Sree Bhuvaneswary Temple, Valamchuzhy

Hindu temple in Kerala, India

Sree Bhuvaneswary Temple, Valamchuzhy

Religion
Affiliation| Hinduism
District| Pathanamthitta
Deity| Bhuvaneswary
Festivals| Rudrapongala,
Padayani
Location
Location| Valamchuzhy
State| Kerala
Country|  India

Sree Bhuvaneswary Temple, Valamchuzhy, Pathanamthitta, Kerala

Geographic coordinates| 9°15′37.4″N 76°47′57.5″E﻿ / ﻿9.260389°N 76.799306°E﻿ / 9.260389; 76.799306[1]
Architecture
Type| Architecture of Kerala
Specifications
Temple(s)| One
Elevation| 49.38 m (162 ft)
Kodungallur Bhagavathy

Sree Bhuvaneswary Temple, Valamchuzy is one of the oldest temples in Pathanamthitta, South India.

## Location

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This temple is located with the geographic coordinates of (9°15′37.4″N 76°47′57.5″E﻿ / ﻿9.260389°N 76.799306°E﻿ / 9.260389; 76.799306)[2] at an altitude of about 49.38 m above the mean sea level.

The temple is 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from the city centre. Sree Bhuvaneswary Temple is surrounded by the sacred river Achankovil,[1] which has its origin in the Achankovil mountain ranges. The name "Valamchuzy" is derived from the fact that the river circumvents the temple on three sides.[2] Due to the action of the river over the past 3,000 years, large tracts of land belonging to the temple have been washed away. The temple presently is well protected from floods. Formerly this area was under dense forests, and remnants can still be seen in the Sarpakavu (sacred serpent grove). The Sarpakavu is home to a large variety of rare medicinal herbs. Illegal sand mining from the river is posing a danger to the Sarpakavu.

As elsewhere, the great floods of 1096 had repercussions in Pathanamthitta, and they caused severe damage to the temple. However, after the floods had receded much reclamation and maintenance work were undertaken by the temple authorities with the active participation of the government and the landlords near the temple. A bund was constructed to make access to the Sree Bhuvaneswary Temple easier.

The temple continued to be under the patronage of the Velluvettuvelil Madam family until 1974. They served as the priests. Later on, the temple administration passed to the senior members of the 14 Karas hailing from Pathanamthitta municipality, Pramadam, and Mylapra Panchayats. A Devasom council and a team of 14 executives are elected every two years from these 14 Karas. The administration is on the lines of the Indian Parliament.

## Legend

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Legend has it that a devotee brought a flower from Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple that was the incarnation of the goddess Bhuvaneswary. The devotee received a divine inspiration that he should install the flower at Valamchuzy, where the river Achankovil circumvents the place from three sides. The residents of the surrounding area gathered together and decided that a temple should be built there to install the goddess Bhuvanaswary. The devotee and his long line of successive generations continued to act as the torch bearers of the temple. The sword and the Chilambu brought from Kodungalloor are displayed at the temple. The Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple and Valamchuzy temple are similar in several aspects. It is believed that animal sacrifice existed here at one point.

## Festivals

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Rudrapongala, held in the Malayalam calendar month of Kumbham on the Bharani days, constitutes the main offering to the deity. Many devotees from all over the country throng to this shrine during the Makarabharani festival. It is believed that if appindy is ceremoniously carried by the devotees, it will cure them from all forms of incurable diseases and sorrows.

The birthday of the Goddess is celebrated on the Bharani day, in the Malayalam calendar month of Makaram. The flag hoisting signalling the start of the festival is held on the Pururuttathy day of Makaram, and concludes with the Aaraattu on the tenth day. The most auspicious day is on the fifth day of the festival, which coincides with the birthday of the goddess Bhuvanaswary. This particular day is marked by a lot of celebrations and festivities.

The Padayani,[3] held in the Malayalam calendar month of Meenam, is celebrated with utmost devotion and fervor. Newborn babies are brought in cradles and placed in front of the goddess. This ritual is specific to this temple, and it attracts devotees from every corner of Kerala and beyond.

## See also

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* Pathanamthitta District
* Temples of Kerala
* Kodungalloor

## References

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1. ^ "Valamchuzy Temple". valamchuzhytemple.org. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
2. ^ "Valamchuzy Temple, Pathanamthitta - Timings, History, Pooja & Aarti schedule,". Trawell.in. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
3. ^ "Valamchuzhy Padayani of Valamchuzhy Bhagavathy Temple". Kerala Toruism - Padayani. Retrieved 20 November 2023.

## External links

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* GeoHack - Sree Bhuvaneswary Temple, Valamchuzhy

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Hindu temples in Kerala

Alappuzha|

* Kurattikadu Mutharamman Devi Temple
* Mannar Thrikkuratti Mahadeva Temple
* Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna
* Manakkattu Devi Temple, Pallippad, Harippad
* Chakkulathukavu
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* Cherthala Devi
* Chettikulangara Devi
* Evoor Major Sri krishnaswamy temple
* Haripad Sree Subrahmanya Swamy temple
* Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple
* Kuttikattu Sree Bhadra Kali Devi
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* Padanilam Parabrahma Temple
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Ernakulam|

* Cherai Gowreeshwara
* Dakshina Mookambika Temple North Paravur
* Chottanikkara
* Eravikulangara
* Iringole Kavu
* Kalamassery Mahaganapathy
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* Panekavu Bhagavati Shastha
* Sree Bhavaneeswara
* Sree Poornathrayesa
* Sree Venugopala
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Idukki|

* Sri Siddhi Vinayakar

Kannur|

* Andalur kavu
* Sree Vadeswaram
* Azhikode Palottukavu
* Chenankavu
* Chala Bhagavathi
* Sree Annapoorneswari
* Sree Chovva Shiva Temple
* Edappara Chamundi
* Hanumarambalam
* Sree Jagannathan
* Kandanthalli
* Keecheri Palottukavu
* Keezhur Mahadeva
* Kottiyoor Vadakkeshwaram
* Kunnathoor Padi
* Madayi Kavu
* Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathy Temple
* Vadukunda
* Mamanathambalam
* Manakulangara
* Mariamman Koil, Pilakool
* Mavilakkavu
* Muneeswaran Kovil
* Oorpazhachi Kavu
* Padavil Sree Muthappan
* Panoonneri Shiva
* Parassinikkadavu Muthappan
* Payyannur Sree Subramanyaswamy Temple
* Peralasseri Sree Subramaniaswamy Temple
* Pillayar Koil
* Neeliyaarkottam
* Rajarajeshwara Temple
* Sree Andalurkavu
* Tiruvangad
* Talap Ambalam
* Trichambaram
* Thrikkapalam Shiva
* Vasudevapuram Tavanur
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Kasaragod|

* Ananthapura Lake
* Kanila Shree Bhagavathi
* Madhur
* Trikaripur Chakrapani
* Sri Gopalakrishna Temple Kumble

Kollam|

* Ammachiveedu Muhurthi
* Anandavalleeshwaram Sri Mahadevar Temple
* Ashram Sree krishna Swamy
* Kadakkal Devi
* Kodimoottil Sri Bhadrakaali
* Kottankulangara Devi Temple
* Kottarakkara Sree Mahaganapathi Kshethram
* Kottarakkulam Sree Mahaganapathy Kovil, Kollam
* Oachira Parabrahma Temple
* Panakkattodil Devi Temple
* Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada Temple
* Pulimukham Devi Temple
* Paravur Puttingal Devi Temple
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* Sree Indilayappan
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* Vayalil Thrikkovil Mahavishnu

Kottayam|

* Vaikom
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* Ettumanoor Mahadevar
* Thirunakkara Sree Mahadevar Temple
* Kidangoor Subramanya Temple
* Chirakkadavu Sree Mahadevar
* Kaduthruthy Mahadeva Temple
* Neendoor Subrahmanya Swami Temple
* Perunna Subrahmanya Swami
* Kavinpuram Devi
* Morkulangara Devi
* Kadamuri Narasimhaswamy Temple, Kadamuri
* Moozhayil Sankaranarayana Temple Anicad
* Kodungoor Devi Temple
* Elamgulam Sree Dharma Shastha Temple
* Anicad Sree Bhagavathi Temple
* Pullattukunnel Temple, Elamgulam
* Nethalloor Devi
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* Paippad Puthenkavu Bhagavathi
* Pundareekapuram
* Puthiyakavu Devi Temple

Kozhikode|

* Abhimanyu Temple
* Azhakodi Devi
* Lokanarkavu
* Pisharikavu
* Valayanad Devi

Malappuram|

* Alathiyur Hanuman
* Kadampuzha Devi
* Kadampuzha Bhagavathy
* Sree Rama
* Thirumanthamkunnu
* Thirunavaya
* Thrikkavu
* Vairankode Bhagavathy Temple

Palakkad|

* Brahmeeswaran
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* Killikkurussimangalam
* Kodikkunnu Bhagavathy
* Manapullikavu
* Malamakkavu Ayyappa Temple
* Meenkulathi
* Sri Nellikulangara Bhagavathi
* Thirupuraikkal
* Valliya Aarattu – Karnaki Amman
* Vayilyamkunnu Bhagavathi
* Viswanatha Swam
* Panniyur Sri Varahamurthy Temple

Pathanamthitta|

* Aranmula Parthasarathy
* anikkattilammakshethram
* Gurunathanmukadi
* Kaviyoor Mahadevar
* Mahadeva
* Mezhuveli
* Muringamangalam Sreemahadevar
* Panayannarkavu
* Pattupurakkavu Bhagavathi
* Rektha Kanda Swamy
* Sabarimala
* Sree Bhuvaneswary
* Sree Vallabha
* Sreenarayanapuram
* Sri Chirakkakavu Bhagavthi
* Thazhoor Bhagavathy Kshetram
* Thrikkovil Sree Padmanabha Swami Kshetram
* Thrippara Shiva Kshetram
* Thumpamon Vadakkumnatha
* Valiyakoikkal

Thiruvananthapuram|

* Attukal
* Avanavanchery Sri Indilayappan
* Edava Palakkavu Bhagavathi temple
* Irumkulangara Durga Devi
* Janardanaswamy
* Kappil Bhagavathy
* Mannanthala Anandavaleeswaram
* Padmanabhaswamy
* Sarkaradevi
* Sivagiri Sarada Mutt
* Sreekanteswaram
* Thaliyadichapuram Sree Mahadeva
* Vellayani Devi Temple
* Venkatachalapathy

Thrissur|

* Arattupuzha Temple
* Ammathiruvadi Temple
* Avanangattilkalari Vishnumaya Temple
* Annamanada Mahadeva Temple
* Chembukkavu Bhagavathy Temple
* Chemmanthatta Mahadeva Temple
* Chiravarampathukavu Bhagavathi Temple
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* Pallimanna Siva Temple
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* Shatrughna Temple
* Thriprayar Temple
* Sree Maheswara Temple
* Sringapuram Mahadeva Temple
* Thanikkudam Bhagavathi Temple
* Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple
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* Thiruvullakkavu Sree Dharma Sastha Temple
* Thottipal Bhagavati
* Trikkur Mahadeva
* Vadakkunnathan
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* Peruvanam Mahadeva Temple
* Mathur Shiva Temple
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Wayanad|

* Mazhuvannur Maha Siva Kshethram
* Thirunelli
* Valliyoorkkavu

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