Chottanikkara Bhagavathy, Kerala

The Chottanikkara (correction of Jyotiannakkara) Devi Temple is a temple dedicated to the Hindu mother goddess Bhagavati Lakshmi. She is believed to be residing in Chottanikkara (Mahalakshmi) along with her Husband Maha Vishnu. The main deity is also considered as Lakshmi Narayana according to the temple legend.The temple is Classified one among the 108 Abhimana Kshethram of Vaishnavate tradition. The temple is located at Chottanikkara, a southern suburb of the city of Kochi in Ernakulam district, in the state of Kerala, India and is one of the most popular temples in the state. The temple is also known for conducting exorcism.

Official website- https://www.chottanikkarabhagavathy.org/

Contact - 0484 - 2711032 , 2713300

Temple Timings- 4 AM to 12.30 PM, 4 PM - 8.30 PM

Address: Chottanikkara, Kochi, Kerala 682312

Email- chottanikkaratemple@gmail.com

Dress code for Chottanikkara Temple -  men to wear a dhoti without a shirt, only an Angavastram. Women devotees are expected to wear a sari, churidar, pavadai chattai, or salwar kameez. Informal dress such as jeans, shorts, or T-shirts is not permitted for entry into the temple.

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It is the most important Temple among the 393 shrines spread over 3 Districts of Kerala and coming under the administration of Cochin Devaswom Board. 

                    The Divine Mother known as Rajarajeswari (Adiparasakthi) is worshipped here in three forms Saraswathy in the morning, Lakshmi at noon and Durga in the evening. There is an Idol of Mahavishnu on the same pedestal and so the Deity is called Ammenarayana, Devinarayana, Lakshminarayana and Bhadrenarayana also. Along with Lakshmi & Narayana there are idols of Brahma, Siva, Ganapathi (Ganesh), Subramanya and Sastha on the same pedestal.

Festivals: Makam Thozhal, Navarathri

Worship practices

The temple is known for curing mental illness and disorders due to evil spirits. The patients are brought to the priest(melsanthi), who engages with them in some conversation. He nails a part of the hair of the patient in the temple tree, indicating that evil spirit is captured in the tree and the patients are cured off their illness. Neem leaves, lime and chillies are taken home from the temple, which are believed to ward off evil spirits.

Significance of Guruthi Pooja 
Guruthi Pooja is a significant ritual at Chottanikkara Temple that is believed to appease the goddess Bhadrakali and remove negative energies. It's a powerful ceremony that attracts devotees seeking blessings for well-being and protection.

Bhajanam in Chottanikkara Temple

Those who intend to conduct the bhajanam should come to the temple on the previous evening and be present for the Nirmalya Darsanam when the nada opens in the morning next day (4.00 a.m. on normal days and 3.30 a.m. on Fridays and Mandalam season).