Kollemcode Bhadrakali Temple, Kanyakumari
Kollemcode
Bhadrakali Temple is a Hindu Temple located at Kollemcode Village in
Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu. This village is beside the border area of
Kerala.
Legends
The sea
shore area extended from, today’s, Poovar of Trivandrum District to
Thengapattanam of Kanyakumari District was being called as Kalinga Rajapuram.
People who were beaten in the Kalinga War had trespassed to this place and the
king who was ruling this place on those days allowed them to continue their
remaining life here. And thereafter, this place was started being called as
Kalinga Rajapuram. These people worshiped Kali as their Goddess. Later, because
of the over flooded tidal waves, the people who lived there were wiped out and the
place was terribly demolished and vanished under the soil.
The myth
ends here but the name, Kalinga Rajapuram did not disappear and, still one of
the nearby places of Kollemcode is being known as Kalinga Rajapuram. Also,
there is a tale that the same Goddess, Kali is being worshipped as Kollemcode
Sree Bhadrakali Devi, today. The historic information which has been dug up
from the soil is also accepting the truth of aforesaid myth.
History
Kollemcode
is a beautiful village located at the seashore in Vilavancode Taluk of southern
Travancore. Travancore province was famous as various synonyms such as
Sreevazhumkode, Vanchibhoomi, Venadu Dharmarajyam. This province was ruled by
Chola Kings, Kings of Shree Padmanabha Kulasekhara. The Kollemcode Sree Bhadrakali
Devi Temple is a jewel to this natural province. Once praised as the beauty
spot of Travancore, Kollemcode Temple now belongs to Kanyakumari District of
Tamil Nadu.
The
Temple
Though
Shree Bhadrakali Devi is believed to be appeared here as dual form of Shakti
viz. Bhadra and Kali, the devotees gets the blessings from the unified form of
Mother Durga. These Goddess' reside in semi-circular "Mudis" (The
artificial statue of Goddess) which are decorated with Snake Hood structures
carved from jack tree wood. Kollemcode is the one and only place of its kind
because two temples for a single deity in the same province that too in a place
which is renowned for its natural beauty.
The
"Moola Kshetram" (Parent Temple) "Shree Vattavila Bhadrakali
Mudippura" is located not too far from the greenish paddy fields of Kollemcode
province. This temple is believed to have omni presence of Goddess and daily
worship (Pooja) is being conducted here. Besides this, there is another
"Mudippura" at Venkanji province where festivals are celebrated.
Thookka Mahotsavam is celebrated in Meenabharani, birth date of the Goddess is
celebrated at Venkanji Temple.
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple opens at 5 am in the morning and closes at 11.45 am in the evening opens
at 5pm and closes at 8 pm. Please note that the darshan timing will be extended
during festivals and important rituals. The opening and closing time will be
curtailed when there is grahan or eclipse. The temple will have extended hours
during festivals especially the Thookkam festival on Bharani Nakshatram in
Meenam month (March – April).
Festivals
The
Bharani Festival during the Malayalam month of Meenam – March – April is the
most important festival. The Thookkam is celebrated at Venkanji Mudippura 1 km
away from Kollemcode Mudippura where the deities are preserved. The Thookkam is
an offering particularly favored by the Devi and it is popular among the
devotees in an around of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The festival lasts fourteen
days. The most famous Thookkam is a sight to see not explain. On the first day
of the festival ‘Devizhunnullathu from Kollemcode Mudippura to Venkanji
Mudippura is accompanied by elephants, various kinds of melams of the best
artists of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. An important aspect of the festival is the hoisting
of the Temple Flag. Lakhs of people participate irrespective of caste, creed
and race.
Every
year the offering of Pongala is a special temple practice on the Pathamudayam
Day of the Malayalam month ‘Medam’ – April. Thousands of devotees assemble from
different parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. They observe Pongala rituals in and
around of the temple Laksharchana is the most important part of the ‘Pongala
Mahotsavam’. Kaliyoottu is conducted once in twelve years. According is legends
Lord Siva created Bhadrakali to get rid of the atrocities of the giant Durikan.
Sree Bhadrakali beheaded Durikan in the battle. The festival lasts four ten
days. On the last day the ground battle takes place. Lakhs of people gather to
witness the battle.
Thookkam Festival:
Thookkam
is an offering by the devotees to Bhadrakali. Wedded couples offer Thookkam for
their children who are one year old or below. They offer Thookkam for
Bhadrakali when children were born without any major health issues by her
grace. Every year there would be more than 1200 Thookkams. The duration of the
festival is 10 days. On the first day the goddess will be taken to Venkanji
from Kollemcode. The diety will reside in Venkanji until the festival is over
(10 days). The devotees should register their offering on the fourth day of the
festival.
The 10th
day is the final day when the major festival called Thookkam is conducted. The
devotee will hand over their child to a person (thookkakaran), who is hung by
means of a hook at the end of the bow (Villu) of the cart. There are two bows
made up of wood at a length of 45’ each. Each carry two thookkakarans, each
thookkakaran carries a child in his hand. In each cart there will be four
children. The cart is pulled by people around the temple.
Thookkam
must be seen in direct and it’s hard to explain the divine experience that is
felt. The devotees offer gifts and money as compliments to the thookkakaran. All
the necessary arrangements are made by the Devaswom trust. The temple is under
the control of Bhadra kali Devaswom trust which consists of eleven elected
members of eleven Nair families. All the poojas and offerings are made by the
blacksmith Poojaris who are appointed by the Devaswom trust.
Contact
Kollemcode
Bhadrakali Temple,
Kollemcode,
Kanyakumari District,
Phone: +91 04651 – 246 130 / 247 230
Connectivity
The
Temple is located at about 3 Kms, 11 Kms from Munchirai, 20 Kms from Marthandam,
15 Kms from Kuzhithurai, 47 Kms from Nagercoil, 66 Kms from Kanyakumari and 43
Kms from Thiruvananthapuram. Nearest Railway Station is located at Kuzhithurai
and Nearest Airport is located at Thiruvananthapuram.
