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Saraswathy temple, also known as the Mookambika Temple is situated in
North Paruvur a small town in Kerala. It is one of the rare temples dedicated
to Goddess Saraswathy (the Goddess for arts and learning) in Kerala.
According to legends, Pravur Thampuran (ruler) in Paravur
was a great devotee of Goddess Mookambika. He used to visit the Kollur
temple in Mangalore every year to pay homage to the goddess. But when
he became too old, his health worsened and he could no longer undertake
the long journey to Kollur. The goddess appeared to the sad devotee in
a dream and ordered him to build her idol near his palace so that he can
have daily darshan of the goddess. Thampuran followed her instructions
and built a temple at Paravur and installed the Goddess. The 'srikovil'
stands in the middle of a sacred lotus pool. At the corner of the Nalambalam
(the inner wall) a Ganapati is enshrined and surrounding the nalambalam,
there are idols of Subramanian, Mahavishnu, Yakshi, Hanuman and Veerabhadran.
A shrine devoted to Yakshi is also at the south west corner. Besides this,
a Ganapathi Temple is situated near the large sacred pool. Traditionally
the main poojas here are performed by  the
Namboothiris ofthe Puliyannur Mana in Thrippunithura. The main Vazhipadu
or offerings in the temple are 'Sree Vidhya Manthra Pushphanjali' and
Mookambika Kashayam. Mookambika Kashayam, prepared with herbs in traditional
manner is considered as a sacred medicine to enhance wisdom.
The famous Navaratri festival is celebrated here with
great fervor. Apart from the Navarathri Festival, the 'The ten-day annual
festival' is celebrated in the month of Makaram (January -Februay). Music
festival and 'Vidyarambham' ceremony are the main features of this festival.
Thousands of people participate in the Navarathri music festival. On Durgashtami,
books are arranged before the image of Goddess Saraswathy and on Vijayadasami
morning, 'Ezhuthinirithu' or 'Vidyarambham' ceremony takes place at a
special mandapam which begins from 4 am and lasts till 11a.m. Thousands
of little children are initiated into the world of letters by making them
write the word 'Harisree' on rice, their tongues or sand with a golden
ring. The temple is now under the administration of the Travancore Devaswom
Board.
Pooja Timings
| Morning |
Evening |
| 5 am - Nadathurupu |
5 pm - Nadathurupu |
| 6.30 am - Ushapooja/Sreebali |
6.30 pm - Deeparadhana |
| 8 am - Pantheeradi Pooja |
7.30 pm - Athazhapooja/Sreebali
Distribution of Kashaya Nivedhyam |
| 10.30 am - Uchapooja/Sreebali |
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| 11 am - Nadayadappu |
8 pm - Nadayadappu |
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