Sree Mahalskshmi Temple
( Cochin Thirumala Devaswom )

Mahalakshmi, also known as SREE, Goddess of wealth and prosperity is the Ardhaangi of Maha Vishnu. Man is incomplete without woman. One is the complement of the other. The Hindus worship Lakshmi as the consort of Vishnu, and Parvathi of Shiva. This concept emphasises the importance of woman in man's life. Gowda Saraswath Brah­mins as followers of the Madhwa Vaishnava Sampradaya believe that the worship of Vishnu will only be complete with offerings to Lakshmi and worship Lakshminarayana Murthy.

Aadilakshmi, Dhanalakshmi, Dhanyalakshmi, Dhairyalakshmi, Gajalakshmi, Santhanalakshmi, Vi­dyalakshmi and  Vijayalakshmi are the different forms of Lakshmi which cover the entire gamut of man's life in this world. Based on the Sankalpa of the devotee, the different requisites for a successful life are attained by invoking the Goddess.

The temple had a separate idol of Lakshmi and this, along with the idol of Sri Venketesha was taken to Alleppey in 1791 A. D. After 62 years Cochin Mahajanam could get back the idol of Lord Venkatesha but the Lakshmi idol could not be easily and quickly pulled out and is still in Alleppey. Under orders from the then Guru of Gowda Saraswath Brahmin community, Srimad Varadendra Tirtha Swamy, a Mahalakshmi Yanthra was enshrined in this temple.

  As a mark of devotion on the auspicious occa­sion of the Third Prathishta Shathabdi of Sri Venkatesha, a group of devotees in the community made an offering of Sree Lakshmi Kavacham which was installed in the Mahalakshmi Temple by Sadguru Srimad Sudhindra Tirtha Swamy on Friday, the 8th May, 1981. This Kavachaim, nine inches tall, made of 20 sovereigns (160 gms.) gold at a cost of Rs. 30,000/-, depicts the image of Jaganmatha Sree Mahalakshmi seated on a blossomed lotus.