Paramekkavu Bhagavathi Temple Thrissur

In the early days, Paramekkavu Bhagavathi was also situated inside the Vadakkunnathan temple. Subsequently, a new temple was built outside and the idol of the goddess was moved to that location.

Main Deity : Goddess Bhagavathy, incarnation of Goddess Durga (Devi Vaisnavy)

History

The original temple is estimated to be more than 1000 years old.

The idol of the Goddess Paramekkavu Bhagavathy is made of wood (daru silpa).

Legend

There is an interesting legend how the Goddess appeared here. An aristocratic Nair family elder, of Kuruppal Tharavad, used to visit the Sree Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathi Temple Angadippuram, Perinthalmanna. As age caught up, he decided to visit the temple one last time. He sought forgiveness and prayed. On his return journey, he rested below and Ilanhi tree near Vadakkunatha temple. When he tried to pick up his palmyrah umbrella, he was unable to do so. It was fixed firmly to earth. Hence the elder decided to worship her there.

When the Vadakkunatha temple was renovated, she was moved to below a Paro tree, hence got her name as Parakkavu Bhavathy which then became Paramekkavu Bhagavathy.

As the original location of the Goddess was beneath the Illanhi tree at the Vadakkunatha temple, the first light of the temple lamp is shown in the direction of the Illanhi tree every day.

The temple complex has two shrines; Paramekkavu and Melekkavu. 

The legend behind the Melekkavu is as follows. In ancient days there was a practice of offering guruthi (sacrificial animals and birds) ritual by people of the Kizhakkumpattukara village on the ground near the present Paramekkavu temple.  When slaughter of animals was prohibited the system of offering guruthi discontinued. A devaprasna held in 1960 recommended its revival and suggested to offer the guruthi ritual on the festival day of Kodungallur Bhagavathy temple. Later, an idol of the Goddess got from the temple tank and it was consecrated at the place where guruthi ritual was performed.

Architecture

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Temple opening hours

4:30am to 11:30am and 4:00pm to 9:00pm daily

Events and must do

Trissur Festival usually in April

Best Time to Visit

All year round 

Do's and Don'ts

No photography inside the temple premises

Strict dress code

Location Info 

Address : Paramekkavu Devaswom Building, Round East, Keerankulangara, Thrissur, Kerala 680001, India

Contact Number : +91 487 233 1273

GPS Coordinates : 10° 31' 28.4088'' N 76° 13' 4.0224'' E

How to reach

It is situated around 2km from the Thrissur railway station. There are many buses, taxis and autorickshaws available for hire

Google Map

Photos from our trip : Dec 2017

Actually we didn't realise she existed, she was not in our plan to visit. We visited the Vadakkunatha temple first. On the way we saw her temple and was pulled to her immediately, we stopped and visited her for a great darshan. Just loved the ambience of the temple. The temple folks were too kind to show us how to follow the prayer direction and also dos and don'ts.

Sources

1. http://navrangindia.blogspot.com/2017/02/historical-paramekkavu-bhagavathy-temple.html
2. https://www.keralatourism.org/1000festivals//assets/uploads/pdf/1507750086-0.pdf

*Note: All the information here is a compilation of online research and verbal communication with locals at sites. Not to be assumed as the final and conclusive information. If there are any discrepancies, please comment kindly.

Shri Venkateswara Temple, Tividale

(photo credit from http://www.venkateswara.org.uk/)

Main Deity : Vishnu incarnation Lord Venkateswara aka Balaji

History

The installation of the main statues of Shri Venkateswara and Hanuman took place in the main temple in April 2000. In May 2000 completion ceremony of Shri Subramanya Swami (protector of family life) temple was performed. In July 2002 installation of Shri Sudashrana Swami for procession took place. Foundation ceremony for the Community Hall took place in January 2003. In July 2003 installation of Navagraha (nine heavenly bodies including the Sun, moon and the planets) was performed. The grand opening ceremony for the Community Hall took place in August 2004. In August 2006 the grand opening ceremony of the main temple was performed.
In May 2007 the ornamental pond with the statue of Ananthapadmanabha was opened. The shrine for Shiva was built and the statue (natural stone selected from the river Ganges in the foot hills of Himalayas) was installed in 2011.

Legend
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Architecture
Shri Venkateswara Temple reflects the South Indian Dravidian styles (Pallava, Chola & Pandya) with distinctive granite carved Gopuras (towers) incorporating many traditional stone carvings.
Temple opening hours

Weekdays
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM Weekends & Bank Holidays 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM and 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Please note that the temple will close at 8:30 pm from November to March (Winter Time)

Events and must do

Best Time to Visit
All year round

Do's and Don'ts
No shoes inside shrines

No photography inside the Shrines


Location Info 
Address : Dudley Rd E, Tividale, Oldbury B69 3DU, United Kingdom
Contact Number : +44 121 544 2256
GPS Coordinates : 52.5133° N, 2.0302° W
How to reach

By Road

It is on Dudley Road East, Tividale, just two miles from the motorway, M5 Junction 2, and even closer to Sandwell & Dudley railway station.

By Bus

Number 87 bus runs frequently from Birmingham New Street Station to Balaji Temple. Check the West Midlands By Road

By Train

From Sandwell & Dudley Station

Temple is 20 minutes walking distance or five minutes by taxi.

From Birmingham New Street

Number 87 bus runs frequently from Birmingham New Street Station to Balaji Temple.

Google Map

Photos from our trip : May 2017
My mum had this weird dream of visiting UK not for the Buckingham palace or its nature, instead of visiting temples. Since I was already travelling to UK on a frequent basis I took her up on one of my trips there. Booked a car and drove her to this this beautiful temple. It is was a pleasant surprise to see such a well built temple in Europe. Usually the Hindu temples I have been to are in shop lots or at small corner of road. My mum was so happy.

Entrance to the main altar (no camera allowed in here)

Anadhanam was given on the day we visited the temple

Sources

1. http://www.venkateswara.org.uk/

2. https://www.templepurohit.com/hindu-temple/sri-venkateswara-balaji-temple-west-midlands/

*Note: All the information here is a compilation of online research and verbal communication with locals at sites. Not to be assumed as the final and conclusive information. If there are any discrepancies, please comment kindly.