Kateel Shree Durga Parameshwari Temple

Kateel Durga Parameshwari Temple, Goddess Parvati as Durga Parameshwari has her temple in the middle of the sacred Nandini river. The legend begins with the battle between Goddess Shakti and demons under their ruler Arunasura, as mentioned in Markandeya Purana text. Arunasura was a demon king in this region who usually disturb the sages. Maharishi Jabali visited Lord Brahma and requested him to send Kamadhenu (a holy cow) as the guarding of the sages. Since Kamadhenu was unavailable at that time, he sent her daughter Nandini. However, Nandini refused to accompany the sage and thus cursed to flow as a river on the Earth. Meanwhile, Arunasura started a strict penance and obtained a boon from Lord Brahma that he should not attain death. Lord Brahma granted him the boon and also informed him that as long as he chants the Gayatri Mantra every day, Death will not touch him.

Boosted by the boons, he created a huge army and started terrorizing people including divine souls. Goddess Parvati made a plan making him to forget to chant that mantra at least for a day, so that she can kill him. So, she disguised herself as a beautiful and seductive girl and appeared before the demon. He was so attracted by her beauty and proposed to her. But she ran into a nearby hill and disappeared. Arunasura broke the rock and found the Goddess took the form of a big bee and repeatedly attacked him until he died. Maharishi Jabali along with other sages offered the Goddess with tender coconut and calmed her down. On their request, she chose this place as her abode. The temple has a Kerala style architecture with rich natural surroundings. The temple gains spiritual importance than its structure.