Pallipurathu Kavu is one of the most powerful abodes of Goddess Bhadrakali located in Kodimatha village of Kottayam district, which is just half a kilometer from the Kottayam town, near Kodimatha bridge, by the side of MC road. Devotees call the Goddess as Pallipurathamma, as this temple was named Pallipurathu Kavu by Bhadrakali Mattappalli Namboothripad, the famous tantrite, astrologer and devi worshipper of the ancient Kerala.
According to the legends, the power of Goddess was carried from Sri Porkali to Kottayam by an ardent devotee in a Nandakam (the divine sword of devi) during the ancient times and was later consecrated at Pallipurathukavu with the help of Vayaskara Moossu and Bhadrakali Mattappalli Namboothirippad, by a successor of the above said devotee at a later time. The Bhadrakali idol is having eight divine hands and is a rare idol quite different from the Bhadrakali idols seen in other temples across Kerala. The demon Darika is seen pierced and lifted on a trident with two hands by the Goddess who sits on top of Vetala which is definitely one of the most fiercesome dispositions of Goddess Bhadrakali as portrayed in the dhyanasloka (hymn) given above. Since Kottarathil Sankunni had briefly elaborated the legends and mythologies associated with this temple as well as the prowess of Pallipurathamma, fellow readers are requested to go through the excerpt in 'Aitihyamala' about Pallipurathukavu.
The temple owned by Kottarathil family and is renowned after the famous writer, Kottarathil Sankunni who wrote 'Aitihyamala' and hence considered as the family temple of Kottarathil Sankunni. There is also a separate temple for Lord Maha Vishnu inside the Pallipurathu temple premises. Lord Ganapathi, Ayyappa, Yakshi, Velichapadu, Rakshassu, Serpent Gods, Kshetrapalaka and Khandakarna are the sub-deities of this temple.
The major offering in this temple is Theeyattu and is performed only in Bhadra Kaali Temples by certain communities called 'Theeyattunnies' and Kottarathil Sankunni belongs to this community. This offering will
control, origin, spreading and mortality of epidemics. Devotees offer
Theeyattu for welfare of the family and welfares received from goddess.
