Maataayikkaavu

Maataayikkaavu

Route:- 21 kms north of Kannur. via Pazhayangaati-Eripuram junction on Payyannur road .(One km from here)

Datable to very ancient period.It is said that once the fierce goddess Bhadrakaali ofSree Raajaraajeswara temple,believed to have been installed by Parashuraama ,manifested herself in the oracle of the temple and demanded a separate abode for her.It is also stipulated by the oracle that where ever the blazing fire-wood (viraku)he would now fling would fall would be Her abode and it would be the site of new temple dedicated to Her.It traversed a distance of 12 kms and fell on the hillock,called Maataayikkunnu.Here the idol was installed.Since the location was identified by using a blazing fire-wood the temple was named Thiruviraku-kattiya-kaavu (temple shown by sacred fire-wood)which was shortened to Thiruvirakaattby usage

    History             The temple,from ancient times,was the family deity of Kola-swaroopam.When two princes of Chirakkal family were adopted in 1305 A.D and established separate swaroopam in Aattingal,the princesses who were greately devoted to the Goddess of Maataayi took with them two ulsava vigrahamsas directed by the Goddess in dream They installed the idols within two years During the reign of Maarththandavarma,the estate of Attingal was absorbed by himThe royal family used to give the temple a Veeraalippattu for adorning the Deity during PoorolsavamOf late this offering has been discontinued .

It is believed that the Goddess gave darsan to Maatan Ezhuththacchan before he consecrated the idols in the Sree Muththappan temple

The concept of the Goddess Bhadrakaali here is of rurujiththavidhaanam.Toddy and meat are offered to the deity of Maataayi every day at the time of Aththyaazha-pooja by the priest called Pitaaraars. at 8.30 pm.T It is believed that Devas offer pooja every day at night to the Goddess.The next day morning a saanthikkaran (other than the priest who kept the nivedya on the previous day) enters the temple,takes out the sword (Nandakam)of the Goddess and keeps it at the north-west corner of the namaskaaramandapam.Then the prasadam (the nivedyam kept on the previous day)is taken out.Devotees are allowed to worship only after this.The sword is kept back in the shrine only just before the Aththaazha-pooja.

Order of worship enter through the eastern nata and following circumbulatory path first worship Lord shaastha,then kshethrapaalan,then Lord Siva,then Maathrusaala,and finally Goddess Bhadrakaali  

               

 Once the temple owened 900 acres of forests and 600 acres of un cultivable land but now left with only the un cultivable rocky land.The temple complex has an extent of 70 cents on which exist sreekovils, namaskaaramandapam, subshrines, chuttambalam valiyabalikkall kalasappura,temple well and tank.
Timings 4.30 am- 12noon and  5.00-7.30 pm daily In the months of Knni,Thulam,Vruschikam,Makaram and Meenam the temple will be kept open from 2 am  on Tuesdays and Fridays.

OFFERINGS  ValiyaIrrattipooja,Irrattipooja,Akapooja,
Kalasham,Rakthapushpaanjali,Niramaala