Kanichukulangara Temple is a small village temple in Kanjikkuzhy Taluk about 13 km north of Alappuzha and 12 km south of Cherthala in Alappuzha District west of NH 47. In olden days the place was called Kallichukulangara (since devi came by playing - In malayalam it is Kaliyadi Varika) which later came to be known as Kanichukulagara. According to beliefs, Kanichukulagara devi came to our land in a ship. A similar legend exists for the Cherukunnil Annapoorneswari also about which I scribbled elsewhere in my blog some years back. Cherukunnil Annapoorna is believed to come in a ship from Varanasi(Banares).
When Kanichukulangara Devi reached near the coastal area of Alappuzha, the ship wrecked and a Namboodiri installed the Goddess in its present position. The ruins of the wrecked ship is said to be seen in a big pond at eastern side of the temple. Some antique properties were also obtained when cleaning the aged pond recently which increased the belief. The pond is being protected eversince by constructing a wall around it as there is an unbroken relationship between the pond and the Goddess. The 'Arattu' is being performed in this pond.
Historians say that during 1773-90 when Hyder Ali and Tippu Sultan invaded Malabar, the Hindu's migrated to South Kerala. When the invasion spread to south the immigrants found it more safe around this area which was under Venad. The Namboodiries migrated by carrying their worshipping idols along with them. History states that they came through seaways and roadways. Those who came through sea reached here due to ship wreck and installed their worshipping idol here which they carried along with them. After the invasion of Tippu, when peace was established, some migrants returned back to their native place. But those Namboothiries who inhabited this Kanichukulagara never returned back.
The Namboothiri's house was nearby the temple. There were only two brothers in the family. The responsibilities of the temple activities were on the shoulder of elder Namboothiri. Towards the south-west part of the temple there was an ezhava family named Kunjan Veedu. There was a beautiful lady named Chakiyamma who visited the temple daily with great devotion. The beauty of Chakiyamma broke the hearts of Shaanti Namboothiri. Daily meetings made them fall in love with each other. Chakiyamma became pregnant. This news made the Namboothiri caste to bann the Shaanti Namboothiri. The Shanti Namboothiri gave away the temple and its properties to Chakiyamma before leaving Kanichukulangara. The younger Namboothiri committed suicide by drowning the big pond on knowing this truth. The broken hearted Chakiyamma died due to child birth. The child also dead in its birth. Thus the temple and its properties came to hands of Chakiyamma's family Kumarthusheri. The elder person of this family took over the management of temple and job of Shaanti as well.
Their management of temple was controlled by two ezhava families named Padavoor and Puthukad, and three Nair families named Aykara, Mazhuvakad and Attakuzhikad. After the death of Ikara Karnavar this position came on the hands of Padakulangara which was family related to them. The ritual of informing Padakulagara family at their home before the Kodiyettu of the festival that’s on the first of Makaram by the temple Saanthi and others are continued uptil now. This is a proof of equivalence and unity prevailed during an era of dominance of discrimination and untouchability between castes. Sri Vellapalli Natesan is the elected president of the devaswam for the past 40 years.
The sub-deities of the temple are Ganapathi, Sastha, Shiva, Vishnu, Khandakarna, Yakshi, Serpant gods, Vethali, Kodumkali, Dhanwanthari and Pallisrambu. There is also a Yagashala as well as Kalithattu.
The grand festival of the temple starts in Bharani star on the malayalam month of
Kumbham with Kodiyettu and ends on Thiruvonam. It is a 21 day festival
celebrated by the whole village with all grandeur such as thalappoli, fireworks, percussion, Kalamezhuthum paattum etc.
