Chittoor - Amma Thiruvadiye Saranam

Chittoor, a major township of Palakkad, was once acted as the boundary of the Cochin province before taking part in the formation of the district and is highly indebted to the Kochi dynasty for the prosperity and ampleness of the region. The deity of the Chittoor Bhagavathy temple is considered as the protectress of the land and is worshipped as Bhadrakali. Precisely, Bhadrakali is different from Durga or Parvathy, although these names are synonymous to each other, for she was born from the flames that emanated off Shiva's third eye, to vanquish the demon named Daruka. The "Bhadrolpathi" comprising of 700 slokas(in 9 chapters), included in the Markandeya Purana, exalts the birth and the purpose of incarnation of Bhadrakali. The saktheya sect considered these verses as sacred as the ones in Devi Mahatmya which is also a "Sapthashathi".

Chitoor temple complex comprises of two shrines, the Chittoor kavu of Ammathiruvadi and pazhayannoor temple, positioned in close propinquity. Pazhayannoor temple is also called as the Moolakshetram(Primordial abode) while Chittoor kavu, although small, is where devi is believed to be at her divine best.The sanctum sanctorum of the temple is usually opened only on tuesdays and fridays, which are considered sacred for worshipping devi. Here priests are Nairs and rituals are performed as per saktheya tradition, while in Pazhayannoor poojas are done by Brahmins. Slaughtering of animals for appeasing the deity which the Nairs had done in olden times imparted a grotesque image for the otherways pristine temple. The poojas here are classified into two :-

1. "Adhama"(inferior) because of the usage of outlandish items such as toddy and meat at times of nivedya(food offered to devi) and also due to the conduction of awful rites such as kaliyattu and thiruvoth.

2." Uthama"(superior) like Udyasthamana pooja and thrikala pooja.

The poojas according to the saktheya system of worship will fall mostly on the quadrant of inferior type.

The idol of Sree Bhagavathy seen inside the sanctum sanctorum is swarthy, enormous and approximately five feet tall with looks similar to the idol at Thirumandhamkunnu. The crowned eight-handed idol, seated crosslegged on a pedestal, possesses sabre, trident, club, head of Konga, discus and conch in six arms and showing varada and abhaya with remaining two palms. The idol was moulded of burned sand. Due to incessant chanthattam(sprinkling of kumkum) the idol is almost abstruse and unfathomable to ponder over other minute specificities. Altogether, one feels a chill rising up through his spine when standing in front of that prodigious idol of devi at 'deeparadhana' as strains of red flashes across at times when hue of a zillion shivering flames blend perfectly with countless scarlet garlands that decorated her.

According to the lores, Chittoor kavu devi destroyed Rajadhirajan(Marava king aka Kongan who once ruled Coimbatore) and his army as he started an attack over poor people of Chittoor to enlarge his dominion. At the end of the battle Devi slayed Konga's head and washed her sword in a river which is called as 'Walayar' nowadays. Devi returned victoriously to the temple and disappeared as she reached south of the moolakshetram. A new temple was built in that very spot where devi had disappeared and came to be called as Chittoorkavu.

The main festival is celebrated in rememberance of the old war between Devi and King in the month of Kumbham every year.