The legend of Paramekkavu Devi

There was a Nair household in Thrissur that protected the residents in the locality. The Nair community is considered to be aristocracy and take up arms when required. The patriarch of this family, Kuruppaal, was a devotee of Thirumandankunnil Devi, who is enshrined in modern day Malappuram, a little away from Thrissur. The Kuruppaal would regularly visit Thirumandankunnil Amma. However, over time and with age, the Kuruppaal started finding it difficult to make the journey. He decided to visit Devi one last time, and convey his thoughts to her. As he stood before Devi with folded palms, he told her about his limitations. He said that he was getting older and weaker by the day, and much against his wishes, would have to stop coming to see her.

The ever compassionate Devi heard the prayer of her devotee, and as the Kuruppaal picked up his ola kuda (ancient umbrella made of palm leaves) and turned homeward, she took her seat on the umbrella. Unknown to the Kuruppaal, the Goddess had decided to go with him. After a long journey, the exhausted Kuruppaal sat to rest under a tree near the Vadakunnathan temple compound. After cooling himself for a while, the old man rose to resume his journey. When he reached for his ola kuda, he found that he was unable to pick it up. Much as he tugged at it, the umbrella refused to budge.

The puzzled Kuruppaal consulted an astrologer to understand what was happening. The astrologer was amazed to find that Devi herself was present there. He told the Kuruppal that Devi had accompanied him from the Thirumandankunnu temple, and was now seated at the spot where the umbrella was placed. Kuruppaal was overjoyed with Devi’s love, and immediately set about building a temple to install Devi.

Subsequently, after several years, when the Vadakunnathan temple was being renovated, Devi was installed a little away, where the present temple stands.