Kallil Rock Cut Devi Temple

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Overview

Kallil Bhagavathy temple or Kallil Kshetram, is one among the famous cave temples in Kerala. It is believed to be 1500 years old. This temple located on a 30 acre hillock is cut from a huge rock and can be reached by climbing 120 steps.

About the Temple

This giant of a monolith measuring a whooping 75 feet length, 45 feet width and 25 feet height stands tall as nothing less than enigma before the keepers of history and the very scientific community. The sculptures seen in the temple and the peculiar worship modalities, throw light to the vivid cultural scheme, prevalent in this land over thousands of years ago. The spectacle of the hovering massive stone that forms the roof of the shrine gives the temple its divine stature. There are many legends about how this state of the stone came into being. Once, people gathering forest resources in the then dense forest came to see a divinely beautiful lady toying with huge stones. They were curious to know who this was, but in fraction of second this lady hid herself in the cave forming a cover with the stones she was playing with. The lady was none other than Kallil Bhagavathi. The stone that went up became the roof and the one fallen down became the seat of the Goddess. Bhagavathi is seated fully bejeweled little to the right of the door of the shrine. The magnetism exuded by her kindles perennial ecstasy in every devotee seeking succor at her feet. One has no reason to wonder why the temple came to be called Kallil temple having to see the ‘Balikkallu’ in front of the Sreekovil, stone roofed elephant shed, steps made of stones and the temple pond and the ‘oottupura’ made in stone.

About the Deity

Rock-carved images of the 23rd Tirthankara, Parshvanatha, Vardhaman Mahavira (24th Tirthankara) and Padmavati devi are present in the temple. Padmavati devi is worshipped as Bhagawathi by the local population.

Legend and Stories

Historical records reveal that the temple has great antiquity and it was a very ancient Jain temple which was later transformed as a Hindu temple consequent on the decline of Jainism and insurgence of Aryans in the 9th century. Once, people gathering forest resources in the then dense forest, saw a divinely beautiful lady playing with huge stones. They were curious to know who this was, but in fraction of second this lady hid herself in the cave forming a cover with the stones she was playing with. The lady was none other than Kallil Bhagavathi. The stone that went up became the roof and the one fallen down became the seat of the Goddess. It is believed that the idols seen there, are of Jainatheertha Parswanathan, Mahaveer and Pathmavathi Devi.

Festivals

Annual festival is celebrated for 8 days in the month of Vrichikam (November-December).

Prasad and Offering

The main offering in the temple is known as Idithozhal which is a peculiar one and not seen elsewhere. A mixture of raw-rice, betal leaves, areca nuts, lime and turmeric are ground neatly and offered to the deity and the remnant is distributed among the devotees as prasadam.

How to Reach Ernakulam

Cochin International Airport, located around 27 km away from the city centre serves the city of Ernakulam. Ernakulam Junction Railway Station is one of the busiest rail junctions of Kerala that withstands the movement of several passenger and express trains arriving from different parts of India and nearby places. Ernakulam is connected with nearby towns and suburbs by state highways.

Temple Address