When Malayalam movie 'Lokah: Chapter One – Chandra' was released recently, it rekindled a piece of Kerala’s enduring folklore. Among the many mystical references in the film was Kalliyankattu Neeli, the fearsome Yakshi (ghost) who has haunted Malayali imagination for centuries. In the movie, Neeli is shown as a companion to the legendary sorcerer Kadamattathu Kathanar, but that depiction strays from the stories passed down through generations. In truth, Neeli’s tale is far more complex, and its roots remain tied to a temple in Parumala, Pathanamthitta.

Lore has it that her wandering spirit was given a home within the sacred premises of the Parumala Valiya Panayannarkavu Bhagavathy Temple. It is here, in a place where devotion and mystery merge, that Neeli is said to have found sanctuary.

At first sight, Panayannarkavu looks like any other Shiva temple, but it is Bhagavathy who is worshipped as the main deity. Inside the complex stands a small shrine dedicated to the spirit, striking in its simplicity. Its defining feature is the cluster of black glass bangles hanging outside the shrine, left by devotees as offerings to a figure once feared, now venerated. To walk through the temple today is to step into a living legend. The bangles glinting in Neeli’s shrine, the chants rising from the devotees, and the shadows of age-old trees together create an atmosphere where myth and worship are inseparable

The legend goes that Neeli was a formidable and cunning Yakshi who crossed paths with Kadamattathu Kathanar, a priest famed in Kerala’s folklore for his magical prowess. When Kathanar captured her, Neeli was forced into servitude in his household. But one day she managed to escape, running all the way to Panayannarkavu. Desperate, she cried out to the goddess: “Mother, please save me.” Bhagavathy is said to have taken pity on her, granting Neeli permanent refuge within the temple grounds. From then on, the spirit became part of the divine household rather than a wandering menace.

“This is the same Kalliyankattu Neeli mentioned in CV Raman Pillai’s celebrated historical novel 'Marthandavarma', " says temple secretary Sriranjanadishan. “The goddess gave her sanctuary here, and Neeli has remained with her ever since.” What was once a story of fear has transformed into one of acceptance, with Neeli’s presence woven into the temple’s spiritual fabric.

But Panayannarkavu’s mysteries do not end there. The main sreekovil, or inner sanctum, has remained sealed for centuries. According to temple priest Vasudevan Namboodiri, the closure is linked to a disturbing past. In earlier times, human sacrifices were allegedly performed here. On the day a child was chosen for such a ritual, a divine voice commanded that the practice must stop. The sanctum was locked that very day and has never opened again.

Even without these hidden histories, the temple exudes an air of enchantment. Every morning at 5 am, its doors open to devotees who step into an atmosphere thick with mist, chants, and flickering lamps. By bringing Neeli under her wing, the goddess redefined the Yakshi’s place, not as a threat but as a guardian spirit.

Panayannarkavu’s religiously significant days are Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, when crowds gather to seek the goddess’s blessings. The faithful believe she will watch over them always, and many consider it a fortune to be born in her land. According to a devotee, Neeli’s presence is a reminder that even the most fearsome of spirits can be transformed by divine grace.