Mythology
It is believed that the temple is more than 1000 Years old. According to the local belief, about 1000+ Yrs back, the idol of 'Devi' was brought to Thalayar village by flood waters and the idol got stuck to a tree. When the flood waters receded, local people spotted the idol, made of granite stone and they noticed a halo around the idol. The local people, all of them belonging to the Hindu Nair community, took the head of the Kuzhikattu Illam, the Brahmin family who are the Thantris of many a Temple in Kerala, to the spot. The Thantri took the idol to his illam or house, promptly installed and offered poojas as per thantric rules. Later on the idol was given back to the local people, all of them belonging to the Nair community, and the idol was installed at the present site by the then head of Kuzhikattu Illam. A Temple was constructed by the local people. The administration of the temple was carried by a committee, consisting members from the influential Nair Families of the locality. Daily Poojas of temple was the responsibility of Vanchimoottil madom, a Brahmin family of the locality.
The temple was renovated many times and the present Chuttambalam (the outer temple) and ‘Sreekovil’ was renovated 20 Yrs back.
Local people strongly believe the ‘Devi’ or the ‘Vanchimoottil Amma’ is the eternal mother of each and every individual of the village who guard them from all evil. It is a custom that people of the locality go to the Temple and seek ‘Amma’s’ blessings before they embark on any new venture.
Later on, the ownership of the temple was vested with N.S.S Karayogam, an organization of Nair Community. Even Non-Hindus come to the Temple for worship and there is no bar for members of other religions from entering the Temple, provided they are properly dressed and clean. Wearing shirts and baniyan is not allowed inside the temple.