Cherukunnu Annapoorna temple is situated near Chirakkal, a village of serenity, in the district of Kannur. According to the historians, the temple was constructed in AD 5. It made to the list of four prominent centres of Annapoorna worship in India. Amongst swarming age-old banyan trees, the temple stands partially obscured and it demands some effort from the part of the devotees to distinguish their pantheon distinctly. On the northside of the temple, one can see the temple-pond brimming with water throughout the year. Significantly, the deity was worshipped by the erstwhile Rajas of Chirakkal and the temple was renovated by Avittam Thirunal Valiya Raja of Chirakkal Palace.
The main entrance to the temple will lead us to a sanctum sanctorum with an idol, made of stone, of Sree Krishna instead of Annapoorna and one cannot find a direct entrance to the place where devi is seated. Bewilderment gradually dissipates as I could find Devi shrine north to the shrine of Krishna. Both the sreekovils are well built with red stone. The vast Naalambalam that surrounds the shrines may also take the role of Oottupura(place where food is given for the devotees) as the temple is acclaimed to apportion meals in abundance for the ones who come to worship Mahamaya in 'Annapoorna Bhavam'(Mother of all meals). Inside the sanctum sanctorum, one could find a mirror-idol(kannadi bimba) approximately three feet tall, which is a rarity and as far as I know, no other devi shrine across Kerala hosts a mirror-idol as large as the one at Cherukunnu.
According to the lores, Sree Parvathi once dreamt of a place which is highly prosperous and having righteous people. Later she came to know that it is the Kolathunadu and wanted to visit that place. With the permission of Lord Siva, she set off in a golden vessel made by the divine carpenter, Viswakarma. After a long journey through the ocean, she anchored the ship near the present day temple as the place was found to be suitable for her to stay for a short period. Kolathiri, who ruled at that time, came to Cherukunnu and requested devi to remain there forever. Pleased by his imploration, Devi decided to stay back and had hitherto been showering blessings rather exuberantly with her golden spoon.
The yearly festival of the temple is usually celebrated in the month of April (Medam) in full glory. It is said that Taliparambu RajaRajeswaran(Lord Shiva) will come to Cherukunnu and visit Annapoorna every day soon after the Athazha pooja at Taliparambu.
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