ATTUKKAL

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.

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.

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.

MARUTHANKUZHY

The place is about 8 Kms from the Thirvananthapuram Railway Station.

Sree Udiyanoor Devi Temple

Story – About 1400 years back, an ardent devotee of Sree Devi, Shri Neelankantha Paramahamsar as a small boy saw the vigraham of the Devi being swept away in the flood waters of the Killiyar river here in Maruthankuzhy. Showing great courage, he jumped into the fast flowing river and was able to get the idol in his grasp. He was swept away in the river water and thereafter nothing was heard about him for 6 days. To everyone’s amazement, he returned with the idol on the 7th day. The Goddess directed him to perform pooja for the vigraham on daily basis in his dream. Accordingly, he kept the idol over a wooden table under a jackfruit tree after covering the table with the white mundu and started worshipping it while offering the Ada to the Lord. The practice of Ada Vazhipadu that started that day is still being continued. Neelakantha Paramahamsar who later came to be known as Yogishwarar attained mahasamadhi at the age of 82 here.
The idol was later installed under a thatched roof and worshipped. The present temple building was completed in 1958. At that time an Astrological enquiry was held to know the desire of the Goddess. In this it was revealed that a pearl would be obtained while digging the ground and the construction of the temple should start from that spot. Accordingly, the present temple was constructed from the spot where the pearl was recovered.

Temple - The temple has a small gopuram and in the centre sits the Devi with four hands, holding the Shankhu (Conch shell), Chakram, Nandakam, Sword and Shoolam (Trident). At the entrance we can see vessals with water containing a mixture of Chandanam, Kumkum and Turmeric. The traditional mandapam is seen before the Devi sannidhi. The Devi is considered to be alternately as Durga and Bhadrakali. In front of the Devi, we can see the lit Neeranjana lamps, i.e. lamps lit on half coconut shells with seasame oil.
Idols of the Navagrahas are seen in the roof of the mandapam near by.
Lord Mahaganapathy sits near by while the nagas are enshrined on the outside.
Shrines of Madan thampuran, Lord Ayyappan, Ulagudaya Perumal thampuran and Yogishwarar are seen in the different mandapams inside the temple.
In the chuttambalam outside, the shrines of Shri Durga devi seen facing east, Shri Bhadrakali seen facing north and Kanni moola Ganapathy are there.

Prayers - Chandana kappu, Ada Vazhipadu and Guruthy Tharpanam are the main prayers held here.
Guruthy tharpanam is held in the evening and lasts for more than 2 hours. The basic concept is that blood of Asuras are offered to the Devi and her retinue. The Devi sannidhi is kept closed when the ritual is being performed. During this, a freshly cut banana tree is taken, 3 kuttu lamps are lit near it, cut banana stems are stacked over one another and placed before the banana tree, over it the Kuruthus are kept. Red coloured water is kept in 3 Urulis (vessals) near by and the pooja is performed. The Melshanthi takes out the blood coloured red water in his hands each time and throws it out. Then the empty vessels are inverted. Thereafter, the Melshanthi takes the sword kept near the banana tree in his hand, cuts the tree down and goes inside the closed sanctum, keeps the sword near the Devi and comes back after again closing the sannidhi.
Ada is offered as naivedhyam to the Devi every day in the evening. This Ada is prepared from the dough containing the mixture of Rice flour, Coconut and Banana. The dough is made into flat Adas and steamed before being offered to Devi.
Every year Prathishtha day is celebrated in the Malayalam month of Medom and star Punartham. The annual Utsavam is also held during this period beginning four days before the Prathistha day and continues for 10 days.
Music concerts are held every Tuesday and Fridays during the month of Adi.
Every month on the day of the star Punartham, poor feeding is held.
Once every 3 years, Shree Ulagudaya Perumal Uruttu Utsavam is held for 8 days. This festival is associated with a folk tradition concerning a king of Vaikai kingdom. The only survivor of the Vaikai family, Ulakudaya perumal did long penance and got the blessings of Devi. He defeated the Madurai king and ruled the country for twelve years. The Madurai king spent his time doing Shiva pooja in the forest. Getting the blessings of Lord Shiva he returned to Madurai and attacked Ulakudaya perumal. In the battle Ulakudaya perumal and his brothers commit suicide before the Shiva temple. This story is presented in the form of folk songs (Oottupaattu and Thampuran paattu) and some parts of the story are enacted during this festival. During the festival, in a tent set up before the temple, Godess Devi, Ulagudaya Perumal Thampuran and Yogishwarar are settled as Peedams and worshipped.

Timings – Morning 5 AM to 12 noon; Evening 5 PM to 8.15 PM.

KILLIPPALAM

Kanthallur Mahadevan Temple

This very old temple is situated in the campus of famous and decade old University Kanthalloor about in Valiyasala at Killippalam 2 Kms east from East Fort, Trivandrum. Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station and Bus station are about 1 km from the temple.

Story 1 – Once there happened a bloody, cataclysmic battle at the Kanthalloor Sala, fought with the Chola king on one side and the Chera and Pandya kings on the other, in which all three perished.
Following this, their disconsolate widows set themselves ablaze in sati, together. Out of the funeral embers emerged a Shiva linga, jwala mahadevar (Shiva, risen from flames). In order to mollify it's ferocity and raging heat, the idols of Brahma and Vishnu were installed in the vicinity, giving the temple the distinction of being one of the few temples in Kerala, dedicated to the `Trimurthis'. A different version says that the three widows prayed to the trimurthis, before dying in the fire, that their souls should be united with their hunbands. Pleased the trimurthis appeared before them upon which the widows further requested the gods that all the three of them should together stay at that place and continue giving their blessings to the devotees. Thereupon the trimuthis are said to have appeared in the dream of Rajendra Chola and instructed him to construct the present temple.

History - Though the above legend does not have any historical backing, 17th-century royal orders pertaining to the temple refer to the temple as `Jwala Mahadevar'. However, there are historical documents that put the origin of the temple deeper into antiquity. According to Mathilakam records (official records of the Padmanabhaswamy temple), Kanthalloor dates back to the 7th century AD. Chola inscriptions from the time of Rajaraja Chola (985-1016 AD) also refer to Kanthalloor. An inscription belonging to Rajendra Chola, discovered on the rear wall of the sanctum sanctorum, says that the temple came into existence before 1045 AD.

Temple - The temple is spread over four and a half acres of land and dotted with three large shrines and eight sub-shrines. The sculptured halls here with granite pillars and roof are similar to that of Sucheendram Temple.

Lord Shiva here is alternately known as Sala Mahadevar or Jwala Mahadevar.

As one enters the inner courtyard, the three main shrines of the trimurtis Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma crowned by sloping conical roofs in copper, emerge into full view. Dakshina moorthy, Ayyappa and Subrahamanya are the other main deities in this temple. Brahma's shrine, the smallest, is in the centre, flanked on either side by the more majestic shrines of Shiva and Vishnu, the latter with a two-storied roof. The Sreekovil to Mahavishnu is round with 2 flag staffs. Each sanctuary has the traditional `mukhamandapa' or frontal pavilion. All the Trimurthis face east. The Shivalinga is slightly slanted which is explained by an interesting story (2). The pavilion in front of Shiva's shrine lies forlorn and empty, devoid of the quintessential Nandi, that robust, reclining bull, gazing contemplatively at his master, integral to every Shiva temple. However, the pavilion facing the shrine of Brahma (in the form of a Shivalinga) has one. There is an interesting story (3) behind this.
Lord Mahavishnu is seated with Sreedevi and Bhoodevi on his two sides. Idols of Narada, Garuda and Vyasa rishi are also seen. The shrine of Mahaganapathy is located near Parameswara while the shrines of Dakshinamurthy, Nagarajar, Anjaneya are in the prakaram. There are 56 bali peethas inside the temple. Ouside, we can see the shrines of Lord Krishna, Bhodathan (the temple guardian), Nagaraja, Mahishasura mardini, Dharma Shastha and Muruga. In the Kalmandapam in front of the shrine of Lord Mahavishnu, we see a serpent bound with chain, the “Shankhu Viriyan”. Why it is chained has an interesting story (4) behind it.

Story 2 – Once mother earth shook violently for a longer period in an earthquake. The terrified people cried out to Lord Mahadev to save them. The kind hearted Lord took the full impact of the quake on himself. After the quake it was seen that while there was no damage anywhere, the Shiva linga had become slanted.

Story 3 – It is said that Nandi, taking umbrage at the shoddy manner in which the rituals were conducted in the temple, left the temple in protest. Shiva's search for the recalcitrant bull led him to the nearby village of Thaliyal, on the banks of the river Karamana. In a conciliatory gesture, Shiva appeared before Nandi, with his consort and gave him permission to take up permanent residence there and in recognition of his courageous and independent stand, offered him food. In memory of this incident, to this day, during the annual Kanthalloor festival, Shiva, accompanied by Vishnu and Brahma, stops by at the Thaliyal Shiva temple to offer food to Nandi and thereafter proceeds for `aarattu' (the ceremonial bath) in the Thaliyal temple pond. However, there is an alternate version also. Nandi played truant, leaving the temple premises surreptitiously in the dead of night, in search of greener pastures and making his way back stealthily, before it turned light. One night, he fell asleep in the gentle breeze and it turned out that daylight caught him unawares. Too embarrassed to return to Kanthalloor, he squeezed into the available space at the Thaliyal temple. Lending credence to the story is the fact that the Nandi in the Thaliyal temple, is found in front of the Ganesha shrine and not in front of the Shiva temple.

Story 4 – Once, the Shankhu Viriyan snakes used to roam around the temple freely. However, its appearance and manners were very threatening to everyone. Although a temple snake, his presence was making the devotees afraid. They feared that if this is allowed to continue, the whole place will become infested with snakes. Hence the priests using the Mantras/Tantras bound the Shankhu Viriyan sanke in the idol they had created.

Prayers – The important Attazha pooja is held thrice a day. However, no one is allowed to see this pooja and the temple priest performs this alone. Utsava murthy is taken out in the head in a procession every evening by the priest who goes around the temple thrice. Daily deepa aradhana is held for the trimurthis first and then for the other deities.

Shrimad Bhagavata Saptaha Gyana Yagyam is held once every year which is an important temple festival.

Aarattu on Thiruvaathira day of Kumbam of malayalam calendar is the main festival, celebrated for 10 days. Ashtamirohini, Sivaraathri, Thaipooyam are also special. Dhara, Thursday Pooja for Dakshinia Moorthi, Tuesday, Saturday, Monday, Sashty and Pradosha days are also important to devotees. Thousands of devotees visit here during the annual Kanthalloor festival.

KOVALAM

This place located 16 kilometres south of Thiruvananthapuram, is a traditional fishing village also renowned for its beautiful beach. Kovalam was brought to the public eye by the Maharaja of Travancore.

Enjoy - "Kovalam" means a grove of coconut trees and true to its name the village offers an endless sight of coconut trees. The crescent-shaped beach has three parts separated by rocky outcroppings. The southern most beach, and the most popular, is called the Light House beach for its 35 metre high light house which towers over it atop Kurumkal hillock. It offers an amazing sight of Vizhinjam mosque. The northern part of the beach is known as Samudra Beach in tourism parlance. A large promontory separates this part from the southern side. Samudra Beach doesn't have tourists thronging there or hectic business. The local fishermen ply their trade on this part. The middle, hawah, in the early day, is a beehive of activities with fishermen setting out for sea. Hawah Beach is so named for the topless European women who used to throng there. It was the first topless beach in India. Topfree bathing and parading is banned now except in private coves owned by resorts. With a high rock promontory and a calm bay of blue waters, this beach paradise creates a unique aquarelle on moonlit nights. Azure water and favorable climate make Kovalam a favorite year-round spot for swimming. Sea here is pacific and shallow where you can take a dip in the saline waters. The clean white sandy beach will arouse a temptation irresistible: to lie idle on the sands and tan your body. The sands on the beaches in Kovalam are partially black in colour due to the presence of ilmenite and thorazite. You could get into any of the Ayurvedic massage centre and indulge in a rejuvenating herbal, body-toning massage and holistic therapies. It is warm and clean filled with the coconut trees and the white sandbed as the seabreeze gently plays with the waves. The beaches have steep palm covered headlands and are lined with shops that offer all kinds of goods and services. Surfing, swimming and bathing are very refreshing and exhilirating in the waves. One can walk into the sea for about 100 metres without loosing ground. This cove is also the safest place for swimming. At many coastal places there are beautiful patches of coral reefs. The underwater views, which are visible during snorkeling, are really marvellous. The sunset here is a very beautiful site. The normal tourist season is from September to May.