Nalusseri Devi - Empress of 96 deshams

The Devi Temples of Valluvanad are usually situated in the heart of the villages and attracted by each devotee with their serene atmosphere and natural beauty. Elumbulassery Sree Nalusserikkavu is an excellent example for the same.

The Incident Behind the Worship of Devi During the time of a battle between Zamorin (The Samoothiri Raja of Kozhikode) and Valluvakkonathiri (The ruler of Valluvanad), in order to protect Devi’s idol from possible damage by the hands of the army of Samoothiri, a Land lord of Elambulassery removed the devi's idol from Keezhkavu and placed it in Nalussery Kavu. From that day onwards, the landlord and his family began to worship Devi. Subsequently, The Nalussery Devi became the supreme Goddess of Nalussery Thattakam that comprised of 96 desams.

According to ‘DevaPrasnams” conducted by different astrologers, this temple is connected with Parasurama. The saint had founded a hermitage at Koottala Kunnu of Pulappatta Desam, a place 3-4 kms away from this temple. Pulappatta Desam was a part of ‘Ulnadu’ ruled by ‘Ullattilachan’, a landlord. It is believed that Goddess Karthyayani appeared before the great saint and showered her blessings upon him. For the prosperity of forthcoming generations, Saint Parasurama consecrated an idol of Devi Karthyayani and worshipped her. He consecrated Goddess ‘Bhadrakali’ near Devi Karthyayani just in the opposite direction. The premises of Kathyayani Devi was known as ‘Melkkavu’ and that of Bhadrakali as ‘Keezhkkavu.’ The rituals and offerings of ‘Melkkavu’ were fixed by the Rishi in Uthama Sampradaya(in supreme manner). The daily poojas performed in the Keezhkkavu were of heinous manner(Neecha Sampradaya). Meat and liquor were offered to Bhadrakali and usually these poojas were performed by lower caste or tribal people.

The region of Devi 'Thattakam' was spread all over ‘Ulnadu’ and its remnants are seen even now at ‘Koottala Kalam’ and ‘Koottala Parambu’ in Pulappatta. According to the astrologers Maharshi Parasuraman along with other Devas used to perform homages at Melkkavu. The native people describe emotionally that they had experienced heavenly lights and the sound of Shankhu(Conch shell) at midnights. Nalussery temple and other temples of Ulnadu were under the protection of Brahmins and later ‘Ullattilachan’, a ruler under Valluvakkonathiri, became the main trustee. Moreover, the eldest member of Kodungalloor Kovilakam used to visit this temple and meditate three days before the festival of Meenabharani. This custom was in practice up to 1930s. She was worshiped as the protector of the 96 Desams.

The Temple situated on the Northern part of the Ottapalam Taluk in Karimpuzha village, receiving fondling of Kunthi Puzha. In the ancient time southern part of Malabar was known as 'Ulnadu' which included 90 Desams. Among them today's Ottapalam and Mannarkkad(Valluvanad) were part of the same. It is believed that the Temple is very ancient, about 900 years old.

Even after the construction of the great Nalussery Kavu, there was worship in Kootala Bhagavathy Temple (Both in Mallekavu and Kezhekavu. When Valluva Konathiri was defeated by Samoothiri, he gave away all the temples under his protection to Naduvil Madam at Thrissur and thus the Kootala Bhagavathy Temple came under Thrissur Naduvil Madam.