About Pournamikavu Devi Temple

Pournamikavu Temple, located in Venganoor, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, is a unique and significant place of worship. The main deity of the temple is Shri Bala Tripura Sundari Devi, the war-goddess of the Aay Dynasty, which reigned from the ancient city of Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram.

Pournamikavu Temple’s unique identity as the “Akshara Devatha Temple.”

The temple is notable for being the first in the world to consecrate and worship 51 separate idols of the ‘Akshara Devathas’ (Alphabet Goddesses). This practice is rooted in the belief that each of the 51 letters of the Sanskrit alphabet is a sacred sound with its own presiding deity. In essence, this highlights the temple’s distinct focus on learning and intellect. Hence, the temple serves as a unique pilgrimage destination for those seeking blessings for intellectual and professional development, including knowledge, education, and wisdom.

  • Special Offering: A significant and symbolic ritual at the temple is the offering of a Veena, a classical Indian musical instrument, specifically to the Akshara Devathas by devotees whose wishes have been fulfilled, particularly those related to Academic success (knowledge and education), Career advancement (promotions in their jobs), and gaining wisdom.

The temple serves as a hub of spiritual activity, attracting thousands of devotees who visit for various reasons, including:

  • Curing diseases
  • Fulfilling personal desires
  • Finding solutions to life’s problems
  • Identifying and connecting with their kula devathas (family deities) that were previously unknown to them.

The temple maintains an open-door policy, allowing entry to everyone regardless of their religion or caste.

Idols and Sub-Deities

  • Main Deity: The main idol of Bala Tripura Sundari Devi in her Krodha Bhadra form is the world’s largest Panchaloha idol, standing 6.5 ft tall and weighing 1,300 kg.
  • Separate idols of 51 Akshara Devathas (Alphabet Goddesses)
  • Lord Panchamukha Ganesha: The temple houses the biggest Panchamukha Ganesha (5-faced Ganesha) monolith idol, carved from Krishna Shila, which is 8 ft tall.
  • Naaga Raj: The largest Naagaraja idol carved from a single stone is 275 cm tall. There are also several dozen Naaga Devatha idols in the sacred grove of the temple.
  • Lord Shaneeswara: There is an 18-foot-tall monolith idol of Lord Shaneeswara along with his vahana, the crow (12-foot-tall monolith idol).

Upcoming Consecrations: 

Plans include the consecration of a 23-foot-tall monolith idol of Goddess Aadhi Parashakthi, and 18-foot-tall monolith idols of Goddess Durga and Goddess Rajamathangi. These idols, along with a large Nandi idol, were made and transported from Jaipur, Rajasthan, to the Pournamikavu Temple. The idols were carved from a single marble stone, and their installation is considered a significant milestone for the temple. The idols have already been installed, and their respective sanctora are under construction.

Other notable deities and sub-deities include:

  • Lord Halasya Shiva – it is a kind of rarely seen full-figure idol to be worshipped of Lord Shiva; 5.5ft tall monolith idol.
  • Lord Lakshmi Ganesha
  • Lord Panjamukha Ganesha – it is the biggest Panjamukha Ganesha (5-faced Ganesha) monolith idol carved out of Krishna Shila (8 feet tall)
  • Saraswathi Devi
  • Ugra Rektha Chamundi (Chandika) Devi
  • Veera Hanuman
  • Hanuman (small idol)
  • Agni Chamundi (Chandika)
  • Agni Linga
  • Pratyangira Devi
  • Kaala Bhairava Swami
  • Lord Surya
  • Lord Chandra
  • Chudala Maadan Thampuran
  • Agni Maadan Thampuran
  • Varaaha Maadan Thampuran
  • Nidhi Maadan Thampuran
  • Yekshiyamma
  • Yogeeswaran
  • Manthramoorthi
  • Brahmarekshassu
  • Lord Kubera
  • Dhana aakarshana bhairava swami
  • 108 Maadans in one peedom
  • Nandhi idols (a giant idol in marble and another idol in krishna shila)

Events and Activities

The temple has hosted several large-scale events that have gained international recognition:

  • Maha Kalika Yagam (2022): An 11-day event where several main priests (mukhya acharyas) from 51 Shakthipeeth temples and other ancient temples performed various homa and havana. A sansyasi sangam (assembly of ascetics) was also conducted as a part of it.
  • Prapancha Yaagam (2023): A 7-day yagya featuring 253 acharyas, who performed 108 kinds of homa, poojas, and havans using 1008 different substances (dravyas).
  • Community Wedding (2024): The temple, in collaboration with Dhanalakshmi Group of Companies, organized a community wedding for 108 tribal couples (216 people).

Rituals and Charity

On Pournami day, a variety of rituals are performed, including Maha Ganapathi Homam, Akshara Devatha Pooja, Panja Shakthi Pooja, Kalasha Abhishekam, Saraswathi Pooja, Chandika Homam, Karyasidhi Pooja, Gurusi Pooja, Pournami Pooja, and several other specialized poojas to resolve specific issues. Devotees also participate in the ‘Deepa Pradhakshinam’ by carrying a ghee lamp and taking 21 ‘pradakshina’ around the main deity and 51 lamps that denote 51 Akshara devathas.

The temple is also actively involved in charity. It provides free and unlimited food to all devotees on Pournami day, distributes free study materials to students, and offers grocery kits to the poor.

History of Pournamikavu Devi Temple



Padakaaliyamman (the war-goddess)

The Aay Dynasty ruled the region around Vizhinjam in Trivandrum, Kerala. Vizhinjam was a well-established harbor and a prosperous city. Pournamikavu Devi was the war goddess (Padakaaliyamma) of the Aay dynasty. She was the reason for their economic, educational, and industrial prosperity, and she protected them against invasion from other rulers, like the Cholas.

Chola kings tried to conquer the idol and ornaments of the Goddess to win over the Aay dynasty. To prevent this, the Aay kings took the idol from the temple at Vizhinjam and placed it under a tree in the nearby forest (the present day, Chavadinada, Venganoor, Kerala). The Aay kings performed poojas here before they left for trade or war. But over time, further generations of Aay kings did not follow this tradition. This invited the wrath of the Goddess, which brought sorrow, poverty, and calamities to the Aay Dynasty and led to their downfall. New dynasties who took over the rule of this region appointed many priests to worship the Goddess; however, the Goddess was not satisfied with their poojas.

As time passed, the adjoining areas fell into the hands of many individuals and families, but problems plagued these families and surroundings. Astrologers realised this was the Goddess’s wrath and prayed for her grace. The Goddess was pleased with them, and as per her instructions, temple reconstruction and consecration works were carried out. Brahmashree Poonjar Mithran Namboothiripad (Kula-guru of Poonjar Palace and spiritual guru of Indira Gandhi) re-enthroned Goddess ‘Padakaaliyamma’ also known as ‘Pournamikavu Devi’ at the Pournamikavu Temple in 2009.

Pournamikavu Devi is gaining back her lost glory, and pujas are held on all Pournami (full moon) days & special festivals – attended by thousands of devotees. Pournamikavu Temple is celebrated and revered for its historical heritage and the fact that Devi answers devotees’ sincere prayers