Panachikkadu Temple

Located in the picturesque village of Panachikadu in Kerala's Kottayam district, the Saraswati temple is revered as Dakshina Mookambika. While many Saraswati temples limit their puja ceremonies to the Navaratri period, this temple uniquely offers daily worship and darshan to its devotees.
Two notable features of the temple are the lush creepers enveloping the idol and the pristine spring. The creeper leaves are considered sacred and associated with Saraswati. The spring's crystal-clear water flows gently, touching the feet of the deity, and remarkably remains perennial even during the peak summer months. This unique setting, with the deity situated near the flowing water (Saras), lends significance to the name Saraswati. The spring serves as the primary source of water for all temple rituals and needs.

Upon approaching the temple, visitors first encounter a Vishnu temple, with the Saraswati temple situated a short distance away in a natural valley. The Saraswati temple's unique architecture deviates from traditional temple structures, featuring instead a rectangular pond-like formation carved out of a granite hillock. This serene setting is adorned with lush green creepers that beautifully envelop the original idol of Saraswati, which is nestled amidst gently flowing water. Notably, a secondary idol serves as the focal point for daily puja ceremonies, positioned near the original deity.

According to the 'Ithihyamala' by Kottarathil Sankunni, the Panachikadu temple boasts a rich history spanning over a thousand years. Traditionally, three Brahmin families - Kizhupuram, Karunad, and Kaimukku - have served as its caretakers. A notable legend associated with the temple revolves around a Brahmin from Kizhupuram who, disappointed by not having a male child, embarked on a pilgrimage to the Ganges. During his journey, he stopped at Mookambika, where the deity appeared before him in a divine vision.The deity instructed him to return home, and a nampoothiri lady of Karunattillam is now pregnant and that she will deliver two children, One of the children should be adopted by him as his own and bring him up.
Following the deity's guidance, the Brahmin returned with a palm leaf umbrella imbued with the Devi's blessings. Upon reaching Panachikadu, the umbrella became rigid, signifying the presence of divine power. A holy sage appeared, advising the Brahmin to establish a temple for Saraswati and infuse an ancient idol with the Devi's power. Since the original idol couldn't be consecrated without a sage's divine power, an alternate idol was installed. To this day, the caretaker families continue traditional rituals and pujas, following a specific order: Mahavishnu, Saraswati, Ganapati, Shiva, Sastha, Yakshi, and Nagaraja. The temple's sacred spring water is believed to flow from the feet of Vishnu to the shrine of Saraswati, mirroring the holy Ganges' descent.