Maruthi Bhagavathi Temple is located in Vemballur, a village in the Thenkurussi panchayat of Alathur taluk in Palakkad district.
It is situated between Kunissery and Koduvayur on the Thrissur–Kollengode main road. Those coming from Palakkad town, which is about 15 km away, can reach the temple via the Koduvayur junction. Due to the divine presence of the temple, the area is also popularly known as “Maruthikavu.”
According to local legend, the goddess first appeared in the inner courtyard (machil) of a prominent ancestral home (tharavad) in Vemballur.
The family elders invoked her into a traditional lamp and later consecrated her in the Maruthikavu temple. The five major Nair families—Parayil Veedu, Erekkath Veedu, Kundu Veedu, Andi Veedu, and Attur Veedu—served as the traditional caretakers (ooralans) of the goddess. For decades, people of all castes and religions in the area have come together to observe and uphold the temple’s rituals and festivals.
The presiding deity, Vemballur Sree Maruthi Bhagavathi, is a fierce yet compassionate form of Bhadrakali. Facing east, she is depicted with four arms holding a sword, chain, noose, and lotus. She is known for her grace and protection, a divine mother who removes sins and diseases, bestows prosperity, and fulfills the heartfelt prayers of her devotees. She is believed to be a powerful goddess who never abandons those who seek her with tearful devotion.
