Ammathiruvadi Temple is located about 12 Km away from Thrissur town in Kerala, in the village of Urakam. The 'Valayalayam' or Urakam Ammathiruvadi Temple is situated here and is one of the ancient 108 Durga temples, constructed by Lord Parasurama. Urakam, the small but renowned village is 12kms away from the city of Thrissur along the royal street heading to Kodungallur. It is believed that a body part of Sati (spouse of Lord Shiva), hand which had the conch, fell at Urakam, named as Shankhodarapeeta, as per the Devi Bhagavatha.
According to the Kerala folklore, Poomulli Namboothiri (also sometimes referred to as Thiruvalayannur Bhattathiri) founded Ammathiruvadi 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. Urakam, 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 Temple and pleased with the devotion of the Namboothiri, Kanchi Kamakshi decided to come to Kerala on his palm leaf umbrella. He reached back home and placed the umbrella on the floor of his home. 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. She also let him know that he was to find an idol in a well far away and he should 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 Ammathiruvadi who is considered as Sri Maha Lakshmi.
The descendents of Valaya Bhattathiri are none other than the famous Poomully Namboothiris of north Kerala. The idol, obtained from the well and installed in the temple is the one, it is believed, worshipped by Lord Sree Rama before killing Ravana. Members of a nearby Menon family called Vazhappilly Tharavadu, were the strong devotees of Ammathiruvadi. Devi was very pleased with them and made a member from their family as a guard for the Devi (Kakkara Menon), whereever she go out for various rituals. Kadalayil Namboodiri and Komarath Menon who accompanied Thiruvalayannur Bhattathiri to Kancheepuram also built devi temples nearby. Kadalayil Namboothiri built Durga temple at Kadalassery and Komarath Menon built Bhadrakali temple at Pallissery. It is believed that both goddesses Durga and Bhadrakali accompanied Urakathamma on her way to Kerala.
The majestic and lofty 'Gopuram (ornamental gateway), the befitting 'Mathilkettu' (compound walls), 'Ootupura' (feeding hall), Naalambalam (building immediately sorrounding the sanctum sanctorum) and the double-storeyed 'Srikovil' (sanctum santorum) herald the magic lustre of the building architecture. The deity is also known as Sri Valayadheeshwari, who faces west inside the Sanctum sanctorum. The idol is made of 'Anjana Sila'(collirium stone) with 'sankh (conch) and 'chakra' (the holy disc of Lord Vishnu) on two hands. The bottom-right hand shows the 'Abhaya Mudra' while the other is placed on idol's hip. The sub-deities of the temple are Ganapathy who faces East, Sastha who faces East, Subrahmanya who faces west. It is also believed that there happens to be the divine presence of Kodungalloor Bhagavathy and the Trinity inside the temple.
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