Niram Kaitha Kotta Temple complex is situated in Vallikunnu village at the northern extremes of Malappuram district of Kerala. This is about 20kms south of Calicut city.This is an important pilgrim centre of Malabar.
The complex consists of an Ayyappa shrine as well as a Devi shrine. The Ayyappa temple is thought to be about 1000 years of old. The temple is one among the most important Dharma Sastha temples of Malabar region. The Pattulsavam in every 'Makaram' performs in the premise of this temple with special rituals and ‘Seeveli’. So many monkeys are living near this temple. The well which provides the holy water (theertham) to the temple also have some special features. The holy water from this well which never dry or overflow is believed that the water is from the holy river Ganges. The water in the well never get sunlight. There is a way to this under ground well from inside the temple for collecting the holy water. A few many feets higher than this temple the famous Mekkotta Bagavathy Temple situates on the top of the hill. One really feels mental peace and solace when he worships here at the temple.The summit of the hill and the river which encircles the hill will infuse pleasure into our hearts.
At the foot of the hill which streatches 50 Acres and the peak has a 500 feet hight from the sea level. There is a huge construction with copper sheets covering the roof known as 'Pattukottil'. Here is the encarved structure of 'Balakanda' of Ramayana in wood. In the next there lies one of the importnat Ayyappa temple aged 1500 years approximately.The Ayyappa image is believed to be 'Swayambhoo '.
It is believed that Vilwamangalam Swamiar had started the practice of worshipping Lord Sri Rama during every mid-noon and there are so many monkeys wandering around(considered as soldiers of Srirama). The hill was the fortress and capital of the Parappanad Kingdom. The Machil Bhagavathi of this Kingdom later became the image for worshipping in this temple. One of the Kings of Parappanad Kingdom named Kerala Varma after completing his education left palace for worshipping Mookambika. The goddess appeared before him and advised to go south. Where he met the Ugra (Ghora) moorthy image of Kali and after pleasing her he requested to go with him as ‘Machil Bagavathy’ of his Kingdom. After Kerala Varma returned, Kali appeared before him in the same image in the ‘Machintakam’ or 'Machakom' (a special room provided for god of a family-Kuladevatha).
It is also believed that when the Bagavathy reached at the Thalappoli thara (the earlier place for Kalari gods) her sister goddess on saying that she became out casted, accepted it for her permanent stay. The Mekkotta Bagavathy once in every year visits her sister at thalappoli thara. This practice is the festival of Thalappoli in which the women who bears Arithalam rushes to mekkotta temple and shower the thalam there after completing the three rounds around the temple. When there was a conflict between the Kingdom of Parappanad, Kurumbanad and Beypore, East India Company intervened and given the temple to Samoothiri Raja .
The Pattulsavam with five or more ‘Kalams’(each day a Kalam) performs in the month of ‘Makaram’ with Seeveli and special poojas and entertainments programmed by Festival Committee. The general practice of Kodiyettu is not performed in this festival. Instead the ‘Homa’ is performed to commence this festival. Each day the Kshethra Komaram ‘Kurup’ draws the image of lord Ayyappa in the ‘Kalam’ using various powders like Arippodi(rice powder),Krishnappodi etc.
Thalappoli festival is the most important and the local festival of this area. The believe that the Mekkotta Bhagavathi visits her sister at Thalappoli Parambu, lies about 1.5Kms south of this temple is the story behind this festival. The ‘Thiru Udaval’ -the weapon of the Bhagavathy, is tied up with ‘Thiru Udayada’-dress of Bhagavathy, is brought on the elephant back along with the gold mirror image(there is no idol in this temple) at midnight and returns with the thalappoly . The thalappoly begins when Komaram(The oracle) after 3 rounds ‘Pradakshina ’ takes rice from the thalam. The running of the woman bears thalam is a beautiful sight and is a special feature of this festival. The Kalam of the Devi drawn using various powders is shattered before the closing of the temple for seven days.
At Kilimanoor(Trivandrum), there is an Ayyappan Kavu temple where Niramkaithakotta Sastha and Mekotta Bhagavathy is also worshipped along with the principal deity, Ayyappa (Ayyappa here is in a standing posture with bow and arrow which is a rareity). This temple belongs to the Kilimanoor Palace which gave birth to legendary Raja Ravi Varma. It is said that Niramkaithakotta deities are the family deities of Thattari Kovilakom of beypore, which got shifted to Kilimanoor in 1705 AD. Later Marthanda Varma constructed an Ayyappa temple for the shifted family in 1753 and enshrined their family deities also.
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