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Home > Temples of Kerala > Navaraathri NavaraathriThe Sakthi-Devatha, either in the form of Saraswathl, Durga, Lakshmi or Kaali, is worshipped from the Vedic period and all proclaim the power of paraa- sakthi. Whether it is knowledge or ignorance, prosperity or adversity, pleasure or sorrow, they are the various forms of the same paraa-sakthi. Each of the Goddeses , mentioned above has different roles according to Saasthras ie, Saraswathi is the sakthi or jnana-Devatha behind the creations done by Brahma, while Lakshmi is the Goddess of prosperity to help Mahavishnu in sthhithi (preservation) of the universe. In Lord Mahadeva, Durga Devi acts as the source of energy for destruction. Bhadrakaali represents the power to destroy the aasura-bhaavas (diabolical state) and to kindle the daivlka-bhaava (godliness) in every man and to safe-guard him from adversaries. In short, paraa-sakthi in different forms is essential for the sustenance and prosperity of the people. Therefore of the different modes of worship, the poojas done during the navaraathri days (the nine days during the bright period from Prathhama to Dasami after the New Moon in the month of Aswini) are considered very important. In our country navaraathri festival is celebrated in different ways like Durgapooja in Bengal, as Chamundeswari pooja (known as Dussera) in Karnataka and as aayudha-pooja in other regions. However in Kerala it is observed as Saraswathi pooja dedicated to Saraswathi the Goddess of learning. The vratha during this period includes. waking up early in the morning, having bath, taking only vegetarian food and praying for the blessings of the Goddess. An image or picture of Saraswathi is kept in a previously purified place and worshipped on all these days. The Brahmins in Kerala celebrate this period by keeping images of different Gods and Goddesses at one place (known as kolu), and conduct special poojas and distribute to their invitees betel-leaves, arecanut, coconut, plantain, sweets etc. It is believed that Paraa-sakthi, in the form of Durga appeared before the Devas on Ashtami day and slew the Asura (Mahisha) on the Dasami day. Hence the Dasami-day is known as Vijaya dasami day. According to Devi Bhaagavatha, Navaraathri vratha was first observed by Sree Rama at Kishkinda after the abduction of Seetha Devi by Raavana and before the commencement of the battle with him. Similarly on this day Atju~a invoked Durga in the famous battle of kurukshethraAccounts of navaraathri are available in Skanda-puraarana, Sree Devi Bhaagavatha, Kaalika-puraana, Nirnaya sindhu, Bhavishyal-puraana, Mathsya-puraana etc.Saraswathi Devi is worshipped in different names in these days like Veena-Saraswathi,Thaandava-Saraswathi, Bhaarathi, Btaahmi, Vageeswari, Gaayathri etc. Though Navaraathri indicates nine-day festival in Kerala, the last three days viz. Ashtami, Navami and DaSami, are very important. Of these the fIrst day, is known as the day for pooja-vaipp, (the opeping day of pooja) and the last day as the day for pooja-etupp (closing day of pooja). All these days are observed with special poojas in temples. In all temples facilities are provided for pooja vaipp of books and pooja-etuppu (taking them back after pooja). The Vljaya Dasami (pooja etuppu) day is very auspicious for vidyaarambham or initiation into the letters of the alphabet, particularly for children who have just to complete the age of 3. The auspicious time for vidyaarambham is in the morning of Vijaya Dasami day and is generally within a period of ten naazhikaas after sunrise or at the auspicious ti,me fixed by astrologers. The ceremony begins with the invocation of Ganapathi followed by making the child write alphabets. The Guru writes 'OM' in the toungue of the child with a gold-ring and holding the ring finger of the child makes him/her write the letters 'Hari Sree , Ganatapathaye Namah, Avighna masthu, Guruve Sararnam'in raw rice or on the sand taken from Thunchan-paramb (near Tirur in Malappuram district) the birth place of Thunchath Ramanujan Ezhutthachhan the 'Father of Malayalam Language'. The most important temple for Saraswathi pooja in the western coast is the Sree Mookambika temple at Kollur in Dakshina Kannad district of Karnataka state. Large number of devotees of Kerala go over there for Vtdyaarambham of their children. There are temples of equal importance in Kerala also like the Saraswathi temple at Panachikkad (very near to Chingavagam, about 12km south of Kottayam) and the Mookambika temple at Paravur (Ernakulam district). Another notable temple is the Thiruvullakkavu Sastha temple (near Cherpu about 12 km south-west of Thrissur) where children are initated before a Saraswathi-peetha, after worshipping Lord Saastha. The Navaraathri festival associated with the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple deserves special mention. Three images are brought from three places of Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, which was formerly part of Tnlvancore State. The image of Goddess Saraswathi (Amman) is carried on the back of a caprisoned tusker from the Padmanabhapuram Palace while that of Velayudha Perumal on a decorated silver horse vaahana from Kumaracoil at Vepmala (near Thuckalai). The Munniittimanka bimba is taken from Suchindram temple on a palanquin and all assemble at Thuckalai and proceed to the capital in a grand procession honoured enroute by devotees with nilapara, vilakk etc. When it reaches the limits of the Trivandrum city the procession attains more grandeur. The images of Velayudhaswami and Munmlttimanka are kept at the Aryassaala temple while that of Saraswathi Amman is brought in to the Chokkitta-mandapam of the Valiakottaram complex attached to Sree Padmagabhaswamy temple. On the first day of the nine-day navaraathri festival there is a formal ceremony of pooja-vaipp ie, placing sacred granthaas and weapons including Maharaja's State-sword in front of the image and pooja conducted. Everyday there is music concert by eminent Carnatic musicians. The last day coincides with the Alpasi uthsava of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple. After pooja-etuppu the images are taken back to their respective places.
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