One of the most ferocious avatars of Devi Bhadrakali is at Valiya Panayanaarkaavu temple on the banks of the river Pamba.Located at Parumala,Pathanamthitta,the temple has references in the Aithihyamaala and Unnineelisandesham. @chathootti @radvind -1/23

The temple has 2 inner sanctorums-one each for Ma Kali& Lord Shiva. It is famous for the Palmira trees & dense sacred grooves culminating in a thick green forest.Another reason why this temple is most talked about is the yakshi who resides in the temple-Kalliyankaatu neeli.-2/23

There are other sub shrines in the temple for Ganapathy,Veerabhadra,Karimkali,Kodumkali,bhootam,Dharmashasta,Sri Soolini,Brahmarakshas,Devi Annapoorneshwari,Devi durga as Kumbhakalashapriya(Palliyara bhagavathi)&Kshetrapala.-3/23

The main deity is Lord Shiva, the presiding deity is worshipped as Saptamata,one of the few temples where saptamata is worshipped in Kerala.The idol of Mahadev was consecrated by Parashurama& that of Devi Bhadrakali by Sage Durvaasa and Naarada,in the Thretayuga. -4/23

The whole temple complex faces north,the shrine of Mahadev faces west while that of Ma Kali faces east.Chanthaattu Kali faces north.The Mahameru chakra lies west of Ma Kali but not accessible to the devotees. -5/23

The shrine is surrounded by dense grooves,the one on the west holding prominence called the Maanakkaavu. It has idols of Nagaraajavu, Naagayakshi and Chitrakootas.Naagapooja on Ayilyam star of Thulam month is of great importance. -6/23

Another hallmark of the temple are the murals.Time has taken a toll on these and their dates havent been traced.Believed to have been completed in two stages,they carry references from Devibhagavatham,Mahabharatha,Ramayana. -7/23

As mentioned earlier,Devi here is the most ferocious one.She is the slayer of the asura Daarika.But what makes her different from Ma worshipped at Kodungalloor /Malayalappuzha/ Porkkali who are all Bhadra &slayers of Daarika?For this the murthi sankalpa must be understood.-8/23

About to be subdued by Ma Kali,Daarika hides himself in a cave in Paathaala.Devi flushes him out of his hiding having the knowledge that he would do so only at dusk.For this she releases her locks of hair,covering the sky,eclipsing the sun,thus creating dusk. -9/23

This earns amma the name 'VYOMA KESHI'-one who has sky above as her hair,literally,one who transcends space(SARVATITA).Tricked byMa Kali,Daarika leaves his hiding &tries fleeing as a coward under the veil of the dark only to realise later that he was moving towards the den.-10/23

Devi Kali spreads her tongue throughout the world to Paathaala(Dirgha jihwa mukhi);unaware of it Daarika steps on the tongue,moves upward.The tricked believing that he tricked Kali,laughs out of arrogance,ignorance and pride,while Ma Kali chuckles deep within.-11/23

She then tosses him on to air,and grasps him firmly on his hair.This moment,when he is held by his hair,amma about to swing her sword,with the gush of blood& rage,blood thirsty,protruding tongue and feiry eyes,craving to behead him- is the murthi sankalpa of Panayanaarkaavu-12/23

The Daarika here is very much alive,about to be beheaded unlike at Kodungalloor/Malayalapuzha where he is slayed,his head in the clutches of Kali's left hand.
Porkkali-Devi has organised her troops and is marching towards Daarika's palace to slay him in an ensuing battle.-13/23

If there has to be a form more ferocious than this it could only be Prathyangira-one who took avatar to engulf the wrath of Narasimha.Thus,Devi here can be pacified of her anger only with blood, reason why sacrifices of all forms including human sacrifices was done.-14/23

History has recorded numerous instances where Nara bali was done at the east nada.Once,when a young girl,an ardent devotee,was about to be subjected,her parents crying out to amma,a formless voice from inside the Sreekovil pronounced....-15/23

"No sacrifices of any forms of life will hereafter be done,&this door facing the east will remain permanently shut".Ever since,the door to the east has never opened.A devotee unaware of this will find it hard to decipher the idol.What we see is the lateral view of the deity-16/23

The idol here is not decorated,no holy attire.On a close strenous look,what is visible is the outer canthus of the eye.Undemarcated,locks of hair untied,devoid of ornaments/attire of any kind-as Kali has never been confined to the norms of feminity imposed by society-17/23

Dressed only in severed arms around her waist line,covering her chest with chain of human skulls,earrings of unborn foetuses,attahaasa-laughter reverbrating across the skies instead of mandahaasa,gait as that of an amok elephant& not annanada-Kali has defied the usual norms-18/23

There has not been a more resembling idol of Ma than the one here;undemarcated,undecorated,feiry&smeared in kajal.If there has been a speck of feminity,it was perhaps the motherhood of her displayed when she ended the Narabali.ChanthaattuKali facing North can also be seen-19/23

The yakshi here called Kalliyankaattu neeli too is much talked about.Subdued by christian priest Kadamattathu Kathanaar,Amma granted permission to move around for a specific time(Varathupokku)under the condition not to harm anyone.The yakshi is now a blessing goddess.-20/23

This is one of the most feiry forms of Kali.Even today,the natives of the village do not remain in the temple premises after a certain time of dusk.The poojas are done by lower brahmins to lessen the power of Kali.-21/23

The poojas are conducted as per shakteya sampradaya including madya nivedya outside the temple to lessen the idol's potency.The natives say,over the years,the lands to the North&East have become agriculturally unproductive,not yielding and turned barren for stretches.-22/23

With its tall palmira trees,dense grooves,surrounded by thick forest,vintage murals,natives deserting the premises soon after deeparadhana,the ambience surrounding Panayanaarkaavu is mystical. One gets a feel that something is in the air..... -23/23