Attukal Bhagavathy Temple
This temple is situated on the west bank of the Killi river, close to the famous Sri Padmanabha Swamy temple in Trivandrum. The temple is just 2Km from the main city center in the southern part of Trivandrum and is located at a rural-looking area with coconut trees all around. This Temple, one of the ancient temples of South India, is popularly described as Sabarimala of the Women, as women form the major portion of devotees. The Goddess in the temple of Attukal is worshipped as the Supreme Mother, creator of all living beings and the mighty preserver as well as destroyer of them all. Sri.Vidyadhiraja Chattambi Swamy, the well known saint of Kerala, found this temple premises ideal for his meditations.
Legend 1 - One evening a young girl appeared before the head of the Mulluveettil family, who was a fervent devotee, while he was performing his oblations in the Killi river and requested him to help her cross the river. Impressed by her charismatic demeanor, the old man bent before her with awe and reverence and not only helped her cross the river but took her to his house nearby. Strangely enough, while the household members were amidst preparations for intending a warm welcome to the young girl, she vanished. That very night the Goddess Bhagavathy appeared as an icon before the old man in his dream and demanded that he should establish an abode for her in the nearby sacred ground of shrubs and herbs (kavu), at a consecrated spot marked by three lines. The next morning the old man went to the spot revealed to him in the dream and to his great surprise he did find three marks indented on the ground. He lost no time in erecting a temple on this consecrated spot to house the Goddess. Many years later, the building was renovated by the local devotees. They also installed a beautiful and majestic icon of the Deity with four arms, bearing weapons of destruction in each, like spear, sword, skull, shield etc. The consecration ceremony of this Exalted Being was performed by no less a person than the high priest of the Badarinath Temple.
Legend 2 - Attukal Bhagavathy is supposed to be the divinised form of Kannaki, the famous heroine of the Tamil classic Chilapathikaram, written by Elenkovadikal. Kovalan and Kannaki are the heroic characters of this famous work of literature. Kovalan was unjustly accused of stealing the queen’s anklets and executed. Kannaki in her wrath destroyed the ancient city of Madurai. It is said that on her way to Kodungalloor (another famous Devi shrine of Kerala) she went first to Kannyakumari and then stopped at Attukal. Kannaki is supposed to be the incarnation of Parvathy, the consort of Paramasiva.
Temple - The temple structure is a harmonious conglomeration of both Kerala and Tamil styles of architecture.
The decorated gate at the entrance of the temple is by itself an excellent example of architectural beauty. On either side of the elegant front gopura - are the icons based on the story of Goddess Kannaki. The figures of Mahishasuramarddini, Goddess Kali, Rajarajeswari, Sree Parvathy with Lord Paramasiva and various other depictions of the Goddess in and around the temple are beautifully carved. The depiction of various other Gods and the epic stories of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu viz., the "Desavathara" around the corridors surrounding the temple are well presented On the southern Gopura, the puranic story of "Dakshayaga" is depicted in sculptures. There are two idols of the Goddess in the sanctum sanctorum. At the centre of the Sanctum within the Sreekovil, at a consecrated spot is installed the idol of the Goddess Attukal Bhagavathy. The original idol is preserved in all its pristine beauty covered in ornamental gold embedded with installed stones.
Prayers and Festivals - The Pongala Mahotsavam is the most important festival of Attukal Bhagavathy Temple. It is a ten-day programme commencing on the Karthika star of the Malayalam month of Makaram-Kumbham (February-March) and closing with the sacrificial offering known as Kuruthitharpanam at night. On the ninth day of the festival the world famous Attukal Pongala Mahotsavam takes place. The entire area of about 5 kilometre radius around temple emerges as a consecrated ground for observing Pongala rituals for lakhs of women devotees assembling from different parts of Kerala and outside. The offering of Pongala is a special temple practice prevalent in the southern part of Kerala and some parts of Tamilnadu. 'Pongala' means to boil over, and it refers to the customary offering of things to the lord Devi. Women bring rice and milk and sugar or just plain rice as well as fire wood and make little ovens in the grounds of the temple and cook the rice and offer it to the goddess. Only women are allowed to participate in this custom. It is a sight to be seen indeed where thousands of little fires are lit and women start to blow desperately at their flames. The custom begins with making fire in the temple hearth known as Pandara Aduppu. The fire will then be passed to the women ready to offer pongala and the same fire spreads to all the tens of thousands of women, who are offering pongala. The temple priest then blows the conch and this is the signal for all the women to place their little pots, preferably of mud, containing rice and water on the fire and blow and blow at the fire to cook the rice. When the rice is cooked the conch is blown again and all the offerings are taken to the temple. After Ponkala, the chief priest of the temple goes around and blesses the devotees by sprinkling holy water and flower petals on them.
Legend 1 - One evening a young girl appeared before the head of the Mulluveettil family, who was a fervent devotee, while he was performing his oblations in the Killi river and requested him to help her cross the river. Impressed by her charismatic demeanor, the old man bent before her with awe and reverence and not only helped her cross the river but took her to his house nearby. Strangely enough, while the household members were amidst preparations for intending a warm welcome to the young girl, she vanished. That very night the Goddess Bhagavathy appeared as an icon before the old man in his dream and demanded that he should establish an abode for her in the nearby sacred ground of shrubs and herbs (kavu), at a consecrated spot marked by three lines. The next morning the old man went to the spot revealed to him in the dream and to his great surprise he did find three marks indented on the ground. He lost no time in erecting a temple on this consecrated spot to house the Goddess. Many years later, the building was renovated by the local devotees. They also installed a beautiful and majestic icon of the Deity with four arms, bearing weapons of destruction in each, like spear, sword, skull, shield etc. The consecration ceremony of this Exalted Being was performed by no less a person than the high priest of the Badarinath Temple.
Legend 2 - Attukal Bhagavathy is supposed to be the divinised form of Kannaki, the famous heroine of the Tamil classic Chilapathikaram, written by Elenkovadikal. Kovalan and Kannaki are the heroic characters of this famous work of literature. Kovalan was unjustly accused of stealing the queen’s anklets and executed. Kannaki in her wrath destroyed the ancient city of Madurai. It is said that on her way to Kodungalloor (another famous Devi shrine of Kerala) she went first to Kannyakumari and then stopped at Attukal. Kannaki is supposed to be the incarnation of Parvathy, the consort of Paramasiva.
Temple - The temple structure is a harmonious conglomeration of both Kerala and Tamil styles of architecture.
The decorated gate at the entrance of the temple is by itself an excellent example of architectural beauty. On either side of the elegant front gopura - are the icons based on the story of Goddess Kannaki. The figures of Mahishasuramarddini, Goddess Kali, Rajarajeswari, Sree Parvathy with Lord Paramasiva and various other depictions of the Goddess in and around the temple are beautifully carved. The depiction of various other Gods and the epic stories of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu viz., the "Desavathara" around the corridors surrounding the temple are well presented On the southern Gopura, the puranic story of "Dakshayaga" is depicted in sculptures. There are two idols of the Goddess in the sanctum sanctorum. At the centre of the Sanctum within the Sreekovil, at a consecrated spot is installed the idol of the Goddess Attukal Bhagavathy. The original idol is preserved in all its pristine beauty covered in ornamental gold embedded with installed stones.
Prayers and Festivals - The Pongala Mahotsavam is the most important festival of Attukal Bhagavathy Temple. It is a ten-day programme commencing on the Karthika star of the Malayalam month of Makaram-Kumbham (February-March) and closing with the sacrificial offering known as Kuruthitharpanam at night. On the ninth day of the festival the world famous Attukal Pongala Mahotsavam takes place. The entire area of about 5 kilometre radius around temple emerges as a consecrated ground for observing Pongala rituals for lakhs of women devotees assembling from different parts of Kerala and outside. The offering of Pongala is a special temple practice prevalent in the southern part of Kerala and some parts of Tamilnadu. 'Pongala' means to boil over, and it refers to the customary offering of things to the lord Devi. Women bring rice and milk and sugar or just plain rice as well as fire wood and make little ovens in the grounds of the temple and cook the rice and offer it to the goddess. Only women are allowed to participate in this custom. It is a sight to be seen indeed where thousands of little fires are lit and women start to blow desperately at their flames. The custom begins with making fire in the temple hearth known as Pandara Aduppu. The fire will then be passed to the women ready to offer pongala and the same fire spreads to all the tens of thousands of women, who are offering pongala. The temple priest then blows the conch and this is the signal for all the women to place their little pots, preferably of mud, containing rice and water on the fire and blow and blow at the fire to cook the rice. When the rice is cooked the conch is blown again and all the offerings are taken to the temple. After Ponkala, the chief priest of the temple goes around and blesses the devotees by sprinkling holy water and flower petals on them.
On the concluding day of the festival, the goddess is taken out in a procession to the Sastha temple at suburban Manacaud, a few km away very early in the morning. Caparisoned elephants, young girls with Thalappoli, young boys undertaking Kuthiyottam and Nadaswaram parties form an important part of this procession. On the way, people receive the goddess in front of their houses with Nirapara and Nilavilakku, a Kerala custom in which the traditional measuring container called 'Para' is decorated and filled with paddy as offering to the goddess. After short poojas at the Sastha Temple, Deity returns to Attukal, where the temple priest receives the Goddess to perform morning poojas.
This temple and its main festival was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest number of women devotees gathered in one place.
Other activities during the ten-day festival include various ceremonial rituals like Kappukettu, during which the story of Goddess Kannaki is recited. It is a musical recitation and goes on for the first nine days of the festival. The musical recitation of Kannaki's story ends with the part of the Goddess annihilating the Pandya King. The hymns sung during the festival are called Thottampattu. The story signifies victory of good over evil, light over darkness and justice over injustice.
Other activities during the ten-day festival include various ceremonial rituals like Kappukettu, during which the story of Goddess Kannaki is recited. It is a musical recitation and goes on for the first nine days of the festival. The musical recitation of Kannaki's story ends with the part of the Goddess annihilating the Pandya King. The hymns sung during the festival are called Thottampattu. The story signifies victory of good over evil, light over darkness and justice over injustice.
Kuthiyottam is a ritual performed by boys below the age of 13 years on the pongala day. These boys observe a seven-day kuthiyotta vritham (penance), starting third day of the festival. The penance includes staying at the temple, sleeping on the floor, strict diet restrictions, bathing three times a day, etc. The boys also have to bow before the Goddess 1008 times, after morning and evening oblations. These boys represent the wounded soldiers of Goddess (MAHISHASURA MARDDINI). The boys taken part in Kuthiyottam are delivered penance.
This ritual is performed by girls on the ninth day (pongala day) of the festival. The young girls attired in traditional dressing hold a thaalam (a round tray) with flowers, a lighted oil lamp, and offerings to the Goddess. The Goddess will be pleased on the girls and bless them with beauty, wisdom, health, wealth and joy.
During the festival, offerings called 'Vilakku kettu,' huge structures made of pith, decorated with shining paper and garlands, and usually with the image of the goddess, are carried to the temple in a procession. Some of these look like miniature temples. Tender coconut frond and plantain leaf-stalks are also used in making these.
Other festivals and observances of the temple are Vinayaka Chathurthi, Dussehra, Shivaratri, Mandala Vratham - a festival in connection with the annual Utsavam of Sabarimala, Pooja Vaypu - identical to the Dussera festival (Saraswathy Pooja and Vidyarambham), Ayilya Pooja - milk, flowers etc. offered to serpent God and special rites, Aiswarya Pooja - performed on all full moon (Pournami) days, Nirayum Puthariyum (Ramayana Parayanam) - performed during the month of Karkadakam, Akhandanama Japam - performed on the fourth Sunday of every month and Karthika Deepam.
Choroonu (first rice feeding ceremony for children), Thulabharam, Vidyarambham, Archana etc. can be done at this temple. The main offering of the Goddess is Muzhukkappu (Covering the idol with sandal paste) and the Kalabhabhishekam.
Timings - Morning 4.30 AM – 12.30 PM; Evening 5.00 PM – 8.30 PM.
This ritual is performed by girls on the ninth day (pongala day) of the festival. The young girls attired in traditional dressing hold a thaalam (a round tray) with flowers, a lighted oil lamp, and offerings to the Goddess. The Goddess will be pleased on the girls and bless them with beauty, wisdom, health, wealth and joy.
During the festival, offerings called 'Vilakku kettu,' huge structures made of pith, decorated with shining paper and garlands, and usually with the image of the goddess, are carried to the temple in a procession. Some of these look like miniature temples. Tender coconut frond and plantain leaf-stalks are also used in making these.
Other festivals and observances of the temple are Vinayaka Chathurthi, Dussehra, Shivaratri, Mandala Vratham - a festival in connection with the annual Utsavam of Sabarimala, Pooja Vaypu - identical to the Dussera festival (Saraswathy Pooja and Vidyarambham), Ayilya Pooja - milk, flowers etc. offered to serpent God and special rites, Aiswarya Pooja - performed on all full moon (Pournami) days, Nirayum Puthariyum (Ramayana Parayanam) - performed during the month of Karkadakam, Akhandanama Japam - performed on the fourth Sunday of every month and Karthika Deepam.
Choroonu (first rice feeding ceremony for children), Thulabharam, Vidyarambham, Archana etc. can be done at this temple. The main offering of the Goddess is Muzhukkappu (Covering the idol with sandal paste) and the Kalabhabhishekam.
Timings - Morning 4.30 AM – 12.30 PM; Evening 5.00 PM – 8.30 PM.
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