RMSSA-SUJEENDRANADAM സുജീന്ദ്രനാദം

Tuesday, February 07, 2012

PUTHUPARAMB TEMPLE -FESTIVALS

Devisaranam ,Ammesaranam

PUTHUPARAMB SREE BHAGAVATHY TEMPLE THALAVADY

"Sarva Mangala Mangalie Sive Sarvardha Sadhike Saraneye Thrambike Gowri Narayani Nomo sthuthe"

Festivals

An atmosphere of festivity prevails everyday a the Puthuparamb Sree Bhagavathy Temple. Poojas arranged by devotees as also Bhajan, Kodi Archana, Leksharchana, Akhandanamajapam (continuous chanting of the names of Goddess) are conducted almost everyday. All important days of religious observances are celebrated here. Very important among them are:

Major Festivals

Kumbhabharani Maholsavam , Pongala

Vishu Maholsavam, Sapthaham ,
Mandala Vratham,Vinayaka Chathurthi,
Pooja Vaypu, TriKarthika

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DESAVALATH

Before the begining of kumbhabharani maholsavam,the devi visited to each devotees home for blessing in the forme of Velichappadu keeps the Devi’s sword called “thiruvayudam” This is an unfailing blessing of the Goddess.

In old age ,people of Thalavady and surrounding place suffering from small- poxe and they are died one by one.

Velichappadu

He dances a wild, frenzied dance and the Goddess is said to speak through him.

The Velichappadu keeps the Devi’s sword, Chilambu, Cheppu and Kannandi covered in silk with him. The Velichappadu is dressed in red He smears his body with turmeric powder, wears a huge waist belt studded with bells, (aramani) and carries an anklet in his left hand and holds aloft a sacred sword signifying the presence of the Goddess in Him. The Velichappadu would appear as engrossed in a trance and he would start swaying and shaking all over. Holding the sacred sword over his head he would start shaking it wildly.

The story line was the story of a village oracle, who is once again the focus of the village because of an outbreak of Smallpox. When Smallpox breaks out, at that time there was no known cure for Small pox, and people believed that if they could propitiate Bhadrakali, then those afflicted with Smallpox could be cured, the villagers return to the temple and organise a visit to each devotees home before Bharani festival. she would turn benign and save those suffering from Smallpox. Diseases were wonderfully cured. He speaks on behalf of God to the gathering. Literally the Velichappadu is a Revealer of Light, a mediator between the deity and the devotees. One who throws light on any problem after he has been possessed by the Bhagavathi. Velicham in Malayalam is light and the Velichappadu the intermediary who enlightens the lay public about the Will of the Goddess. And the people pay great regard to this oracle in his state of being possessed by the deity and listen intently to his words, through his strange language and uncanny gestures, which an assistant would translate in to their everyday language. In this hysterical state he makes his predictions. The manner in which the prediction is made is often vague and difficult to decipher. Even then people give importance to these words because they consider them as prophesies.

PONGALA

PUTHUPARAMBPONGALA

This is the phenomenally renowned festival that takes place in the temple during the month of ‘Kumbham’ (February/March). This is the time when the glory of the Goddess is at its peak. Thosans of women devotees gather around the temple as early as .On first day of Kumbha Bharani festival before the kodiyet function. The temple premises will be overcrowded and the devotees arrange place for offering the Pongal on both sides of the mains streets. . Rice, coconut and jaggery are bought by women devotees along with round earthen ports for cooking. The Chief Priest lights the main hearth from the divine fire inside the sanctum sanctorum. This fire is exchanged from one over to another.

Every year at the time of lighting the main hearth an eagle is found to circle far above the sky. This is an unfailing blessing of the Goddess. The sight of the bird drives the devotees into an inexplicable feeling of ecstasy. They utter the divine names of the mother and the atmosphere echoes and reverberates with a thousand names of the Goddess.

Overtaken by unbearable sorrow they fell upon the feet o f the ‘Goddess and asked pardon for the delay. Then they rushed immediately to cook the food. But they found to their utter surprise that all the earthen pots were filled with cooked food and fruits. They knew for certain that it was the Goddess Herself who cooked the food for them. They heard a voice in the atmosphere. “My Children, I have prepared this food for you. I will always be too near those who are devoted and pure. Take this food and have rest”. We find the supreme moment of the goddess herself preparing food for the devotee.

The Pongala in the temple is a symbolic reminder of this age-old incident. Devotees prepare the food as humble offering to the mother. It is believed that the Goddess herself offers her august presence near each Pongala hearth as the cooking is done. Several are the instances where the griefs, problems, and confusions of the devotees are washed away through the Pongal offering. It is also a symbolic reminder that devotion reaches the full circle through complete submission and total surrender at the lotus feet of the Mother. The Pongala festival in this temple is one of the foremost rituals compared to any thing of the same in the whole state of Kerala.

Bharani festival

This Bharani Festival is observed in honour of the Bhadrakali and is celebrated by the people, to symbolize the victory of the Goddess over the demon Daarika. To the poor pilgrim, this festival is a quest for solace, a plea for redemption, a time for unburdening. And it is a time for renewal of their hopes and aspirations under the scathing stare of Bhadrakali the mother Goddess.Among all the Bhagavathi temples in Kerala the Kodungallur Bhagavathy temple (Sree Kurumba Bhagavathy Temple) is justly famous for the Bharani festival. The word 'Kuruppa' in Malayalam denotes Smallpox and it has some resemblance with the name with which this Goddess is known. The Goddess is believed to be associated with Smallpox.

KumbhaBharani

Puthuparamb Bharani

KumbhaBharani festival at the Puthuparamb temple in Kerala, South India, in the Malayalam month of Kumbham (February/March) each year.Celebrate Seven days festival . This is the time when the glory of the Goddess is at its peak ,After the ACHARA DESAVALATH- the devi visited to each devotees home for blessing in the form of Velichappadu keeps the Devi’s sword called “thiruvayudam” This is an unfailing blessing of the Goddess.

First day of festival ,before the kodiyet function,pongala - women devotees gather around the temple ,offering the Pongal. It is also a symbolic reminder that devotion reaches the full circle through complete submission and total surrender at the lotus feet of the Mother.

Vishu Maholsavam

Vishu festival at the Puthuparamb temple in Kerala, South India, in the Malayalam month of Meenam – (end on vishuday) Medam first (April) each year.Celibrate five days festivel

Sapthaham During the month of Karkidaka

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)

Vijayadashami – an important day . On this day, people celebrate the triumph of good over evil. It is also considered an auspicious day for beginning noble tasks.