मृदंगसैलेश्वरी मंदिर

मुझक्कुनू, पेरावूर, जि. कन्नूर

Mridangasaileswari Temple 

Muzhakkunnu, Peravoor, Dist. Kannur

The Muzhakkunnu Mridangasaileswari Temple is a famous Bhagavathi (Goddess) temple located in Muzhakkunnu Panchayat in Iritty Taluk of Kannur district, Kerala. It is considered one of the important Bhagavathi temples in Kerala. According to Hindu belief, the main deity here is Adi Parashakti, worshipped in the forms of Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Kali. It is also believed that the classical art form Kathakali originated from this temple. Devotees believe that visiting this temple helps in artistic growth, educational excellence, and overcoming difficulties.
The goddess of this temple is the family deity of the Kottayam royal family. Their early headquarters was at Purali Mala near Muzhakkunnu, and hence they were known as “Puraliswaranmar.” During the reign of kings like Raja Harishchandran and Raja Sankaran Kotha Varma, the temple flourished. To the west of the temple once stood the original Porkkali temple, where the kings performed rituals before going to war. This cave temple, considered the origin of other Porkkali temples in Kerala, is now in ruins, though reconstruction efforts are ongoing. Nearby is the Pindari Kalari, the martial training centre of the kings.
With the decline of the Kottayam royal lineage, the temple also fell into neglect. During the invasions of Tipu Sultan and the British East India Company, the cave temple and a nearby Krishna temple were destroyed. However, the main Mridangasaileswari temple and its idol survived with minor damage but gradually faded into obscurity. In 1907, the Madras Government took over the temple, later transferring it to the H.R. & C.E. department. In 2008, after the formation of the Malabar Devaswom Board, the temple came under its control. With its revival, renowned vasthu expert Kanippayyur Krishnan Namboothiripad designed the temple layout. Renovation followed, and in 2023, the idol was reinstalled.
The temple is believed to be one of the 108 Durga temples established by Parashurama, with an age of over 2000 years. According to legend, Goddess Saraswati descended here in the form of a “Mizhavu” (a percussion instrument). The place where it fell came to be known as Mridangasaila (hill of the drum), later evolving into “Muzhakkunnu.” Inside the temple, a slightly sunken area in the southeast corner is believed to be this sacred spot, considered the original seat of Adi Parashakti. The temple is also associated with Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja, who worshipped here before going to battle against British rule. A statue of Pazhassi Raja stands near the temple.
Kathakali is an art form that upholds Kerala’s prestige before the world. The famous invocation verse (vandana shloka) of Kathakali is believed to have been composed in the presence of the deity at the Muzhakkunnu Mridangasaileswari Temple. This verse is in praise of Goddess Mridangasaileswari. Therefore, it is believed that the art form of Kathakali originated from here.
The temple is situated in a scenic village surrounded by hills. It faces east, and devotees must walk a short distance from the entrance to reach it. A sacred temple pond lies to the north. The temple complex is enclosed by walls with gopurams on all four sides. The statue of Pazhassi Raja is near the northern entrance, while his palace has been reconstructed outside the western wall. Near the eastern entrance is the Balikkal Pura (sacrificial altar). The Saraswati Mandapam is located in the southeast. On the southwest side of the circumambulatory path is a shrine of Sastha facing east, known as Vana Sastha due to the absence of a roof.
The outer walls of the nalambalam are decorated with stone lamps. On either side of the entrance to the nalambalam, there are small structures known as vāthil mādams (gateway pavilions). Near the southern vāthil mādam is the shrine of the Goddess (Bhagavathi), where only a self manifested sacred mound (chithappurttu) can be seen. Devotees are not allowed to enter this area directly, but it is customary to offer prayers here before proceeding to the sreekovil (sanctum).
Another distinctive feature is the shrine of Ganapathi near the southern vāthil mādam, along with a homakundam (sacrificial fire pit) located nearby. On the platform for ghee lamps, one can always see lamps lit with ghee offerings made by devotees. Northern vāthil mādam is used for chanting prayers (namajapam) and for musical offerings (sangeetha archana). Traditional instruments such as chenda, maddalam, thimila, and idakka are seen hung there. Inside the nalambalam, there is a thidappalli (temple kitchen) in the southeastern corner and a well in the northeastern corner.
The sanctum (Sreekovil) is a two-storied square structure made of brick, covered with copper and topped with a golden finial. You have to climb steps to enter the sanctum (Sreekovil). The sanctum is constructed entirely of laterite stone, with both its tiers covered in copper, and it is topped with a golden finial (kalasham). Inside are three chambers, with the westernmost being the sanctum. The four-foot Panchaloha idol of the goddess faces east, representing Durga in her peaceful form as Katyayani. She has four arms holding a Sri Chakra and conch, with one hand in blessing and the other resting on her waist. The deity embodies all forms of Parashakti, including Durga, Kali, Lakshmi, Parvati, and Saraswati. Sub-deities include Mahaganapathi, Dakshinamurthy, Dhanvantari, Sastha, Krishna, Vettakkaran, and serpent deities.
One of the major festivals is the Pooram festival held in the Malayalam month of Meenam on the Karthika star, lasting ten days with rituals and cultural programs. Other important festivals include Navaratri, Thrikarthika, and Makara Sankramam.
The Muzhakkunnu Mridangasaileswari Temple is a major temple where four daily poojas (rituals) are performed. At 4:00 AM, the goddess is awakened with the blowing of the conch seven times. At 5:00 AM, the temple doors open, and Nirmalyam Darshan begins. This is followed by abhishekams (ritual bathing) with oil and water. After the abhishekam, malar nivedyam (offering of puffed rice) is performed. At 7:00 AM, the Usha Pooja is conducted along with Ganapathi Homam. The Ucha Pooja (midday pooja) takes place from 11:15 AM to 12:00 PM, after which the temple closes at 1:00 PM. The temple reopens at 5:00 PM. In the evening, Deeparadhana (lamp worship) is performed at sunset. This is followed by a special Bhagavathi Seva. Around 7:00 PM, the Athazha Pooja (night pooja) is conducted, and the temple closes again at 8:00 PM.