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.


Sunday, June 5, 2016

PUZAKKARA KAVU DEVASWOM, MOOVATTUPUZHA

PUZAKKARA KAVU DEVASWOM, MOOVATTUPUZHA KERALA, FROM WHERE I COME

Compiled by
Sri.N.Ramdas   Iyer






Beauty and holiness flows to a point where three rivers (Kaliyar,Kothayar and Thodupuzhayar) confluence naming the land Muvattupuzha(means joining of three rivers). Shining at this Thriveni's holy bank situates the shrine of Puzhakkara kavu Devi blessing the worshippers benevolently. As per legends this temple is 2000 years old and the Devi here is 'Swayambhoo'(self originated). Half kilometer away from the busy noises of Muvattupuzha town, enchanting all people irrespective of caste and creed establishing the Devi expressing in three styles. At dawn Devi is Sree Bhuvaneswary, afternoon she is Sree Vana Durga, and evening Sree Bhadra.
In olden days the wild tribe worshipped this temple and gradually developed to the present situation. For years Thengode Mana was controlling the day to day affairs of the temple and in 1976 administration was vested to a local trust selected from the devotees. Shrine is constructed with granite and thatched with copper plate. Upper portion of the shrine is open for getting sunshine and rain. Devi takes ceremonial bath (Arattu) more than once in a year, is a peculiarity of this temple. This is due to the flood which happens more than once in a year enters the temple for Devi's arattu. Here Devi never goes to the river; river comes to her for her spectacular ceremonial bath. Holy ground of the shrine is covered with single granite blocks and the circumambulating path also is made with same.
Installed left side of the temple outside the sanctum sanctorum is the deities Ganapathy and Sastha, outside the pathway is the Serpent. Special poojas are conducted here during the auspicious day of aayillyam. Another important offer is "Chathusatham". This is by submitting 101 naazhy(a measure) rice to Devi by the devotee and believed she grants the desire fulfilled. "Swayamvara Parvathy Pooja" also is done here for getting desired marriage. Devi celebrates her birthday in the Malayalam month of Meenam, her birth star is pooram and special poojas 'Ponkala, Annadana (feast for devotees) are conducted. Pooram star of every month such poojas and annadana are done. Tuesday and Friday are special days of devi.
During the 41 days of Mandala period celebrates the festival and seven days specially celebrated. Irrespective of any religion all the people co¬operate for the well being of the temple and pray before the Devi for their needs. A Muslim family blessed by Devi many years back has been given the right for' Vedivazhipadu' (fire cracking) even now. A devotee from Tamilnadu donated the giant elephant barn during 1092 of Malayalam era  


Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Alphabetical index of Kerala Temples

1.





4.          Ambalapuzha Krishnan templehttp://rajathathaskeralatemples.blogspot.in/2010/02/ambalappuzha.html
5.          Amedha  saptha  mathruka temple http://rajathathaskeralatemples.blogspot.in/2011/11/ameda-saptha-mathruka-temple.html
17.       Chengannor Mahadeva and Bhagwathi   temple  http://rajathathaskeralatemples.blogspot.in/2010/02/chenganoor-mahadeva-and-bhagawathi.html
18.       Chernatturi BHagawathi of  Chithalancheri   http://rajathathaskeralatemples.blogspot.com/2016/01/cherunatturi-bhagawathi-of.html
34.       Haripad  Subrahmanya templehttp://rajathathaskeralatemples.blogspot.in/2010/02/harippad.html
37.       Kadampuzha Bhagawathi temple  http://rajathathaskeralatemples.blogspot.in/2010/02/kadampuzha.html
54.       Kuzhalmannam Lakshmi   Narayana   temple http://rajathathaskeralatemples.blogspot.in/2010/02/kuzhal-mannam-lakshmi-narayana-temple.html
63.       Mangottu Kavu Bhagwathi  temple http://rajathathaskeralatemples.blogspot.in/2010/02/mangottu-kavu.html
69.       Mavelikkara  Kandiyur   Mahadeva   temple   http://rajathathaskeralatemples.blogspot.in/2015/07/mavelikkara-kandiyur-madeva-temple.html
70.       Meen Kolathi Kavu Bhagavthi temple http://rajathathaskeralatemples.blogspot.in/2010/02/meen-kolathi-kavu.html
76.       Neyyathikara Navaneetha Krishnan temple  http://rajathathaskeralatemples.blogspot.in/2010/02/neyathinkara-navaneetha-krishnan.html
84.       Pandalam Valia Koilkkal Dharma Sastha temple  http://rajathathaskeralatemples.blogspot.in/2015/07/pandalam-vali-koikkal-dharma-sastha.html
86.       Parakattu Kavu Bhagwathi templehttp://rajathathaskeralatemples.blogspot.in/2010/02/parakkattu-kavu.html
93.       Perumkulam South village   Krishna temple http://rajathathaskeralatemples.blogspot.in/2014/04/perumkulam-south-village-sri-krishna.html
97.       Pishari Kavu temple of  koilandy  Malabar http://rajathathaskeralatemples.blogspot.in/2011/11/pishari-kavu-of-kollam-in-malabar.html
100.    Puzhakkal devaswam , MOOVATTUPUZHA KERALA http://rajathathaskeralatemples.blogspot.in/2016/06/puzakkara-kavu-devaswom-moovattupuzha.html
101.    Puzhakkal Kavu Devaswam  Moovattupuzha - 1.       Achan Koil Dharma Sastha templehttp://rajathathaskeralatemples.blogspot.in/2014/04/achan-koil-dharma-sastha.html
102.    Puzhakkara Kavu devaswam  , Movattupuzha -  http://rajathathaskeralatemples.blogspot.in/2016/06/puzakkara-kavu-devaswom-moovattupuzha.html