Thiruvancheri Kavu

{{Infobox Mandir

| name = Thiruvancheri kavu

| image = File:The Hindu Goddess Kali LACMA M.2011.5 (1 of 5).jpg

| alt = 13 Shakteya Temples of Kerala

| caption = Bhadra kali

| map_type = India Kerala

| map_caption = Thiruvancheri Kavu, Kuthuparamba, Kannur, Kerala

| coordinates = {{coord|11.83217|N|75.55477|E|display=inline,title}}

| country = {{flag|India}}

| state = Kerala

| district = Kannur

| location = Kannur

| elevation_m =

| deity = Bhadrakali, Shiva

| festivals =

| architecture = Architecture of Kerala

| temple_quantity = One

| monument_quantity=

| inscriptions =

| year_completed = Exact date unknown

| creator =

| website =

}}

Thiruvancheri Kavu is located near Kuthuparamba, Kannur district, Kerala. It is a site of ancient worship where Shakteya rituals are performed. The temple is notable for its integration of Shakta and Shaiva traditions. It is one of the 13 Shakteya temples in Kerala related to Kashmir Shaivism.{{cite web |title=Kashmir Tantrism |url=https://shaivism.net/articles/10.html |website=shaivism.net |access-date=18 May 2024}}{{cite web |title=Text of the Vice-President's address during Rajanaka Puraskar ceremony held at KTDC Samudra, Kovalam Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2012788 |website=Press Information Bureau Government of India |access-date=18 May 2024}}{{cite web |title=A Journey through 13 Abodes of Rurujit Kali |url=https://www.indica.today/research/tracing-legacy-kashmiri-tantra-kerala-rurujit-kali/ |website=indica.today |access-date=18 May 2024}}

The temple was destroyed 200 250 years ago. The Kingdom of Kottayam initiated rebuilting the temple after finding the destroyed remains. The deity is the family goddess of the western branch of the Kingdom of Kottayam. Pazhassi Raja belongs to this family. {{cite web | title= Sri Thiruvanchery Kaavu|url=https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g12345421-d19784228-r735277568-Sri_Thiruvanchery_Kaavu-Kuthuparamba_Kerala.html |website=Tripadvisor.com |access-date=18 May 2024}}{{cite web | url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2012834 | title=Vice President emphasizes the need to explore and rediscover our traditional knowledge systems }}

Temple architecture and deities

Thiruvanjeri Kavu is designed according to the traditional Kerala temple architecture known as Rurujith Vidhanam.{{cite web |url=https://www.academia.edu/25289175 |website=Academia.edu |access-date=18 May 2024 |title=The Yāmala-tantras with special reference to the worship of Rurujit. Lecture given during the Sree Vidya-Tanthrika-Upasaka Sangamam 2015. Organised by Sree Vidya Prathishtanam, Kodungallur, Kerala on 13-12-2015 |last1=Sarma |first1=S. a. S. }}{{cite web |title=Kerala Temple Architecture |url=http://www.templenet.com/Kerala/kerala_archi.html |website=templenet.com |access-date=18 May 2024}} The temple complex houses two sanctum sanctorum where the deities Bhadrakali, Saptha Mathrukkal, Ganapathy, and Virabhadra are enshrined facing the sanctum sanctorum of Shiva. There is a separate sanctum for Kshetrapalaka, revered as Kalabhairava, and believed to be nurtured by Devi.