Madayi Kavu, Hindu temple in Kannur district, India
Madayi Kavu is a Hindu place of worship in Kannur district, India, dedicated to Goddess Durga and set on slightly elevated ground among clusters of trees. The design follows local building traditions with a tiled roof, open pillared halls along the sides, and a separate chamber for offerings reached by a few steps.
Regional sources identify this site as the second shrine for Bhadrakali in Kerala, following the older temple in Kodungallur. For centuries, the place remained closely tied to the ruling family of Chirakkal, who honored their personal guardian deity here.
Devotion here centers on a powerful form of the goddess seen in local tradition as a protector against danger. Visitors witness rituals in which priests present specific offerings in a fixed sequence, while worshippers kneel or stand before the shrine and whisper their prayers.
The grounds lie about 25 kilometers from Kannur city center and require modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees. Outside festival periods, daily prayer times occur twice, varying with sunrise and sunset.
Offerings to the deity include cooked chicken alongside plant products such as small green mung beans, a practice not uncommon for Hindu shrines in this region. Members of the former royal family of Chirakkal still regard the shrine as their personal guardian and attend ceremonies regularly.
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