# Kanadikavu Shree Vishnumaya Kuttichathan Swamy temple

The Kanadikavu Shree Vishnumaya Kuttichathan Swami temple is an ancient Vishnumaya temple located 20 km southwest of Thrissur in Peringottukara, Kerala, India.
The main deity of the temple is Vishnumaya, a Kuttichathan, although 320 other Kuttichathans are also worshipped. Brahmashree Vishnubharatheeya, the Spiritual Guru, and Madathipathi, serves as the chief priest. This temple is the ancestral temple of the Ezhava community, and Vishnumaya is one of the deities they worship.

## Deities

The main deity of the temple is the Kuttichathan, Vishnumaya. Other deities worshipped in the temple are Bhadrakali, Bhuvaneshvari, Kukshikalpam, Nagaraja, Nagayakshi, and Brahmarakshasa, among many Kuttichathans.

## History

Legend has it that sage Koonamuthappan believed the well-being of humanity required a powerful and easy-to-please deity. To achieve this, he undertook severe penance to appease the deity of his family. In response, the Goddess appeared before him. Koonamuthappan requested that the Goddess grant him the mantram that would allow him to please and summon Chathan Swamy, the son of Parameswaran. Pleased with his devotion, the Goddess provided him with the Moola Mantram to invoke Chathan and the Dhyana Mantram for daily worship. He then journeyed to the Himalayas, where, guided by the Nga Sages, he entered into deep penance. Vishnumaya Kuttichathan Swami eventually appeared before him, and he returned to Peringottukara with the deity. Upon reaching Peringottukara, he consecrated and installed Vishnumaya Chathan Swamy at the site where the Kanadi family now resides.

### Roopakkalam

The ritual of Roopakalam is typically performed during the annual festival of Thiruvellattu, which takes place in the Malayalam month of Makaram, at Vishnumaya temples of Kerala. The Roopakalam is a form of ritual or offering to Vishnumaya, wherein colorful figures of the deity, and sometimes of his ally Karimkutty, are drawn on the ground using multicolored herbal and organic powders. After the Roopakalam is drawn, a family member who is a priest performs a puja. This is followed by a sacred ritual dance by the priest around the kalam, accompanied by music. The dancer then erases the kalam using coconut palm leaves. The colored powders are subsequently distributed to the devotees after the ritual. Ref:https://kanadikavu.com/

### Main offerings to the deity

The main offerings made by the devotees include Roopakalam, Chuttuvilakku, Niramala, Brahmavellattu Karmam, Veethu, Guruthi, Divasapooja, and Pushpanjali.

## Festivals
### Thiravellattu Mahotsavam

The day of the oracle of Vishnumaya in the Malayalam month of Makaram is with Thiravellattu Mahotsavam. In the month of Midhunam, three days starting with the star Uthram are meant as the festival in connection with the Consecration Day.

### Thottampattu festival

The Thottampattu festival is to please Bhuvaneswary, who is in the form of mother to Lord Vishnu Maya. Bhuvaneswary is the family deity of the Kanady family who was responsible for the arrival of Vishnumaya to Peringotukara village. On the day of Thottampattu, Devi is brought out from the Sreekovil, where an idol of Devi is created as Kalam, followed by the chanting of various hymns.