The Agraharams of Palakkad

Chittur Duga Ghoshtam

Overview

The temple was built by Great Poet and Sage Thunjath Ezhuthachan. The initial installation was a Mahavishu and later replaced with Rama

Location

Location: The Chittur DurgaGhostham is located about 19 Kms south east from the Palakkad railway station and near Chittur Kaavu

Address: Durga Temple, Durga Koshtam, Vadakkathara, Chittur, Kerala 678101

Temple Timings:

5.30AM TO 9.30AM

5.30PM TO 7.30PM

History

This temple is located about 15 Kms south of Palakad in a village known as “Thekkegramam” surrounded by Paddy fields, coconut and palm trees, which is in existence for about 500 years, on the banks of River Shokanasini.

The scenic village on the shores of the Shokanashini river still retains an old world charm that once attracted Thunchathu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan, the father of Malayalam language and literature. He spent his final days here, translating the epics, Ramayana and Mahabharatha, to a new language derived out of Sanskrit and Tamil. Legend has it that Ezhuthachan was returning after a sojourn in the present Tamil Nadu region along with his disciples and found Thekkegramam an ideal place to settle and give vent to his creative impulses.

There are two Shiva temples in the Agraharam - one is on the main road and has a Kodimaram (flagstaff) the other - Meenakshi Sundareswarar is adjacent to the River.

Deities

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Photo Gallery

Utsavams

Vahanas

Adimakkavu

Other Agraharam Information

Total homes in the Agraharam:
Number and % of Brahmin homes:
Number and % of homes retaining traditional look:
Does the village have a brahmana samooham:
Does the village temple have a temple car (theru):
When was the last ashtabandhana kumbabhishekam done:

Contact Information

Well Known Elders from the Agraharam

Food and Catering

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Hall for functions and Lodging

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Bank Accounts for sending Kanikkai, donation or vazhipadu

Author's Notes

Chittur - DurgaGhoshtam - 100 Agraharams Project

I am trying to understand why this temple and the agraharam are called DurgaGhostam or DurgaKoshtam.

Koshtas are niches in the outerwall of the sanctum in temples. It is the recessed portion which sometimes may hold other gods. For example Lingothbhavar will be found exactly behind the sanctum of a Shiva temple. Sometimes they are for function and sometimes decorative to break the monotony of the wall. When there is a 'murthi' or god placed inside the Koshta then it will be according to the preferred direction of the lord.

But there is another word called Gostha or Ghostha. Maa Durga holding infant Krishna is called (Deva Gostha) where she is seen in her maternal aspect. Sri Gopala Krishna Iyer says that the devi here is called Shanti Durga Parameswari. As Shantadurga the divine mother is the symbol of peace, bringing reconciliation between the supreme Gods. She saves the universe, by establishing ‘shanthi’, that is, peace and tranquility.

I assume that the name would have stuck after the maternal aspect of Maa Durga. But if there is any other explanation for the name, please let me know.

I have not seen a temple in this region with a copper plated roof over a circular sanctum (chuttambalam). It shows the wealth of the place. The temple was constructed by the Ambat Tharavad / Family.

"Ambat family was originally based in Ayilur village from where it migrated thirty-five kilometers eastward to Chittur about 450 years ago. The name Ambat is supposed to have been derived from the words “Ambaya Aattom” meaning the place where Amba alias Amma (Lakshmi) plays, the place where Amba’s (Lakshmi’s) presence is always felt. In fact the tharavad house was first known as Ambat Bhavanam."

In DurgaGhostham the mother has 4 arms, right upper holding chakra, left upper holding a conch, and the lower two hands in Abhaya and Varadha.

The Sudarshana Chakra, a divine gift from Lord Vishnu, signifies the cosmic wheel of time, embodying the unwavering pursuit of truth and righteousness. It serves as a symbol of swift and righteous action, ensuring justice prevails.

The conch shell, presented to Goddess Durga by Lord Varuna, symbolizes the divine sound of creation. Its sacred resonance announces the victory of good over evil, bringing auspiciousness and protective blessings.

The Abhaya mudra symbolises protection, peace, benevolence and the dispelling of fear while Varada mudra is the dispensing of boons

Amongst the great sons of Chittur gramams is Thottu Pichu Iyer. Over a century ago he built the first dam in Cochin state. When giving evidence before the Joint committee on the Constitution bill 1963, Sri C S Subramania Iyer who was the All Kerala Landowners Association, Chittur, said: "You will be surprised to know that it was my grandfather, Thottu Pichu Ayyer as he was called, who 110 years ago in Kerala was the originator of the first dam in the Cochin State. Even today, that canal is known as the Thottu Pichu Ayyer canal. Long before all these Five Year Plans were thought of, my grand-father was the man who built the dam across the Aliyar river which is now part of the Parambikulam project; a tributary from the Lower Aliyar river goes to Chittur, and there is a huge dam there . ." . I think he mentions the Moolathara dam and the canal which brought waters for irrigation in Chittur.

For some reason I am reminded about our other family guardian deity "Chenganamkunnu Bhagavathy" near Pattambi. Sweets are offered to the goddess and I wondered why. But now when I correlate the "Deva Ghoshtha" I am to assume that the divine goddess is a maternal figure dispensing sweets to Krishna and all her subjects.

Radhe Krishna

Sriram(Hari)

100-Agraharams Project

Rama Bhagavathar Charitable Trust

July 22, 2024

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