Ūrakam Ammathiruvadi Temple

Ūrakam Ammathiruvadi Temple is located about 12 km away from Thrissur, in the village of Ūrakam. It is regarded as one of the great 108 Durga temples.

History / Mythical Origins

According to the Kerala folklore, Poomulli Namboothiri (also sometimes reffered to as Thiruvalayannur Bhattathiri) founded Ūrakam temple about 700-1000 years ago. The site at which the temple is situated now was once the place where the Namboothiri's household was. Ūrakam, then was a part of the Peruvanam village (one of the 64 villages of ancient Kerala). Legend has it that Namboothiri went to Kanchipuram to visit the Kamakshi Amman Temple and happy with the devotion of the Namboothiri, Kanchi Kamakshi decided to come to Kerala on his palm leaf umbrella. He reached back home, and he placed the umbrella on the floor of his house. When he came back later he was unable to take back the umbrella. It was heavily grounded to the floor. Later upon further investigation it was revealed that Kanchi Kamakshi was residing on that umbrella. The goddess came in Namboothiri’s dreams that night and let him know that he is supposed to build a temple for the goddess, and leave Ūrakam. She also let him know that he was to find an idol in a well far away and he was to reinstate the goddess from the umbrella onto that idol. Namboothiri did as the goddess wished and he built the temple and left all that he owned to the temple and gave the administration to the Kingdom of Kochi. From then on the goddess was known as the Ūrakam Ammathiruvadi.

Architecture

The temple consists of the two majestic and lofty Gopurams (ornamental gateways), the Mathilkettu (compound walls), Ootupura (feeding hall), Naalambalam (building immediately surrounding the sanctum sanctorum) and the double storied Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum).

Events

The Makeeram Porapādu is one of the grand events of the Temple. It is regarded as beginning of Ammathiruvadi’s journey for the Ārāttupuzha Pooram. Ammathiruvadi plays an important role in the pooram. Ammathiruvadi returns back only after days of festivities.

References

• Sankunni, Kottarathil (1996). Urakath Ammathiruvadi, Aithhyamala. Thrissur: Current Books. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)