Karthyayani Devi Temple, Kumaranalloor - 108 Durga Temples

One of the most prominent Bhagavathy temples in Kerala, the Kumaranalloor Devi temple is believed to be more than 2400 years old. It is also one of the 108 Durga temples consecrated by lord Parasurama himself. During the time of the construction of a temple at Udayanapuram of Goddess Durga by king Cheraman Perumal, simultaneously he began the construction of another temple at Kumaranalloor for lord Murugan. At that time, a gem studded nose ring of the Goddess Madurai Meenakshi in Madurai went missing. The king was outraged and wanted immediate action.

He ordered that the priest of the temple would be sentenced to death if he does not find the ring in 41 days as he was the caretaker of the Goddess. The innocent priest was scared and pleaded to the Goddess to help him. Days went by and on the 40th day, the priest had a dream. The Goddess appeared in his dream and asked him to follow the path she says. He followed the same and ran towards Kumaranalloor unaware of where he was going simply following the divine light. The Kumaranalloor temple was under construction and the light entered the sanctorum. It also happened to be the suitable time of idol installation.

Suddenly, there was a divine voice that said that the place was not meant for Kumara but was for Kumari (Goddess). King Perumal was disappointed and he went to Udayanapuram to install the idol of Subramanian. He later came to Kumaranalloor to install the idol of the Goddess here. It is also said that Lord Parasurama had installed the idol in disguise of a Brahmin here. The Brahmin priest, who followed the light from Madurai, became the priest of the temple. So this temple is considered equivalent to Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple. The architecture of the temple is unique in an aspect that both the Sreekovil (inner sanctum) and the nalambalam (outer sanctum) are built in the Sreechakra style.