Aadhiparasakthi Maha Bhadrakaali Devi Temple is located at Thoniplavila village near Chirakulam in Neyyattinkara, Thiruvananthapuram.The presiding deity of the temple is Goddess Aadhiparasakthi Bhadrakaali, a powerful manifestation of the divine feminine energy. She symbolizes strength, protection, and benevolence.
The name Thoniplavila has an interesting story. Long ago, this land was part of the Vrindavan Estate, owned by the Travancore Royal Family during the time of Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma. Since water often flowed into the estate, the royal children played with jackfruit-wood boats here. That’s how the place got the name Thoniplavila – meaning “place where boats were played with”.
The temple has its roots in freedom and sacrifice. Sree Kalluvila Podiyan, from the Ayyanavar community, was a brave soul who gave his life in the August 1938 freedom movement in Neyyattinkara. After his passing, his eldest son, Sri Madhavan, continued the spiritual legacy. He placed the idols of Sree Bhadrakali and other fierce deities, worshipped by his father, under a huge old jackfruit tree with a hollow trunk at Panangattukari.
These idols were later moved to the Ooruttukala Bhagavathy Temple.
Sri Madhavan was also known for his deep devotion. He would collect medicinal plants from the sacred Agasthyar Kootam mountains, prepare herbal medicines, and offer them to devotees, believing it was all through the blessings of Bhadrakali Devi.
One day, an idol of Goddess Mahabhadrakali appeared on its own in his house’s prayer room. This self-manifested (swayambhu) form was seen as a powerful sign of the Devi’s divine presence.
Sri Madhavan’s third son, Sri Thampi Swami, played an important spiritual role. With the blessings of his guru, Aadideva Guru Sree Parabrahma Bhairava Swamigal, he guided devotees, gave spiritual instructions, and even personally distributed the hot Pongala offerings made by devotees, using his bare hands.
As the number of visitors grew, the need for a proper temple arose.
The Temple is Born – 1966
In 1966, under the leadership of Sri M. Raveendran (the youngest son of Sri Madhavan), a committee of local people was formed. A temple was built at the same spot where their ancestral house stood. During astrological consultations, it was revealed that Goddess Durgadevi was also present at the site. So, she too was consecrated alongside Bhadrakali with equal importance.
Interestingly, the Bhadrakali idol started to grow naturally over time, reinforcing the belief in its self-manifested power.
The temple’s spiritual power became widely known. Even great saints like Sree Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal and his successor Sree Shankara Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamigal, heads of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, visited and worshipped here after hearing about the strong divine vibrations of the temple.
Pongala Festival – Women devotees cook sweet rice in earthen pots to offer to the goddess.