Whenever there is talk of Kerala, people only talk about the beaches and backwaters there. People also know the Kumarakom of Kerala for its backwaters. It is a popular travel destination located near the city of Kottayam in Kerala. The tourists coming here must see the Vembanad Lake. Not just this, there is a lot to see here from Kumarakom Wildlife Sanctuary to Island Driftwood Museum.
However, there isn't enough to see here. Even if you are a spiritually inclined person, this place will not disappoint you. There are many famous temples here, which make you feel spiritual peace. That's why you must visit here too. So, today in this article we are telling you about some of the spiritual places present in Kumarakom-
Sri Dharma Shastha Temple &Subrahmanya Temple
This temple is counted among the oldest in Kumarakom and has a common compound wall. You might not know, but this place got its name Kumarakom because of this temple. Kumarakom means "the home of Lord Subrahmanya". This temple has a mandap made of only one stone. Thippooyam is one of the major festivals held in this temple. It takes place in the Malayalam month of Makaram i.e. February.
Sri Kumara Mangalam Temple
Sree Narayana Guru fought against the caste system in Hinduism and installed an idol of Lord Subrahmanya at Kumarakom. After which Lord Subrahmanya became the presiding deity of Sri Kumar Mangalam temple. There is a lot of recognition of these temples among the people in Kumarakom. A special festival is held here in the Malayalam month of Kumbham, that is, in March. In which a large number of people come to participate.
Thekkumkara Sri Ardhanariswara Temple
Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati appeared together in this temple. That's why his Ardhanarishwar form is worshipped here. The main festival here is Meenabharni which usually takes place in March or April. Many cultural rituals are associated with this festival. People here celebrate this festival with great enthusiasm.
Juma Masjid
The Juma Masjid at Thazhathangadi on the banks of the Meenachil River in Kottayam is a very ancient mosque. It is believed that this mosque is 1000 years old. It is one of the oldest mosques in India. The mosque has a square inner courtyard, a carved wooden ceiling, and beautiful lattice windows that make it look like a temple or a king's palace. Only men are allowed here.
Puthiyakavu Devi Temple
The presiding deity of the Puthiyakavu Devi temple is Bhadrakali. One of the rituals here is Teeyattu which narrates the story of Goddess Bhadrakali's return after killing a demon. The main festival of this temple is the eight days long festival in the month of Meenam.
So now whenever you go to Kumarakom, you must visit these places. Also, share your experiences with us.
Image Credit- sreekumaramangalamtemple, gulfnews