Pisharikavu temple is a centuries-old temple located at Kozhikode. Dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathy, this shrine is around 30 kilometers away from Kozhikode city. It has two sreekovils out of which one is devoted to Goddess Bhagavathy and the other is to Lord Shiva. The temple architecture is very beautiful with exquisite wood carvings. Pilgrims also appreciate its eye-catching mural paintings. The mural arts in the Pisharikavu temple are among the oldest one in the state. This shrine is also popular for various rituals and offerings like Udayasthama pooja, Niramalya, Valia vattala guruthi, Palpayasom and Rekthapushpanjali.
It is believed that Pisharikavu temple was built by the Vaisya community. This trading community who lived in Kollam and migrated to Kozhikode. This ancient shrine is celebrates an annual festival in the Malayalam month of Medam (April- May) which lasts for seven days. Devotees visit this temple during this time in order to watch different temple arts such as Ottanthullal, Chakyarkoothu pachavadyam, padhakom and Thayambaka. There is a sword in the temple known as ‘Nandhakam Vaal’ which is taken out during the annual festival in a grand procession. The week-long festival of Pisharikavu Temple concludes with a ritual called ‘Kaliyattam’.
Myth about the temple
Centuries before remaining members of the “Ettuveettil” family after conspiracy against Marthanda Varma settled down in the village named Kollam near present-day Koyilandy in Calicut district. They were rich diamond merchants. One of family member prayed and did tapas to please goddess Badhra Kali. One night the goddess Sri Porkali (the family goddess of Ettuveettil pilla’s) appeared in his dream and gave him “Nandhakam” sword and told him to pray her in the form of this sword and she will answer all his prayers and also asked him to go to his home town. He went back to his hometown and built a temple and started worshiping the Nandakkam sword. The family by the grace of mother Badhra Kali became very rich and powerful. They paid Samoothiri-King of Kozhikode and brought a land there and settled down there with their family and built a beautiful temple here and worshiped the Nandakkam sword, it is believed that 8 family have migrated from south, namely Kiziyil, Vazhayil, Elayedathu, Echarathil, Punathil, Nanothu, Mundakkal, Erothu. Native people called them “vyapari”(merchants) at that time. Later name changed to “Ravari” in colloquial language. The community is existing even now and they have special rights for conducting festival called “Kaliyattam”.
Main festivals of Pisharikavu
The annual festival of Sri Pisharikavu Temple is celebrated in the Malayala month of “Meenam”. The festival is celebrated with pomp for 8 days. The 7th day is celebrated as “Valiya Vilaku”, and the 8th day is celebrated as “Kaliyattom”, on which the divine Nandhakam sword is brought in procession around the temple on 7th and 8th day on a fully decorated female elephant, and traditional art form of Kerala is also staged in the temple. The Navarathri is also celebrated in a big way in the temple..
