Attukal devi

Attukal Bhagawathy:
Attukal temple (Malayalam:ആറ്റുകാല്‍ ഭഗവതി ക്ഷേത്രം) is a shrine in kerala,india. The temple,has gained international attention since it was listed by the gunnies book of records as "the largest gathering of women in the world". The record was based on the number of piligrims .on 23 February 1997, when 1.5 million assembled to offer pongala to Attukal Devi. The temple is also known as `women's Sabarimala' as only women are allowed to perform the ritual in the Malayalam month of Kumbbham, which mostly coincides with March in the Western .
Mythological Background :
The story goes that the Goddess Bhagavathy revealed herself to a fervent devotee of a notable family viz. Mulluveettil family. It is said that one evening a young girl appeared before the head of the family 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.

The Attukal Bhagavathy 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. The pilgrims from all over the country, who visit Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple and worship the Lord, do not consider their visits complete without the visit to the shrine of the supreme Mother Attukalamma. Vishnumaya took the incarnation of Bhagavathy to annihilate the evil and protect the good in the world in the present Era namely Kaliyuga.

According to mythology, Attukal Bhagavathy is supposed to be the divinised form of Kannaki, the famous heroine of Chilapathikaram, written by Elenkovadikal, the Tamil Poet. The story goes that after the destruction of ancient city of Madurai, Kannaki left the city and reached Kerala via Kanyakumari and on the way to Kodungalloor took a sojourn at Attukal. Kannaki is supposed to be the incarnation of Parvathy, the consort of Paramasiva. The all powerful and benign Attukal Bhagavathy reigns eternally supreme at Attukal and nurses devotees as a mother does her children. Thousands of devotees from far and near flock to the Temple to bend before the Goddess with awe and reverence to prostrate and redress their affliction and agony.

Aesthetics of Architecture :
Anyone visiting the Attukal temple is first struck by the beauty and charm of the temple architecture. The temple structure is a harmonious conglomeration of both Kerala and Tamil styles of architecture. The beautifully carved figures of Mahishasuramarddini, Goddess Kali, Rajarajeswari, Sree Parvathy with Lord Paramasiva and various other depictions of the Goddess in and around the temple are undoubtedly the work of a gifted artist. Equally well presented around the corridors surrounding the temple, are the depiction of various other Gods and the epic stories of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu viz., the "Desavathara". On either side of the elegant front gopura - are the icons based on the story of Goddess Kannaki.
Pongala mahotsavam:
The Pongala Mahotsavam is the most important festival of Attukal Bhagavathy Temple. The offering of Pongala is a special temple practice prevalent in the southern part of Kerala some
parts of Tamilnadu. 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 with premises of houses of people of all caste, creed and religion, open fields, roads, commercial institutions, premises of Government offices etc. emerges as a consecrated ground for observing Pongala rituals for lakhs of women devotees assembling from different parts of Kerala and outside. The famous Attukal Ponkala -instant cooking of rice with jaggery & coconut in temple is celebrated on the ninth day of the festival, the day of the confluence of the star Pooram and Pournami (Full Moon Night.). Every inch of temple including roads, courtyards of houses etc. become sites of Ponkala cooking on that day. Around 11 am the Priest lights the hearth in front of the temple amidst fire works and beating of chenda. This is then passed on from one woman to the other who light their hearth and prepare "Neivedyam". At about 4 pm on that day, Priests come out of the temple carrying holy water which marks the finale of the Ponkala and the devotees return home with happiness and satisfaction in their mind and after making an appeal to the Goddess for Her permission to participate in next year's Ponkala.

During the festival nearly five kilometres around the temple become covered with smoke from the 'aduppu's (temporary hearths made of 3 to 9 bricks). A holiday is declared in the city on that day. Tourists from other countries also participate in the Attukal Pongala.
The ceremony is exclusively confined to women folk and the enormous crowd, which gathers in Thiruvananthapuram on this auspicious day is reminiscent of the Kumbhamela Festival of North India.

Kuthiyottam and Thalappoli:
Kuthiyottam performed by boys and Thalappoli by girls are two popular rituals made on the Ponkala day. A stream of young girls dressed in traditional attire holding Thalappoli starts very early in the morning with the hope that the Goddess almighty would be pleased to bestow on them beauty inward and outward, health, wealth and happiness. Boys below the age of 13 years make the offering of Kuthiyottam. These young boys represent the wounded soldiers of the Goddess Mahishasura Marddini. On the third day of the festival these young boys receive the prasadam (offering) from the temple priest and start a seven day penance to purify their body and mind. For the purpose they have to pass through rigorous physical and mental discipline such as sleeping on the floor, observing strict diet restrictions, staying in the temple etc. Besides these, the boys have to undergo such disciplines like prostrating 1008 times before the deity after their morning and evening oblations.

The Divine Procession:
No sooner are the boys adorned for accompanying the Deity than the grand procession begins. The procession with illumination, floats and colourful festoons on either side of the road generate a gala atmosphere. This is made more attractive with various art forms like peacock dance, poykuthira dance, kolkali, theyyam, kumbhadance, display of other art forms which are followed by kuthiyottam, panchavadyam. Lastly a sight to behold is, the magnificent procession of Attukal Bhagavathy on the caparisoned elephant displaying with Alavattom and Venchamaram under the resounding echo of occasional gun shots. Enroute it is a splendid sight to see the devotees who assemble on either side of the road welcoming the goddess in reverence with different kinds of offerings in salvers and "vaykurava". The procession starting from Attukal temple reaches the Sastha Temple at Manacaud in the small hours of the morning and after the necessary pooja ceremonies performed there, the entourage returns to Attukal. Thereafter, the deity is received back in the sanctum with Deeparadhana. Soon after the Deeparadhana, the 'boys are delivered of the penance in an orderly manner. At night, rendering of devotional songs takes place which is followed by the ceremonial removal of the "Kappu". The ten day festival Culminates with the sacrificial offering known as 'Kuruthi Tharpanam' at night.

The other festivals in this temple are:
Mandala Vratham - Festival in connection with the annual Utsavam of Sabarimala
Vinayaka Chathurthi - Pooja to the Lord Ganapathy
Pooja Vaypu - Identical to Dussera festival (Saraswathy Pooja and Vidyarambham)
Sivarathri - Siva Pooja
Karthika - Karthika Deepa
Ayilya Pooja - Milk, flowers etc. offered to serpent God and special rites
Aiswarya Pooia - On all full moon (Pournami) days
Nirayum Puthariyum (Ramayana Parayanam) - During the month of Karkkadam
Akhandanama Japam - 4th Sunday of every month

Ritualistic formalities and schedules observed at Attukal temple:
4:30:Palliyunarthu (waking of the Goddess.)
5.00:Nirmalyadarsanam
5.35:Abhishekam (ablutions of the idol in oil, milk etc.)
5.45:Ganapathy homam (specific offering to God Vinayaka)
6.00:Deeparadhana (burning incense and lighting lamps to the Honour and Glory of the Almighty)
6.30:Usha Pooja (Morning rite)
6.40:Deeparadhana
6.50 :Usha Sreebali (morning Sreebali)
7.00:Kalabhabhiskekam (consecration by pouring liquid sandal)
8.30:Pantheeradi Pooja (special rite)
12.00:Ucha Pooja (noon rite)
12.10:Ucha Sreebali (Noon Sreebali)
12.30:Nata adappu (Closure of Sreekovil)
6.45:Deeparadhana
7.30:Athazha Pooja (Night rite)
8.00:Deeparadhana (Night rite)
8.05:Athazha Sreebali
8.30:Nata Atappu (Closure of temple Sreekovil)

Special offerings:
There are many items of offerings scheduled in the temple. The devotees are free to have then choice according their need.
Muzhukkappu - 130/-
Panchamrithabhishekam - 300/-
Kalabhabhishekam - 1251/-
Ashtadravyabhishekam - 600/-
Udayasthamana Pooja - 4000/-
Ardha Dina Pooja - 2500/-
Pushpabhishekam - 6500/-
Laksharchana - 5500/-
Bhagavathy seva - 350/-
Panthirunazhi - 400/-
101 Kalam Ponkala - 600/-
Chuttu vilakku - 1300/-
Navakabhishekam - 50/-
Sreebali - 351/-, 551/-
Cheques and drafts drawn in favour of "Secretary,

Attukal Bhagavathy Temple Trust"
may be sent to the following address.
Secretary, ATTUKAL BHAGAVATHY TEMPLE TRUST
P.B. No. 5805.
Manacaud P.O.,
Thiruvananthapuram - 695 009,
Kerala, South India.
Phone: +91-471 - 2463130 (Off) 2456456 (Temple)
Fax : +91-471 - 2456457
credit to:
http://www.attukal.org/