The magnificient ancient Durga Devi Temple is situated at Kadalassery a serene village about 13 KM away from Thrissur ,1.3 KM East of Urakam Junction on the Urakam-Pudukad Highway. The legend has it that the deity is the same as of Sree Kanchi Kamakshi Amman in Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu. According to the local history, 28 days festival/Ulsavam of the Lord “ Irattayappan,” the presiding deity of the Peruvanam Gramam (one among the 64 supposed to be created by Lord Parasurama )was abruptly stopped due to the socio-economic problems and rivalries between the rulers of that era. On this context, the elders of the Peruvanam Gramam conducted a “Devaprasnam”to resolve the issues in which the “Daivajnars”(Jyothishees) unanimously opined that the main reason for these deterioration was the stoppage of the 28 days festival/Utlsavam of Irattappan which has to be reorganised to regain the lost prosperity, flourishness and colours of the society . For achieving this goal, the elders nominated three prominent men from the Peruvanam settlement viz:(1)Thiruvalayannur Bhathirippad (2)Kadalayil Namboodiripad and (3)Komarath Menon for a travel to Kancheepuram and pleased the goddess with their prayers,(staying there for a period of 41 days) happy with the devotion, Devi agreed to come with them to Peruvanam Gramam and the goddess gave darsan to each of the three devotees separately. The goddess came in Kadalayil Namboodiripad’s dreams on that night and let him know that her presence will be there at the Mantharam Kadavu on Pooram asterisk of Meenam when the Chothi Star is at its peak . . As promised, Devi gave darsan to Kadalayil Namboodiripad at Mantharam Kadavu ( Arattupuzha )on a Pooram day and afterwards Kadalayil Nampoodiripad built a temple near his illam(house) at Kadalassery. From then onwards, the goddess was known as Kadalayilamma.
Visharikkal Bhagavathy or Pisharikkal Bhagavathy
Stories passed on from elders tells that one of the Karanavar of Avanavu Mana was a renowned Visha-hari(a physician treating poison afflicted patients especially snake poison). One day a Paradesi -Sadhoo came to test the Visha-hari’s super powers. Visha-hari received him with all respects and in between their usual discussions sitting side by side the Sadhoo found a worm on a Vettila leaf and with his super power the worm became the form of a poisonous snake with big hood and threatened Visha-hari to bite on his head. Seeing this, the Visha-hari given instructions to his servants to raise his seat also growing tall and threatened to bite him on his head. Visha hari silently chanted Garuda Manthra all this time and prayed Garuda to save his life. Later,a portion of the roof was demolished by the servants when Visha-hari,s seat about to touch the roof to raise Visha hari’s seat further above the roof. When the snake grew further and put its head above the roof trying to bite Visha hari on his head, suddenly Garuda came and taken away the snake and the Sadhoo exited accepted his defeat. Visha-hari’s mother who witnessed this scene worried heavily and told Visha hari that this type of competition is neither good for him nor his family. Such super powers have to be utilised rarely, very carefully as and when it is essential to do good deeds for the use of general public and she requested him to leave all his powers to ward against any repeatation . Hearing this, Visha Hari agreed to this suggestion and decided to surrender all his super powers and as such he surrendered all his powers along with numerous Thaliyolas at the feet of Kadalayilamma where a Naveekarana/Bimbam mari Kalasam was going on at that time. Then onwards, Kadalayilamma became known as Visharikkal Bhagavathi and later as Pisharikkal bhagavathy it is believed. She is highly revered and believed to possess the ability to cure all types of poison afflicted diseases. There is another story related to a snake bite to an elder member of Madambu Mana in which the person miraculaously returned to his life praying the goddess even though his relatives/friends thought that he is dead and cremation arrangements have been done. Due to the heavy poison, even though, the patient was conscious, he was not able to move any organ or talk Hence, every body thought that the death has happened. This incident happened on a Vavarattu day of Pisharikkal Temple. When the patient heard the “Panchavadyam” from the Pisharikkal Temple on that day he prayed to the goddess to save him and consequently people around him noticed some movements on his body and immediately he was taken to a Visha hari nearby and he returned to his normal life gradually . From then onwards a portion of the expenses of Vavarattu was being shouldered by the Madambu family and still they present a coin pouch at the Sopanam on Vavarattu day of the temple . Sri.U.N.S Namboodiripad, former trustee also narrated his own experience in which he faced a life threat due to the snake bite at his house. When it happened, before approaching a Doctor he went to the temple for prayers and then only he started to the Hospital. When he reached the hospital, after giving life saving drugs, the Doctor opined that even though it is very late a miracle has happened in this case otherwise the snake bite could have been fatal.
The temple is under the ownership of Oomampilly Mana and currently managed by the Pisharikkal Kshetra Seva Samithy,a body which was elected by the devotees of the village from time to time. The temple complex covers an area of only 17 cents. The structures within include a Sreekovil of Sandhara type with a Mukhamandapam, Chuttambalam, Vilakkumadam with agra mandapam, deepasthambam wells and a small tank in the east. The Chuttambalam features three entrances facing west, north and
Ulsavam/Important days
Two significant festivals hold importance in the temple. The first one Vavu Aratut being taken place at 1230 hrs pm on the New Moon day of Thulam in the Karuvannur River during which a large number of devotees are gathering. This goddess is also a key participant in the Peruvanam-Arattupuzha Pooram. The Pooram Purappad (Karthika Purappad)occurs on the night of the Karthika asterisk. It begin with the kodiyettam a night hour ritual around a temporary dwajam(Arecanut tree with full leaf) 9 or 11 ft tall following the associated rites. During this Peruvanam-Arattupuzha Pooram even though Kodiyettam is being conducted in all the connected temples the only one “kodimaram kayatal” with full leaves along with rituals are being done only in this temple .This is followed by Arattu concluding by 4 am(next day) with a Vilakku. On Rohini day Arattu and Para eduppu are being performed at Oomampilly Mana. On this day , all the elephants required for the” ezhunnallippu” in various temples in connection with the Peruvanam Arattupuzha pooram are gathered in the temple compound and they were being earmarked for the different deities participating in the Peruvanam Arattupuzha pooram. This function is called Anavaravu which is reported to be stopped about 100 years ago. During the Peruvanam-Arattupuzha pooram the goddess performing 9 arattu in different temple tanks and river. The last one is being performed on the Pooram day when the Chothi star at its peak time at Mantharam kadavu where Kanchi Kamakshi Amman gave her first darsan to Kadalayil Nampooripad . The goddess is believed as elder sister of Urakathamma since the Prathishta of Urakathamma was done only after three days from the Prathishta of Kadalayilamma, Brahmashree late Kaimukku Raman Namboodiripad once said.. Wherever both Devis are performing Arattu during Peruvanam-Arattupuzha pooram, the first one is of Pisharikkal Bhagavathy. This is to remove all kinds of Visha it is believed.
Vazhipad/Offerings
The prominent vazhipad/ offerings at this temple include motifs of snakes and their eggs made of gold or silver. Other popular vazhipadu include offerings of Kadali (plantain) sarkara payasam, thrumadhuram, para nirakkal, poomodal,sreekovil neyvilakku,Kidavilakku, Thulabharam etc.
Important festivals:
Chingam Niraputhari
Kanni Navarathri
Thulam Vavarattu
Meenam Karthika Purapad
Midhunam Prathishtadinam
Karkidakam Illamnira