Madapalli Kavu Bhagwathi

Madapalli Kavu Bhagwathi

By

P.R.Ramachander

(Please   see  the temple  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dhjqq3cYGYw)

         Madapalli kavu (also called as Manapalli kavu)  is a famous Bhagavathy temple   situated very near Palakkad town. Though the temple was owned by a private family   now  it is managed by the  devaswom board.

   The presiding Goddess  is   supposed to fulfil all    the wishes of her   true devotees.   It is believed   that there was a village on the shores of the Soka nasini river (BHaratha puzha)  where  several  fire sacrifices were held .It was in ancient times  called Yagakkara  and now it is called Yakkara ,It seems the original founder of the temple used   to  worship this BHagwathi in the kitchen(Madapalli) and originally  the temple was in  west Yakkara.(Moola sthanam still exists there) Later the temple was built in east Yakkara   and it was called  Madapalli(Kitchen) temple .Over time this name    got changed in to Manapalli or Manapulli.

    There is an  interesting story about this temple. It seems there  was a Rakshasa  called Neelan  who was troubling people who   were settled her,  .When approached by the people, it seems  Lord Parasurama approached Lord Shiva   and he sent  Bhadrakali  to kill  that asura ,She was black in colour with three  eyes armed with Soolam (trident) , Gadkam(sword)  and kedakam(the protective shield)   and in her fourth hand she   was holding  a skull,. She had two protruding teeth called Dhamshtram   and was dressed in silk, After she defeated and killed  Neela  , she preferred   to stay here.” It is believed that the sword used by Mother Bhagavathi to defeat and destroy the demons is still the float tank..

  And as such  Mother Manapulli Bhagavathi is  with Her dark complexion is facing north. She is holding trident, skull, sword and armour in Her four hands. She is in her best attire wearing jewels. She has the third eye on the forehead as Lord Shiva and four sharp long teeth. Those subjected to injustice pray to Her for relief. It is said that Her long teeth represent four Vedas. The temple is situated in a calm and serene place, has a beautiful pond on the south side. Separate sannadhies are there for Lord Ayyappa, Kala Bairavar on the out side of the main shrine. Inside the shrine there are sannadhies for Lord Ganesha, Lord Muruga etc.

   There   is another story.  It seems  BHadra Kali was born out of the matted hair(Jada)  of  the angry Lord Shiva   during the daksha   yaga and because of this she is very fierce more so when “Chandattam”  is done in the temple   but once the Very sweet Nei Payasam(Kadu madhura payasam)  is offered to her   she becomes very peaceful.

  All the farmers around the temple believe   that  Goddess  protects their paddy crop . In the third Friday  of the Malayalam month  Vruschigam  , the farmers carrying their freshly harvested produce reach the Muniyappan temple   which is situated  in the southern side of the temple. From there a big procession is taken out  to the temple. This procession is called  the Kathir festival as they carry Paddy bunches made in to a ball. After this the important festival call  Manapalli Kavu Vela starts,.

“The Vela is celebrated between last week of February and first week of March based on the Malayalam Calendar year. ‘Kanyar’ is conducted on the Ist Friday of the Malayalam month ‘Kumbam’ and the Vela is invariably conducted on the 14th day after ‘Kanyar’ (Kodiyettam). A Vela Committee is constituted for the proper conduct of the Vela Festival. The entire expenditure for the festival is met from donations received from the devotees. After the Kodiyettam, many cultural events are organised in the evenings for 14 days culminating on the day of Vela, by renowned folk/cultural artists of the state which attract huge crowds. Lot of devotees from various places come and worship Bhagavathy on Vela day. The Vela day starts early with special poojas and in the afternoon, Bhagavathy starts her vela procession. It is considered that on the invitation extended by the ‘Desakkar’ (locals) with ‘Upacharam Chollal’, Bhagavathy comes out of the ‘Sanctum Sanctorum’ for the ‘Vela Procession’, mixing up with her devotees for uniting her ‘Thattakam’ and eliminating all the evils. It is noted that on Vela day, neither the usual ‘Deeparadhana’ nor the ‘Athazhapuja’ is performed, as Bhagavathy is celebrating Vela with the ‘Desakkar’. The ‘Deeparadhana and ‘Athazhapuja’ of Vela day will be performed on the next day after ‘Sudhi’ (cleansing ceremony). The ‘Chaandh Abishekam’, one of the important pooja during the Vela day, attracts flocks of devotees. ‘Vedikettu’ (Fireworks) is also an important attractive element of the festival which takes place in the late evening when the Vela procession reaches back to the temple from Fort Maidan and also in the early morning. Bhagavathy is very fond of fire works as she is considered to be born from the Jada of Paramasiva with fire and thunder. On the Vela day the ‘nada’ is opened only after Karimarunnu (fireworks) is lit in front of Bhagavathy’. Annadanam’ (offering of food) is conducted in which thousands of devotees take part. The day of Vela is declared as a local holiday by the government which shows the importance of the festival.

Other significant features of the Vela is the other Velas from other desams (areas) such as West Yakkara, Vadakkanthara, Vennakkara, and Koppam which also congregate at the Fort Maidan. While the East Yakkara Manappullikavu Vela remains separate at the fort entrance gate when the ‘Panchavadyam’ is in full swing. The East Yakkara Manappulli Bhaghavathy Vela consisting of the famous caparisoned Elephants, folk arts, Panchavadyam etc., reach back to the temple. Plenty of chariots (Bullock carts and other motorised vehicles) also form part of the Vela procession. When the Vela return to the temple, the ‘Panchavadyam’ reaches its mesmerising peak making the people literally dance and jump. After this, the spectacular fireworks starts, leaving the huge crowd spellbound. A vast sea of humanity assembles at the temple premises to witness this spectacular show.

      During the Vela festival, an event of Mother Bhagavathi taking out the sword from the Tank called Velichapadu is celebrated. A devotee possessed with the influence of Mother Bhagavathi dives into the tank, bring the sword and place it in the shrine of Mother for pujas. Feeding of the devotees also takes place on this day called Vela Oottu. During this festival, 15 elephants stand in a line with playing of Pancha Vadyam, Pandi and Panjari Melas

After the Fireworks, the renowned ‘Pandimelam’ performed by hundreds of eminent artists begins. At midnight stage programmes will be performed. Early morning, the ‘Raavela’ starts. The highlight of ‘Raavela’ is lighting of ‘Kambam’. ‘Kambam’ is considered as ‘Paramasivas’ Jada and lighting it with ‘Karimarunnu’ makes symbolic representation of Bhadrakalis’ ulpathi. After this, Bhagavathy enters the Temple. The ‘Kanyar’ pole is plucked by Elephant to mark the end of the festival. Sudhi is performed as Bhagavathy was outside the shrine with the devotees to celebrate her Vela. ‘Eeduvedi’ announces the conclusion of Vela.

It is believed that after the evening Aarthi Bhagawathy goes to the Moolasthanam which is behind the present main temple (2 km) and returns to the Main Temple in the Morning.”(From Wiki pedia)

              Manappalli Bhagawathy is the family deity  of very many families and  all her  followers perform the Pooja and do an offering before starting any function  in their homesa such as marriage; after the marriage the newlyweds go to the temple and take the blessings of the Goddess  without fail 

The telephone  number of the temple   is  o491-678013

Manapullikavu Temple Morning Pooja Timings

5:30 AM to 12:00 PM

Manappully Bhagavathy Temple Evening Darshan Timings

5:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Deeparadhana will be between 6:30 PM and 7:00 PM