Kattil Mekkathil Temple
Kattil Mekkathil Temple
Kattil Mekkatil Bhagavatikshetra is a famous temple located at Panmana near Chavara in Kollam district -Kerala. This temple is also known as Manikettambalam.Sri Bhadrakali, the Parashakti , is known as Kattilamma or Mother of the Forest . Kattil Mekkatil Devikshetra is one of the rare temples located between the lake and the sea. On one side of the temple is the Arabian Sea and on the other T.S. Canal is also located.
This Temple is a small shrine which is known for its architectural significance. It is a Dravidian-style Temple. It is built based on the Vimana architectural feature. The Temple has four gopurams in four directions. The Chola and Pandya dynasties also influence the Temple.
Some people also believe Goddess arrived here with a crocodile as her mount. She has 3 eyes and 12 hands. The family named Kattil Pateetta was the one who brought the Goddess and established it here. These people were the ones who first lit the lamp, and it was called Malayil. Those who come to visit this Temple first approach the Kedavilakku, and then they head further.
It is said that in 2004, Tsunami happened that washed away everything, but it left the Temple intact; there was no harm made to this Temple. Since then, everyone got to know about it, and devotees started coming here more than ever.
The tying of the bells has been an important part of this place. Once, a bell fell from the flag post, and the priest then tied it to the nearby banyan tree. Soon many good things started happening in the priest’s life, which the priest noticed. Since then, more and more people have come here and started tying the bells in the tree as their wish.
After tying the bell, devotees also encircle the tree. When the wind blows, these bells ring uniformly, which produces divine-like sounds. Now, more than 4 lac bells are tied from this tree, and people can tie any number of bells they want.
Every Day the Temple offers Pongala, a sweet dish made of rice and jaggery in a clay pot.A festival is held here every year in the month of Scorpio (November). Devotees come here to participate in the twelve-day Vrischikotsavam.
