name of Devi and were proud to remain as the servants of Devi, paying a nominal land tax to the Devaswom. Many properties belonging to the Devaswom are said to have originated in this manner.  Many devotees bought clothes and ornaments and offered them to the goddess.

The copper kodimaram in the temple was made and offered to the goddess by the people of Vayalar around 100 years back.  In recent times, the Devaswom installed a Swarna Dhwaja. The Nair community members belonging to the Kizhakkubhagam Pathuveettil Karayogam, collected money for Nityashribali and gave it to the temple authorities. The Muriyanadu family arranged to lay the copper ceiling...

The Varanad Devi Temple is a very Ancient Temple situated on the North Eastern side of Chertala. It is about 3 kms from the Chertala Transport bus stand. The Devi is represented as riding on the Vethala after killing the demon Darika. She is decked in Ornaments and ready to Bless her devotees. The Holy Place is always througed by divotees coming from different parts of the country seeking the Blessings of the goddess. In almost all the famous Devi Temples of Kerala Pongala is performed as an offering. The devotees of Varanad are very particular that the Pongala should be performed in the ‘Varanad Devi’ Temple. The Devi of this Temple is said to Bless all her devotees and grant all their prayers and wishes.

The Devotees have informed the Devasom officials of the fulfilment of their prayers like the curing of incurable diseases, blind people being able to see and the dumb being able to speak, unmarried girls getting good marriage proposals, enimies turning into friends and the removal of various problems by the Blessings of the goddess. The Bharani Festival during the Malayalam month of “Kumbham” is the most important Festival. The “Garudan Thooku” is an offering particularly favoured by the Devi and it is popular among the devotees ‘Otta Thooku’ is also an important ‘Vazhipadu’ or offering. Uma Maheswara Pooja or Swayamvara Pooja is performed for removal of obstruction and delay in marriages. Many unmarried girls and boys are said to have benifitted by the performance of these special poojas and got good proposals. To remove obstacles caused by enemies and turning them into friends and to once come many problems the ‘Shatru Samhara Pushpanjale and “Rakta Pushpanjali are performed Thousands on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. “Guruthi” is performed in this Temple in the afternoon, and it is a very rare offering. Arunazhi Payasam is the another important offering to Devi by devotees. Advance booking is needed for this offering. During the “mandalakalam” that is from Vrichikam 1st (the middle of November) for 41 days there is a special Pooja every day. The Devis figure with four hands is drawn and works hipped by singing devotional songs and it is called “Kalamezhuttu” and “Pattu” on the 41 st day the Divine figure of the Devi is represented with 16 hands holding many weapons and devotees rush to the Temple to have the Darshan of the Bhagawathy in this form drawn in the “Mukhamandapam” of the Temple. This is supposed to be the “Poorna Roopam” of the Devi – the full Forms which can be seen only on this...

Varanad Devi TempleLocation: Cherthala, Alappuzha About The Temple: The Varanad Devi Temple is a very Ancient Temple situated on the North Eastern side of Chertala. It is about 3 kms from the Chertala Transport bus stand. The Devi is represented as riding on the Vethala after killing the demon Darika. She is decked in Ornaments and ready to Bless her devotees. The Holy Place is always througed by divotees coming from different parts of the country seeking the Blessings of the goddess. In almost all thefamous Devi Temples of Kerala Pongala is performed as an offering. The devotees of Varanad are very particular that the Pongala should be performed in the 'Varanad Devi Temple. The Devi of this Temple is said to Bless all her devotees and grant all their prayers and wishes. The Devotees have informed the Devasom officials of the fulfilment of their prayers like the curing of incurable diseases, blind people being able to see and the dumb being able to speak, unmarried girls getting good marriage proposals, enimies turning into friends and the removal of various problems by the Blessings of the goddess. The Bharani Festival during the Malayalam month of "Kumbham" is the most important Festival. The "Garudan Thooku" is an offering particularly favouredby the Devi and it is popular among the devotees 'Otta Thooku' is also an important 'Vazhipadu' or offering. Uma Maheswara Pooja or Swayamvara Pooja is performed for removal of obstruction and delay in marriages. Many unmarried girls and boys are said to have benifitted by the performance of these special poojas and got good proposals. To remove obstacles caused by enemies and turning them into friends and to once come many problems the 'Shatru Samhara Pushpanjale and "Rakta Pushpanjali are performed Thousands on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. "Guruthi" is performed in this Temple in the afternoon, and it is a very rare offering. Arunazhi Payasam is the another Important offering to Devi...