Mukkolakkal Bhagavathy Temple is located in the Sreevaraham area of Thiruvananthapuram district in Kerala. The temple is situated close to the famous Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple and near Sreevaraham Lakshmi Varaha Temple, making it an important spiritual center in the region.
The exact period of construction of Mukkolakkal Bhagavathy Temple is not clearly mentioned in historical records. However, the temple is believed to be several centuries old and has been an important place of worship for local devotees for many generations. The temple gradually developed from a sacred spot into a structured shrine after the divine manifestation of the Goddess at this location. Over time, the temple gained religious importance and became a well-known Bhagavathy temple in the region.
The presiding deity of the temple is Goddess Bhagavathy, who is worshipped as a powerful form of Goddess Parvati and the supreme Divine Mother Shakti. The deity is believed to be Swayambhu, meaning the divine presence appeared naturally at the site without human installation. The idol of the Goddess is made of Panchaloha, a sacred mixture of five metals traditionally used for divine idols in Hindu worship.
The Goddess is worshipped as a compassionate mother who protects devotees from difficulties and grants prosperity, health, knowledge, and spiritual strength. Devotees believe that sincere prayers to the Goddess remove obstacles and bring peace and success in life.
Along with the main deity, several sub-deities are worshipped in the temple premises, like Lord Ganapathi, Nagaraja, Brahmarakshas – a powerful guardian deity, Maadan Thampuran – regional protective deity, Yakshi Amma – divine feminine energy and Navagrahas – nine planetary deities.
Regular rituals and offerings are performed for these deities.
Mukkolakkal Bhagavathy Temple is built in traditional Kerala style architecture, known for its simple and spiritual design. The temple has a square sanctum (Chathura Sreekovil), a Namaskara Mandapam for prayers, and a Nalambalam surrounding the sanctum. The structure features a traditional sloping roof, wooden craftsmanship, and a temple flagstaff (Kodimaram). The architecture reflects Kerala’s climate-friendly construction and peaceful temple atmosphere.
The Sthalapurana of Mukkolakkal Bhagavathy Temple explains the divine origin of the temple through a miraculous event. According to local tradition, a group of children were once playing in the area where the temple now stands. During their play, one of the children accidentally fell on a rock. To the surprise of everyone present, the rock began to bleed.
This unusual incident created fear and curiosity among the villagers, who immediately sought the guidance of learned astrologers and spiritual scholars. After examining the place, they declared that the stone contained the divine presence of the Goddess. The place was recognized as sacred, and worship began at that very spot.
Later, a temple was constructed around the sacred location, and the Goddess came to be worshipped as Mukkolakkal Bhagavathy. The self-manifestation of the deity is believed to demonstrate the powerful presence of the Divine Mother at this site. Devotees believe that the Goddess continues to protect the region and bless her devotees with prosperity, health, and spiritual well-being.
The main festival of the temple is Ooruttu Mahotsavam, celebrated annually with special poojas, rituals, and temple processions. Navaratri is observed with special worship to the Goddess, and Vidyarambham for children is conducted on Vijayadashami. Vishu and Vrishchika Mandala seasons are also celebrated with special prayers, and Aadi Chovva worship is performed on Tuesdays during the Tamil month of Aadi.
