Monday, November 28, 2016

The list of 108 Sastha temples consecrated by Lord Parasurama in Kerala and brief note of Sabarimala temple

The list of  108  Sastha temples  consecrated by Lord  Parasurama in Kerala and brief note  of  Sabarimala temple

By
P.R.Ramachander



Lord Parasurama   who  was the founder of  Kerala is supposed   to have   consecrated   108  , Sastha(Not Ayyappa)  temples in Kerala. The list is given below. 
List of 108 Sastha Temples in Kerala
The present Sabarimala temple   is one of them. .It is believed prince Ayyappa  of Pandalam   ,  after   refusing to become king of Pandalam is supposed to have come to this ancient temple  of Lord Sastha   and meditated here. As he was an incarnation of  God Sastha, he became  one with the idol at the   temple . That is  possibky the reason   that this temple   is called   as  a temple  of Lord Ayyappa as   well as the temple of Sastha .
 According to Legends  Dharma Sastha , the Bhootha  nadha  rode on an elephant with  staff, rope , goad  anf spear, while Lord Ayyappa rode on a black tiger   and was armed  with bow and arrow.. It is believed that  Lord Ayyappa  was originally having 18   weapons , which he left as 18 steps before   entering the Sastha temple. In that temple he has only two hands is unarmed .He wears dress like the sanyasis with dress   going up to just below the knee.By his left hand he shows Chin mudhra and the right hand he folds up to his chest. Very near his temple is the temple of Malika purathamma   , who is the Yakshi who was cursed to become the Rakshasi called Mahishi , Lord Ayyappa had promised her that the year  no First time Ayyappa(Called Kanni ayyappa)   commes to SAbari mala and puts an arrow on the Saram kuthiyal , he will marry her. So every year after the Annual Sabari mala  Pilgrimage is over  , She comes on an elephant to saram Kuthiyal   and  goes back disappointed    as many Kanni Ayyappa has come there. . In her temple compound  , There  is one Kadutha Sami (called Chiriya Kadutha swami)   to guard her. Just below   the Pathinettam Padi   , there are  temples for Vavar   as well  as Another Kadutha Swami   who are supposed to screen the pilgrims    trying to climb the eighteen steps   without observing the required  penance .


Saturday, November 5, 2016

Kodumbu Kalyana Subramanya temple

Kodumbu Kalyana   Subramanya temple

Compiled by
P.R.Ramachander

  This temple  is situated 5 km from Palakkad town. On the Chithur Palghat road  on the banks of Sokanasini river. It has the second tallest Raja Gopura    among all temples in Kerala. The temple has an interesting story behind it,  A group of Tamil merchants belonging to the SEngutha mudaliyar caste , it seems were regularly coming to do business in Kerala and settled down in Kodumbu. They used to  go to Avinasi town to sell cloths, Once when they wwere going , they head voice from the bush near Kozhi mampatti village telling them , “I also will come’.. I also will come.” Though they tried their best to locate the source of that voice, they were not able to. During the bext trip same thing happened. They searched thoroughly  , they found a Subramanya statue along with Valli and Devayanai inditch.  That Statue told them, “I want to come with you and I would protect all of you.”.They took the idol with reverence and kept it on the cloth bundle on the back of a bullock. Suddenly the bullock disappeared .Though they searched they could not find it but when they reached their homes. They found the bullock carrying the statue.. They started worshipping the god.   After several years they wanted to build a temple for that god.,  The local administrator  at that  time was one  Kurror Mana Nambuthiripad.He allotted them a place inside the shiva temple    to build their temple.The temple was built . The poojari I of shiva temple during those   dat ys was   one Achuthan Namboodiri. He insisted that the pooja should be performed according to the Agama followed in Kerala and the Mudaliars were not prepared for it  .The kurror Mana Nambudiripad asked the Malayali side as well as Tamil side to keep a Kumbha  at the northern gate of the tewmple and asked the Nambudiris to lift the pot kep by the Tamil side  .They were not able to.Manikka Vachakar the great Saivite saint  who represented the Mudaliars easily lifted   the pot kept by Nambudiris. So it was decided that  the pooja in Subramanya temple would be according to Tamil Agama and that of the Shiva temple  following the Kerala Agama. This is being followed to day. In Thirupugazh Arunagiri nadhar sys   that “KOdumbu” is half of Pazhani..Devotees believe that if a devotee takes bath in the Soka Nasini river, all his sorrows would fly away. The Sthala Vruksha of the temple  is a Champaka tree, The temple is open from 5,30 Am   to 12 noon and  from 4.30 Pm to  8Pm .There are special poojas conducted at the temple   during Pradosham,  Karthika , Sashti    and Thiruonam. The Brahothsavam of the temple is conducted during Thai Poosam.