Choorakkattukara Sree Durga Temple

Choorakkattukara Durga Temple is one of the most relevant among the 108 Durga Temples.  It is also one among the ancient temples under the Cochin Devaswom Board.

Choorakkattukara- a beautiful village lying on the foot of Vilangan hill; aside the Thrissur-Kunnamkulam highway; towards the north-west direction of Thrissur town and 7 kilometers away from Sree Vadakkumnadhan Temple. Choorakkattukara Durga Temple is contained in this candid village.

The soil here was beatified by the rituals and offerings that various sages tens of centuries ago. As time rolled on this land also had to pass through a period of discomfiture. This land was covered, rather formed into a thick rattan forest. Thus was derived the name Choorakkattukara; meaning – Land of rattan forest. Time rolled again, this time to bring back the glory which Choorakkattukara once lost when the then head of Appat family recognized an animus in a stone in the rattan forest. Several scholars where called upon who in their meditation filtered the truth that the stone was a “Swayambhu Shila”. For all the world an animus of AadiParashakthi. Here Devi has the facet of Mahishasuramardhini. Devi is a VANA DURGA, who directly feels the seasons of the nature. Hence a roofless sanctum sanctorum was constructed for Devi. That structure was marked to be the home, home base and base for Devi, to which timely alterations and modifications were made and the result being the present day temple.

Devi emits a motherly warmth and affection to all her devotees, her children. She brings forth hope and strength to her children having a tough ride in life like a mother who prevents her child from falling down. Centuries becomes mere days when history and this land start speaking their experiences, strength they got from this Mother Goddess.

I was not lucky enough to have those stories lying with my head resting on my dearest Grandma’s lap with her fingers moving through my hair and the other hand patting me forcing gently to drift me to sleep helping see those visuals in color in a dream that came from nowhere to continue the narration that led me to sleep. Still I must say I was lucky to have a Mother in whom I see that Mother Goddess herself who was destined to pull us towards Choorakkottukavilamma through her.

Above all, I bow before this Mother Goddess for granting me a life to take birth in the legendary Appat family which marks a legacy older than four centuries with the history of this temple. 

Humans hope after believing each other. To step an act to overcome a hope they need to circumambulate an energy.  Yes!! An energy that is neither created nor destroyed as we were all thought in school. Let us call it God. Let it be in any form. Like for us it is our Choorakkottukaavilamma.