Mandaikadu Bhagavathy Amman Temple, Kanyakumari

Mandaikadu Bhagavathy Amman Temple, Kanyakumari

Architecture

Legend / Local stories

Sabarimala for Women:

Mandaikadu Bhagavathy Amman Temple is known as a Sabarimala for Women. The 15 feet tall anthill is the Bhagavathy Amman. Women visit the temple with the Irumudi (a bundle containing puja items for the Goddess) as men go to Sabarimala.

Shankaracharya attained Samadhi here:

His Holiness Sri Shankaracharya was performing Srichakra Puja with his Kerala disciples here. One day the Chakra did not turn back after the puja was over as usual. The Acharya stayed here itself and attained Samadhi. It is on this spot where the Srichakra existed, the anthill began to grow. It is believed that this idol is increasing in size by every year. Children playing this side and hitting the anthill were injured. Marthanda Varma, the king of Kerala came to know of these developments and built a temple and performed pujas regularly. Gradually, the temple assumed significance among the devotees. Today is a famous temple blessing the devotees.

Growth of Sand Hill:

Few boys who were playing with a palm fruit dropped it inadvertently on the hill. Immediately blood began to ooze from the hill. Scared by this turn of events the children ran to bring the elders to the spot. The elders believed that this was Bhagavathy who was guarding the area and began lighting a lamp daily at the temple. Soon one day there was an incident. A few people were entering the village at midnight. Knocking at the doors of the villagers, they asked them to provide them some food as they were very hungry. The villagers however, were not very hospitable and directed them to the temple nearby to find their own food.

Dusk was fast approaching and the village was on the fringes of a dense jungle on the coast. So, the people were scared. Still they went to the temple and said “Mother please give us some food.” Miraculously they heard a voice that said “go take a bath and return, you will get food.” They dutifully did what they were told and Bhagavathy is said to have fed them herself. After a sumptuous meal, they slept in the temple premises. The next morning when they woke up they had a vision of the goddess smiling benevolently at them. Immediately, they left several valuables they had brought with them in a sack and left. Meanwhile the King of Travancore had a vision of Bhagavathy in his dream. She told him to build a temple for her with the money left by the travelers.

Next day the king visited the place which had appeared in his dreams and fulfilled the wishes of the goddess. However, as he began construction of the temple, the sand hill continued growing in size. They had to demolish the temple twice because of its gaining height. So, the king implored the goddess not to grow in height. But the goddess said that it would not be possible. However, she said that she would grow only the size of a grain each year. It is believed that to this day the sand hill is growing in height each year.

Folklore of Velu Thampi:

There is a folk history that Velu Thampi, a minister of Travancore, took over the temple from a local Nayar Tharavadu at Colachel, after a tussle, and the then Karanavar cursed him and killed himself, later Velu Thampi himself driven to the same fate after his fights with the British. The takeover of Hindu temples by the state ensued during the British times in Travancore later

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How to Reach:

The temple is situated in Mandaikadu village in Kanyakumari District of Tamilnadu on the sea shore near to the Nagercoil – Colachel State Highway. Mandaikadu is well connected with Roads and Railways. The Temple is located at about 20 Kms from Nagercoil, 34 Kms from Kanyakumari, 11 Kms from Rajakkamangalam, 5 Kms from Colachel, 8 Kms from Eraniel, 20 Kms from Marthandam, 25 Kms from Thiruvattaru, 6 Kms from Thingal Nagar, 14 Kms from Padmanabhapuram, 25 Kms from Suchindrum and 66 Kms from Thiruvananthapuram.

By Road:

Mandaikadu Bus Stand is located adjacent to the Temple. Bus facilities are available to Nagercoil from almost all parts of Tamilnadu. Devotes can reach Mandaikadu by road. Frequent Bus services are available from Thuckalay, Thingal Nagar, Colachel, and Nagercoil. Devotees find difficulties for the transportation during this 10 days Kodai festival because of crowd. During this festival time, Tamilnadu public transportation has arranged special buses from different places to this temple.

By Train:

Nearest Railway Stations are Eraniel Railway Station (7 Kms) and Nagercoil Railway Station (20 Kms).

By Air:

Nearest Airport is Thiruvananthapuram Airport (67 Kms).

Festivals

The Kodai festival at Mandaikadu is a major celebration in the region and as in Sabarimala people flock here, especially women. To accommodate the large populations special buses run between Nagercoil and nearby towns at the time, there are also chain services operated from Thiruvananthapuram. The idol here is unique and is earthy. The worship is also unique as it is not forbidden to cook and eat non-vegetarian foods, as in most other major Hindu temples, during the festival.

One can see meat being cooked during these days around the temple. This festival falls in the month of March – April of the English calendar. During the festival, the Tamilnadu Tourism Department arranges photographic exhibition and other programs. This festival draws huge crowds of around 10 lakh people. Mandaikadu Kodai Festival is celebrated on last Tuesday in the Tamil month of “Masi” every year. Festival will start ten days prior to this Tuesday.ie, Sunday with flag hoisting in flag mast of the temple.

At the time of flag hoisting, priest along with devotees will go for holy bath in the morning and will return with a pot of holy water. The holy water will be sprayed all over the temple premises and cleaned by the cypress cleaning bigcitymaids.com. Then only the festival will start. Throughout the 10 days every day at 8.30 pm after the poojas are over, the goddess will be taken in procession around the temple streets.

Valiya Padukkai:

It is the sixth day festival held on Friday within the Kodai festival. Even though poojas done for all 10 days. Pooja done at 8.30 pm in this sixth day has more importance and speciality. Lot of devotees will take part in this occasion.

Odukku Pooja:

Odukku Pooja will be held on the tenth day night at 1am. This is the last pooja of Mandaikadu Kodai festival.

Ettam Kodai:

Once the Kodai festival is over, coming eighth day Tuesday will be called as Ettam Kodai. In the Ancient days, people around the nearby village peoples took part in this occasion. But nowadays people from all over district and nearby Kerala state coming in large numbers to celebrate this festival. Special bus services are operated from nearby towns for the devotee’s transportation.

Bharani Kodai:

In the Tamil month of Panguni, Panguni star will occur on one day and that day will be celebrated as Bharani Kodai. Peoples around the Mandaikadu area believe that goddess Mandaikadu Amman born in this day.

Apart from the above festival, Pournami (Poornima), Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays are important days in this temple.

Contact Details

Bhagavathy Amman Temple,
Mandaikadu, Kanyakumari District – 629 702
Phone: +91 4651 222 596
Email: [email protected]