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Home > Temples of Kerala > Alappuzha district Alappuzha districta)Cherthala taluk The Sree Kaatthyaayani temple at Cherthala, said to have been consecrated by Vilwamangalam Swamiyar has a characteristic offering called thati. It is made up of rice flour, molasses, ghee and coconut, the entire mixture being covered by a spathe of betel-nut tree. This mixture covered by spathe is baked in a mud furnace underneath a mud hole in front of the subsidiary deity of Sree Dharma Saastha.When it is completely baked it is taken out and offered to Lord Saastha. The Thiruvizha Siva temple is one of the noted places for effective cure of mental diseases caused as a result of the consumption of food like sweets, milk, ghee etc mixed with poison by sorcerers. These mentally sick persons who have consumed this type of poisoned food observe bhajanam in the temple besides taking the special medicine given as prasaadam from the temple. The Triwancore State Manuap93 gives a detailed account on the mode of administering the medicine and its effect. The preparation of the medicine which contains brahmi is a profound secret known only to some temple employees. The Dhanwanthari temple at Maruthorvattom (in Thanneermukkom North village) is important. The place took its name from the offering of the temple ie, marunnu-oru-vattam (one dose of medicine) and the general belief is that this dose is sufficient to cure'the patient of any disease, The special offerings of the temple on the New Moon Day in the Malayalam months of Thulam, Kumbham, and Karkkatakam are raw rice and thaal (edible stem of yam). Mter conductingpooja both cooked rice and thaal curry are given as prasaadam which is considered a remedy for stomach disorders. Similarly there is another vazhipaat known as kayattel-vaanam for getting back lost cattle. For progeny kathhakali of Santhaana-gopala is held in this temple. The Kanichakulangara Bhadrakaali temple (near Kanjikuzhi) has the important offerings like kuruthi, amrtheth and raktha-pushpaanjali for fulfilment of any desire especially of pregnant women. The Waranad Sree Bhagavathi temple and the Saasthankal temple are the centres of worship at Kokkothamangalam while the Sreenarayanapuram temple at Thannleermukkam attracts a large number of devotees.The Sree Lakshmi-Narasimhamoortthi temple,Thuravoor,known as Vatkkanappan is a famous one. Within the naalambalam there are two equally important shrines one dedicated to Sree Lakshmi-Narasimhamoortthi and the other to the Sudarsan, the wheel of Maha Vishnu. The important vampaads are veti (fire work), paanakkam, paal-paayasam, thri-madhuram, thrikkayyil-venna and pushpaanjali by chanting purusha-sooktham, bhagya-sooktham and Vishnu-sooktham. Some of the periodical offerings are ashta-dravya-Maha Ganapathi-homa with 1008 dried coconuts, sahasra-kalasam, sudarsana-homam, sukrtha-homam, lakshaarchana and Srimad Bhaagavatha sapthaaham. The Gouda-Saraswatha temple dedicated to Lord Venkitachalapathi is a richly endowed temple and attracts a large number of devotees. (b)Ambalapuzha taluk The foremost temple in the taluk is the Sree Krishna temple at Ambalapuzha. The temple was installed at the instance of Vilwamangalam Swaamiyaar by the Chembakasseri Raja in 760 KE (1584-85 A.D.). The paal-paayasam, a milk porridge of exceptional sweetness and offered for the uccha-pooja is one of the great attractions of Kerala. The deity in the temple has also been worshipped by great literary luminaries like Melpatthur Narayana Bhattathiripad, Thuncchath Ramanujan Ezhutthachhan and Kalakkath Kunchan Nambiar. During Tippu Sultan's invasion the deity of Guruvayur was brought here in 965M.E. and was temporarily installed in a shrine specially built for Him and later the idol was taken back to Guruvayur. The Sree Mullakkal temple at Alappuzha town is dedicated to Vana-Durga and as such the sanctum sanctorum has no roof. The impoartant Offering of this temple is raktha-pushpaanjali. Other notable temples in and around Alappuzha are Thirumala Devaswom temple, Kalarkode Mahadeva temple and the Kidagamparamb temple. The vaavu-bali, at the Thiruvambadi Sree Krishna temple, performed on the New Moon day in the month of Karkkatakam is famous. The shrine of Karumaatikuttan (near Kmpapuram temple and believed to be a black granite figure of Buddha), at Karumaati (near Ambalappuzha) is a centre of worship particularly for boat-men who pass through the canal and who pray to the deity for a safe journey. Breaking of coconuts before the image is done for propitiating Him. (c) Kuttanad taluk The Sree Durga Bhagavathi temple at Mankompu has special offerings like chatussatham, kalabhaabhishekam and kalamezhutth-paatt. Another Devi temple of importance is the Sree Kaatthyaayani temple at Neelamperoor (west of Chingavanam), otherwise known as Palli Bhagavathi temple. It has associations with Pallinaavar, the Perumal of Thiruvanchikkulam (near Kodungallur). The Maha Vishnu shrine here resembles the stone image of Buddha. The Patayani Uthsavam of this temple is unique with the display of effigies of swans (Brahma's vehicle), Bheema, Raavana, Kaattalan (forester) and wild tusker. The kolams or effigies are of high artistic skill. The important offerings of the temple are pushpaanjali and katum-paayasam. The Maathur Bhagavathi (Ambika) temple (in Netumuti village) is renowned and the powers of this deity have been vividly described in Maaihurambikashtakam of Kunchan Nambiar. The important vazhipaats are malar nivedya, appam, annadaanam and kathhakali (story of Narakaasura). There are some other Devi temples in this taluk which include Puthukulangara temple (at Chennamkary), Palliyarakkaavu (at Kavaalam), Kottaram Sree Bhagavathi temple (at Netumuti), Puthuparamb temple (Thalavaty), Bhagavathi temple (Muttar) etc. The Saastha temple at Thakazhi was originally installed at Othermala east of Thiruvalla (exact location unidentifiable), but due to deluge in Manimala and Pampa rivers the idol reached Thakazhi. Experiencing the divinity of the idol, Sree Vilwamangalam Swamiyar who happened to pass by in a country boat, got down there and retrieved the idol from the mud and installed it. The famous vazhipaat is the special oil called valia-enna given for patients having any type of physical ailments, particularly rheumatic complaints. It is believed that the original preparation of this oil as prescribed by the deity Himself consists of 84 medicinal plants, mixed with another 64 ayurvedic plants, bits of opium and ganja along with a good number of oils like aavanakenna, veppenna, otayenna, marottienna, punnackenna and poovathenna. Gingelly oil is not used. On the final day of preparation a sarkkara-paayasamis also offered to the deity. Equally famous is the ata-nivedyam for prosperity. (d)Karthigappally taluk (Kirthikappally taluk) The Sree Subramnya temple, Harippad is famous both in respect of antiquity and archaeological excellence. It is believed that the idol, with four arms and biggest of its kind, was originally worshipped by Lord Parasurama and was lying at Paathiraamanal island of Vembanad lake. It was only later it was taken to Harippad. and consecrated. The local belief is that the idol dates back before the commencement of Kali- Yuga. The Paippad jalothsavam (boat regatta) commemorates the bringing of the image from Paathiramanal to Harippad. The important offering of this temple is . Kaavatiyattam, especially on the Thaipooyam festival of Makaram. About a kilometre north of the Sree Subramanya temple is the famous Mannarssala Sree Naagaraja temple. It is believed that the Sree Naagaraja here represents Anantha (of Vaishnavite cult) but has the spirit of Vaasuki (Saivite). More importance is given to the spirit of Vaasuki and as such the Saivite form of worship is followed. Sarpa-Yakshi, Naaga-Yakshi and Naaga-Chamundi are also installed in the temple. The nilavara (cellar) is the holy abode where Anantha, the Lord of Serpents born as a child of Vasudeva and Sreedevi, who had been blessed by the Sree Naagaraja, spends His time in quite seclusion, hidden away from the eyes of the world, in accordance with His own decision. The main offering given by the Great mother is noorum-paalum on every. Ayilyam day. Except the mother no one else enters the nilavara. The offerings are peculiar such as a pot filled with gold or a gold pot filled with other things for wealth and prosperity; silk, grains, divine ornaments etc for education, prosperity and fame; salt for recovering health; turmeric for protection from poison; pepper, mustard, green peas etc for cure of diseases; serpent cave made of gold etc, images of serpents eggs, tree, earth etc for protection from damage;ghee for long life; milk, ripe kadali plantain, nilavara-paayasam etc for getting whatever one wants; a big vessel (uruli) made-or brass, bronze etc for performing noor;um-paalum for having a child. The Vettikulangara Devi temple at Cheppad is famous and the main offering is nazhiyari-paaysam, of a special quality which can be preserved for months together. The distinct style of wood carvings, depicting the events in Srimad Bhaagavatha, particularly anantha-sayana, dasavathaara, siva-thaandava, kiraatharjuneeyam, paalazhi-madhanam etc is seen in the temple. The Evur Sree Krishnaswamy temple is very ancient and it is believed to have been installed by Agni Deva (God of Fire). The favourite offerings of the deity are butter and aval. The subsidiary deity of Sree Bhoothanaatha installed in a grove is a curer of diseases like epilepsy, insanity etc and the offerings here are breaking of coconuts, betel leaves and aval. The other important Sree Krishna temples in the taluk are at Eruva, Krishnapuram and Puthiyadam. The Sree Siva temples at Thrippakudam and Nangiarkulangara have the offering of dhaara as the principal Vazhipaat. The Sree Saastha temple at Thrikkunnapuzha has the main vazhipaat of neeraajanam. Devi temples at Pathiyur, Pandavar kaavu, Ramapuram and Valiyakulangara are also major temples of this taluk, The Sree Mahadeva temple at Karivattakulangara and'Sree Maha Vishnu temple at Thripperumthura are also notable. (e)Chengannur taluk Chengannur is a great centre of renowned Saivite and Vaishnavite shrines, and this has a great impact on the cultural heritage of the State. It is described as Sonachalam in the old Sanskrit literature. The Tamil works also support this supposition. The Sree Mahadeva temple in the heart of Chengannur town is unique and was build thousands of years ago and it is a graama-kshethra. The legend says that during e marriage of Lord Parameswara with Sree Parvathi a large number of Gods and Go desses assembled in Himalayas and as a result the weight of the earth increased substantially and it was about to tilt to one side. To avoid such a catastrophe the great sage Agasthya was directed to go to south to keep the equipoise of the earth. Agasthya agreed, but was 'disappointed that he would miss the chance to attend the celestal wedding. Lord, assured him that he would see every ritu~ of the marriage through his divine sight and promised that both of them would bless him after the marriage by visiting him. Lord and the Goddess kept the word and travelled towards south while Agasthya in turn journeyed towards north. Both met at the holy place of Chengannur on the banks of renowned Pampa river. A temple was constructed at this place and it is known as Dakshina Kailasam. The main offering to Siva is dhaara. Though the temple is known as Sree Mahadevar temple, the Goddes is more powerful and famous. There are differences about the sankalpa of the Goddess ie, whether Sree Parvathi, Sree Sathi, Sree Kannaki or Sree Bhuvaneswari . The idol is not the original one. The original idol of the Goddess made up of sila was destroyed in fire and it was replaced by a pancha-loha-vigraha that had been handed over to Thazhamon Thanthri by Perum- Thachan with a specillc instruction that it should be installed in the event of a fire. The Siva linga vigraha could be saved from fire. The present Devi vigraha, about 2 1/2feet height has two hands and is in standing pose. It is still a mystery and wonder of wonders that the pancha-loha-vigraha gets her periods, which is rare in the annals of history of temples. The periods of the Goddess is locally known as thrippoothu and the festival as thrippootharaattu. Being a rare phenomenon its details are briefly described. In ancient days this used to occur every month but now-a-days it occurs three or four times in a year. Every day morning thenirmaalyam (previous days flowers worn by the Goddess) and the white utayaata (cloth) are handed over by the priest to Vaarier attendant without looking at it. The Vaarier examines the dress closely and if there is any discolouration it is sent for detailed examination to the Lady heads (antharjanams) of Vanjipuzha and Thaazhamon families for confirmation. (Oflate it is sent to the family of Thaazhamon) Thanthri only). When it is confirmed, the discoloured cloth is brought back, washed by a mannathhi (washer-woman) and kept under safe custody. Thereafter the power of Devi is invoked into the archaaa-vigraha and the same is removed to the special room at the north-west corner of the naalambalam and the sreekovil of the Goddesss is kept closed till the fourth day. Only one pooja is done in a day in the temporary shrine. It is significant to note that two lady attendants or confidantes (belonging to two families) have to sit by the side of the archana-vigraha for day and night on all three days. On the fourth day Devi is taken on the back of a caprisoned elephant (according to tradition on a female elephant) in procession to the aaraat-katav (Mithrapuzha ghat) of Pamba river for a holy bath. At the aaraat-katav, pooja is done for the peetham as well as for the waters of Pamba. Then abhisheka of the idol is done with ghee followed by gingelly oil and cleaned with eencha. Then the Thanthri does abhisheka of the idol with turmeric powder and again immerses it in water. Then new clothes brought by the washer-woman are put on the bimba and then taken back in procession with the accompaniments of naadaswaram (wind instrument) pancha-vaadyam, thaalapoli etc. At the aaraat-katav and also on the way nira-para is offered by the devotees. On arrival at the aanakottil of the temple, the balivigraha of Lord Siva is taken out on a tusker's back and both of them together take three pradakshinas and enter the Sreekovil through their respective entrances. It is followed by kalabhaabhishekam for Siva. The archana-bimba of Devi is then placed by the side of the original idol of Devi and the power is invoked back into the original idol, followed by kalabhaabhishekam and raktha-pushpaanjali. For the next twelve days raktha-pushpaanjali is the only vazhipaat in the temple. The discoloured utayaata (cloth) is treasured as a holy relic and is available for sale (for Rs. 501). There is always a large queue for its booking. The expenditure for the first thrippoothaaraat of the Malayalam year is met from the endowments given to the temple by Col: Munro, (the Resident Diwan of Travancore) as an atonement to his disbelief and thoughtless action in disallowing the expenditure, which was previously followed. As stated earlier Chengannur and its neighbouring villages have three important Vaishnavite shrinesfounded by Pandavas. They are located in Thrichittat, Thiru-Puliyoor and Thiruvanvandoor. The Sree Mahavishnu temple at Thrichittat (in Chengannur town)worshipped by Yudhishtira (the eldest of the Pandavas), was very famous in ancient times. The idol of Thiru-Puliyoor Sree Maha Vishnu (Sree Krishna) was worshipped by Bheema while the Thiruvanvandoor shrine dedicated to Sree Mahavishnu in the form of Gopalalkrishna was worshipped by Nakula. It is seen that Nammaazhavar, one of the important Vaishnavite saints visited all these three temples in the ninth century as they were important Vaishnavite shrines of South India. Near the Vaishnavite shrine of Thiruvanvantoor there is another image of Gosala lqisht;lan found in May 1963 from a nearby tank, which is believed to be the same image with which the Namboothiri trustee drowned himself in order to elude capture by the Chambakasseri Raja's men197. The Sree Narasirhha temple, Chatthankulangara (in Chengannur town) is very ancient and has exquisite wood carvings and inscriptions attributed to 14th Century 198. There are twenty one panels which depict puraanic stories of Sree Krishna, Sree Narasirilha, Sree Rfuna and Sree Hanuman. The important vazhipaats of this temple are Sudarsana-homam' and paanakam. In Mannar, (13km. north of Mavelikkara) on the left bank'ofPamba there are some temples of importance viz. Thirukkuratti Sree Siva temple, Thaliyil Sree krishna temple, Kuttamperoor Sree Bhagavathi temple and Sree Saraswathi temple. The Thirukkuratti Sree Siva temple (in Kurattassery village) also known as Kuratti Mathilakam is one among the 101 temples consecrated by Lord Parasurama. It has an extensive area of more than 6 acres with an imposing compound wall of fifteen feet height with about 2 1/2fee1 thickness, the top in the shape of elephants' back and magnificent gopuras similar to that of Chengannur, Kantiyiir and Thiruvalla temples. It has also excellent wooe carvings. The important vazhipaats are sarkkara-chathussatham and dhaara besides pushpaanjali. Ladies are not allowed to enter the temple complex as the sankalpa 0f the deity is that of one in penance. The Kuttamperoor Sree Bhagavathi temple is important and nearby there is a chithal puttu (termitarium) relating to the samaadh of Kroshtu Maharshi, which is worshipped by all. The Thaliyil Sree krishna temple is a favourite of many and the deity can. be easily pleased by offering butter, especially for getting progeny. The Sree Saraswathi temple at Mannar attracts a large number of devotees particularly during Navaraathri days. Equally important is the Adithya temple, as such temples are rare in Kerala. (I) Mavelikkara taluk One of the oldest Siva temples in Kerala is that at Kantiyur (in Mavelikkara town) which is unique with many archaeological features, stone carving: etc. The oldest inscribed records date back to 946 A.D. (Trdvancore Archaeological series Vol. I) and later ones upto 13th century. The important vazhipaatofthe templl is dhaara. The Sree Krishna temple is another important one in Mavelikkara, the chief offerings being muzhukkappu and pushpaanjali. The Saastha temple at Kattuvally in the outskirts of Mavelikkara is also very famous. Of the Devi temples in Southen Kerala Chettikulangara Bhagavathi temple stands unique. The Bhadrakaali idol finished in exquisite jackwood, is about four feet tall. The main offerings ar, chaanthaattam and raktha-pushpaanjali for getting the wish fulfilled. Devotees approach the Devi and offer special Vazhipaats for early cure of small-pox as her legend i associated with that disease. The Chettikulangara Goddess is supposed to be th daughter of Kodungallur Bhagavathi and as such on the midnight of Aswathi asterisk in the month of Meeaam, the temple is closed for the day, the assumption is that the Devi goes to Kodungallur to see Her mother on the Meena-Bharani day. The next day she comes back and the general belief is that her retum is associated with some sign like the blowing of wind or the falling of a small branch of the banyan tree. The Bharani asterisk in the month of Kumbham is celebrated as the birth-day of the Goddes and this is known as the Kurhbha-Bharani festival. The highlights of the festival are kutthiyottam and kettukaazhcha. Kutthiyottam, is an important offering in which young boys (between 8 and 14 years old) are made to observe vratha and follow rituals 0f behalf of the person who offers the vazhipaat. It is seen that generally the boy belong to the lower strata of the society irrespective of caste. As vratha period is about 10 days the total expenditure of the offerer of the vazhipaat comes to the tun of more than Rupees one lakh. On the evening of the festival day of Bharani is the great kettukaazhcha or kuthirakettu in which huge elegantly decorated chariots with Devi's images and effigies of Bheema, Paanchaali and Hanuman are drawn by the people of the karaa or desom. These chariots are erected on wooden poles and covered, with beautiful satin or other plain clothes of different colours. On the top of each chariot apart from the iInages, there is a sthoopa-als6. Altogether 13 karas participate and their chariots of varying heights from 15 feet to 50 feet are dragged one after another in traditional order and displayed in the paddy field in front of the temple. Historians are of the view that this festival resembles the Chinese festival celebrated on the birth day of Sree Buddha. The Dcvi temple at Bharanikkaavu (8 km north east of Mavelikkara) has the important vazhipaat of raktha-pushpaanjali. Another famous temple is Vettikkode Naagaraja temple, Pallickal, dedicated to the serpent God anantha. The important vazhipaat is noorum-paalum and the festival on the Ayilyam asterisk in the month of Kanni attracts a large number of devotees. The Kannamangalam Sree Mahadeva temple has the important offering of dhaara. The Sree Mahadeva templeat Chunakkara (8km. south of Mavelikkara) is very ancient and displays high order of excellence and distinct style of wood workmanship . The important offering is jaladhaara.
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