Hi Friends,

I am here to share new experience and few interesting facts about the recently visited Cherukunnu Annapoorneswari temple. All that knew from the localites and surrounding is what I have shared below in a nutshell.

Cherukunnu Sree Annapoorneswari, the mother who vanquishes hunger, is an incarnation of Goddess Parvati. The deities here are Krishna and Annapoorneshwari. 

A ladle, used to serve the rice (Korikai) is the main deity worshipped here.The temple offers food to all devotees who come here . Food is offered two times, during lunch and dinner every day as prasadam.  

How did Cherukunnu get its name:

There is also a mythological version for the name, according to which, the devotees used to be served with heaps of cooked rice (choru = cooked rice meal and kunnu = heap/hill) as prasaadams (anna-dhanam) and hence used to be addressed as ‘Choru-kunnu’ that has gradually got transformed colloquially in common usage as ‘Cherukunnu’ over the years.

A few others says Cheru means small or little and kunnu means hill that is small hill. Around this place there are five small hills. Hence the place got the name Cherukunnu

Architecture of the temple

Annapoorneswari temple is situated in Kannur, Kerala. The temple has a food hall (Outtu Pura), where the prasadam is served. The uniqueness in this temple is the deity worshipped here will have the spattle in hand. The food hall can accommodate approximately 250-300 people in one seating.

The temple was originally a vaishnav temple with the deity of Lord Krishna in the temple. Later deity of Cherukunnilamma was added where the deity of Annapoorneswari is installed . Both the entrance are of the same size, shape and made of same type of stones. This shows that both the god and goddess are having equal importance in the temple.

The temple after Amma’s Prathishta (giving sacred power to the deity of Annapoorneshwari) was built by Avittam thirunal Raja Raja Varma of Chirakkal Rajavamsham. Next to the temple is the temple Pond which is approximately 4acres, and has serine view in the early morning.

The temple is built in one single type of rock. These polished stones are put together using a mixture of flattened rice and jaggery. The surrounding of the temple which is known as chuttambalam also serve as the dining area.

There is also a store room, which is used to store the rice and vegetables which is used to cook on daily basis and the some come from devotees as offering.

Legends about the temple

Legend1:  It was formally a Vishnu/Krishna Temple, according to the legends goddess Parvathi/Annapoorneswari arrived from Kashi with two of her sisters or devis ( Kalarivathikal Amma and Madai Kavail Amma) and a boatman in a golden ship built by Vishwakarma to visit Krishna temple, and landed at Azhi Theeram (Aayiram Thengu) and never returned, therefore devi is  also known as Kashipurathiswari. Later the ruling king of Kolathiri prayed her to continue her stay and bless the people of the land with prosperity and happiness. She agreed for the request. Mother Goddess from then assumed the form of Goddess Annapoorneshwari and settled down in the temple of the Sri Krishna Temple at Cherukunnu.

Legend 2: When Annapoorneswari came and liked the place and wanted to never return back, It is also said that the current temple location before was Maniyankaad illam, goddess came in the dream of one of the ruling king and asked to build a temple and shift  the illam people to a place where she throws the firewood(Verakkolli), and that’s how the Annapoorneswari temple was established.

Legend 3: It is said that once a poor man who was starving reached the temple at an odd hour and asked for food. It is believed that he was fed miraculously. From that day, a custom was started in temple to keep some food ready for untimely visitors. It continues even today.

Note: Legends above are heard from the localites residing there, if you would like to add something, kindly comment below. 😊 would really help

Interesting facts about the temple:

• The priest here stays in temple and the temple is locked from inside unlike other temple.
• The temple has the lush green fields towards the sides of the temple. While facing the temple the left side is know to be Kannapuram village and the Krishna deity is placed within Kannapuram village area and hence known as Kannapurathappan and right side is known to be Cherukunnu village and Goddess Annapoorna deity is placed withing Cherukkunu village and hence known as known as Cherukunnil Amma.

Vedikottai: On the last day of the procession of Vishu Vilakku, the deity is placed here and fireworks takes place right infron of this Vedikottai.

Offering:

The main offering done her by devotees is Annadanam or food donation.

How to reach here

Train: Nearest railway station Kannur

Opening Timing:
Morning: 5: 00 am to 12: 00 pm

Evening: 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. 

Festivals celebrated

• Vishu Vilakku in April is the main festival. This is celebrated for a entire week with remarkable fireworks and performances of other forms arts. It would be a lively vibe through out the night. I am telling it because my mother in laws house is 2min walkable distance to temple 😊
• Its also said that Bhagavathys birthday celebrated on Avittam star day of Mithuna month. It is also said that Devotees flock to the temple from various part of the Kerala.
• The other celebrations are Puthari, Karthigai, Janamshatami and Navarathri and are also celebrated in this temple.

Hope you enjoyed reading, will be back soon with new experiences, facts and memories.

Until then happy blogging 😊 😊