Kumaranalloor devi temple in Kerala is around 2400 years old and it is considered as among the 108 durgalayas in the state of Kerala. The temple has a unique architecture. Especially the nalambalam and sreekovil have been built in the sreechakra style which is a rare style of architecture.

Legend of Kumaranalloor Devi Temple
Legend says that once the nose-ring of the idol in the famous Madura Meenakshi temple was missing. It was presumably lost by the priest while removing the garlands from the deity in the morning. The Pandya king who heard about this was so enraged that he ordered to behead the priest if he failed to retrieve it in a day.

The priest was distressed and did not get a wink of sleep during the night. As though prompted by the Goddess he fled for his life in the thick of night. As he groped his way a light flashed in front of him showing the way till he reached Kumaranalloor. There the Devi got into the temple which had been constructed by Cheraman Perumal for the installation of Lord Subrahmanya (Kumara). As explained earlier, since the Devi intruded into this temple it got the name of Kumaranalloor.

Cheraman Perumal was however enraged at this intrusion and he was bent on disgracing Her. But he had to repent soon as the whole place became enveloped with fog, thus acquiring the name of Manjoor. The king realised the greatness of Devi and lost no time in consecrating her in the temple. He engaged a thousand Nairs for service in the temple and entrusted its management to twenty-eight Nambudiri families. This number has dwindled now but still the temple is owned by some of these Nambudiri families.

Architecture of Kumaranalloor Devi Temple
Generally Krishna sila is used for making idols but the idol here is made of antimony sulphurate (Anjanakal). Adorned with Shankha and Chakra the idol is very attractive and an artist`s delight.

The temple is patterned on the Tamil Nadu style probably because of its connection with the Madurai temple and there is still in existence here a family known as Madurai Nambudiris, supposedly the descendants of the runaway priest from Madurai.

The mural paintings of the temple are well known. The outer walls of the sreekovil are decorated with episodes from Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Festivals of Kumaranalloor Devi Temple
The important festival of this temple is Trikartika celebrated in the month of Vrischikam (November-December). On this day naivedyam is offered on the compound wall of Udayanapuram and Vadakkunnathan temples. It is said that the gods in these temples were greatly charmed by the beauty of Devi who was returning after her Kartika bath. They wore believed to have stood on the compound walls of their temples looking with longing at the charming figure of the passing Devi. The priests of the temple had to search for their deities frantically and finally located them standing on the walls. It is to commemorate this that poojas are offered on the walls.