Friday, June 26, 2015

Chelamattom Sri Krishna swamy temple

Chelamattom Sri Krishna swamy temple 
Compiled by
P.R.Ramachander

    This  is a famous temple dedicated to Lord Krishna on the road connecting Kalady  and Perumbavoor, through the main central road. This temple has the distinction of having Lord Krishna, Lord Narasimha and Lord Vamana  and Durga Devi in another adjacent temple ,Lord Krishna and Lord Narasimha are in the meditation pose.The periyar  river  here flows from west to east near the temple and so it is called Dakshina Kasi   and is considered sacrosanct for worship of our manes(Pithrus) , On the  new moon days(amavasya) very large number of people   gather for doing pithru  karmas.A thila Havanam (Thila homam) to please the PIthrus   is performed in this temple on the day by the chief priest himself.

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Malamakkavu Ayyappan temple

Malamakkavu Ayyappan temple
Compiled by
P.R.Ramachander
     This Ayyappan temple  is called as Mala mel Kavu  or Malayil Kavu  in the Anakkara  Panchayath in Palakkad district  . Though the name indicates that  it is on the mountain, it is only situated  in the plains.One of the specialties  of the temple  is that a  rare flower called CHenkazhuneer poovu is   found in the temple tank.

It is believed  that  that hundreds of years   earlier one low caste woman  went to the  forest  around  here for grazing cattle  When she was sharpening her knife  on a rock  , it started  bleeding .They immediately the nearby village , who  through Prasnam found that  rock was  lord Ayyappa.. They immediately built a sanctum and sanctified that rock  as Lord Ayyappa.This happened about 300  years  ago.Along with the Ayyappan temple  there are also idols oh Goddess BHagawathi and Lord Shiva in the temple . There are also  Rudiramaha Kali, Vettakorumugan   and Nagas consecrated in the temple  .It has been recognized as one of the 108 temples of Dharma Sastha  in Kerala and it is managed by a the Padinjarepat nambiar family . ADa is the main offering at the temple .The Ayyappan idol  faces  the east .The main festival of the temple is a THalappoli   celebrated  on the last   Saturday of the month of Dhanu .The pond of the temple is situated in the temple  premises itself. It is believed that  if a devotee offers a Chenkazhuneer flower  at the feet  of Dharma Sastha with great devotion  , a blue lotus(Neela Thamara)  would bloom in the  next day   in the temple pond.A film based on this legend called “Neelathamara”  has been produced in Malayalam.This temple can be reached from Guruvayur within an hour by driving.,

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Anchumana temple , Padivattam, Edapalli

Anchumana temple  , Padivattam, Edapalli
Compiled by
P.R.Ramachander
     This temple is sitauated near edapally town of kerala which is near Ernakulam city near the Cochin bypass road. This temple has   temples   for three goddesses  Bhvanesawri, Annapoorna and Bhadrakali .Goddess .While Goddess BHuvaneswari grants prosperity and mental peace  , Goddess Annapurna blesses with long  and happy married life  and BHadrakali removes all problems caused by evil spirits.There are also several other Gods consecrated in this temple. They are Lord Ganapathi  , Lord Ayyappa,  , Lord Subrahmanya  , Nagadevathas, Lord Guru  ,Hidimba swamy  , Lord Hanuman  , Brahma Rakshas , Kandakarna swamy  and Arukola, the last three being folk gods. This temple was initially managed by  A nambuydiri family but  since they found it difficult , it is now managed by  Viswakarma  Dharmosharana samajam.(Viswakarmas are skilled artisans like carpenter, goldsmith, mason, black smith etc)

  Every Monday Vivaha sooktha pushpanjali is offered to Goddess Annapurna. iT is believed that those who participate would get married quickly.Guruthi Pushpanjali (also called Raktha Pushpanjali0 is offered to the Goddess   on Sundays, tuedays and Wednesdays, which is expected to solve all the day to day problem of the devotees.Nirapara with dasapushpam (ten flowers) and Samrudha vriksha leaves are offered  on the first of Chingam month  for getting prosperity ,Mass prayer is offered to Goddess BHuvaneswari   on all Friday evenings.After Usha pooja(morning pooja)   on Tuesdays and Fridays , devotees chant Lalitha Sahasranama. The chief thanththri of the temple performs a Thanthri pooja at   the temple   on the last Tuesday of every Malayalam month.During Navarathri Goddess BHuvaneswari is dressed up like Goddess Saraswathi and Visdhyarambham for tiny tots is conducted ,From first of Vruscigam there is a long festival at the temple for 41 days.On the first five days there is THalapoli and on all days the Goddess BHuvaneswari visits all villages round her   accompanied by  five elephants. On the last 7 days of this festival the temple is closed. The worship afterwards is resumed with the worship of Kandakarna swamy . During the month of Kumbham “Anguruthy” festival to Goddess Bhuvaneswari is celebrated .Thai poosam festival is celebrated in the Subramanya swami temple  .Special pooja for the Guru Swamy is conducted   by the chief Thanthri on the last day of Thulam month .The temple is open from 5 Am to 8 PM,This temple is sitauated 22 km from Amritha hospitals in Cochin.

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Kirathamurthy temple ,Pallasanna

TEMPLE OF KIRATHAMOORTHY, PALLASSANA

by
RADHAKRISHNAN PALLASSANA

Probably many people knows only MEEN KULATHTHI  KAVU(TEMPLE) of Pallassana because of it is made famous by Tamilians and others who goes to the temple especially to ward off enemies, frequently. However the are many more temples in the small and less famous place of PALLASSANA in Palghat District of KERALA STATE For example there is one temple called PUTHIYA KAVU mostly frequented by NAIR CASTE people, LORD SHIVA TEMPLE of KIZHAKKE GRAMAM ( EAST VILLAGE ) , LORD SANTHANA GOPALA KRISHNA SWAMY TEMPLE OF PATINHERE GHRAMAM (West Village) , both manned by Tamil Brahmins where NATTI AMMAN is also placed. As far as NAATTI AMMAN is concerned, I do not know about the origin. I feel it  was worshipped by original inhabitants of PALLASSANA who worshipped  this deity which brahmins also worshipped due to fear or they brought this deity after proper AAVAAHANA of their family deity (KULA DAIVAM) who must be MOOKAAMBIKA or some other deity. I leave it to experts on the subject. There is also a famous temple called KIRATHA MURTHY TEMPLE which is mostly frequented by NAIRS of the locality on whom  I am writing this essay.  KIRATHA MURTHY IS BLACK IN colour which form is only black of LORD SHIVA. The story can be seen IN KIRAATHAARJUNEEYAM in MAHABHARATHA.  In this one will find LORD SHIVA taking the AVATHAARA of a hunter and blessing Lord ARJUNA with PAASUPATHA who became the devotee of SHIVA . The Idol is facing towards east and thrikala Pooja (3 times Pooja) is conducted. At this temple.    There is a common belief that if we are successful in getting a work done 1200 coconuts are broken to KIRATHA MURTHY, The UPADEVATHAS are VIGNESWARA and KAATTIL BHAGAVATHI i.e. NANDA DURGHA  There is  peculiar  custom in this temple. The children who attain 5 years old on THIRUONAM day are brought to the temple and made to stand before the deity and made to beat each other ones which will be witnessed by the MOOSAD who is the PALLASSANA’S HEAD at 2 O’clock in the afternoon. The festival  of the temple starts on the month of MESHA months 10th day.The PALAKKADs famous KNYAR KALI is performed. On first 4 days it is performed in the house of PATHYYATTIL MOOSAD’ S ILLAM (HOUSE). This temple was once  owned by eight caste people. They are CHERUMAN, ANDI , KURAVAN, MANNAN, POOSHAARI,CHAKKILIAN, VALLON(MALAYAN), and PARAYAN . Now there are 99 Nair families and Moosad’s house around the temple which is nearby PUTHTHJEN KAVU which is  owned by the NAIRS. This BHAGAVATHI is said to be related to KOTUNGALLUR BHAGAVATHY. 
Regards to one and all,