PAZHOOR PATIPPURA-PART 1
[ The roofed-gate of Pazhoor]
Dear friends,
Today I was thinking of writing about Pati [steps]. While trying to get some information by surfing, I happened to see a head-line Pazhoor Patippura. Eithhyamalla mentions one chapter about Talakulathoor Bhattathiri and Pazhoor Patippura. A very lengthy chapter. I thought I would write today about Pazhoor Patippura keeping my reading from Eithyamala as skeleton. I hope this can be an interesting reading.
Sincerely,
Gopala Krishnan 23-11-2013.
Re posted on 3-11-2020 after editing and updating.
R. Gopala Krishnan.
1. Thalakkulathur Bhattathiri.
Thalakkulathur Bhattathiri was a famous astrologer and knew astrology from boyhood days. After samavarthanam[ returning home from residential school] he studied prasna[ astrological inquiry] regularly along with upasana [ worship]. He was a contemporary of Vilwamangalam swamiyar. He was married in due time and was a father. However the child died in an early age.
One day he thought to study his own Horoscope. He found there could be a DOWN FALL for him on a particular day. He kept the information to himself.
2. Brahmin's question and Bhattathiri's answer.
A few months passed. One day a Brahmin suffering for livelihood came to him and asked to predict when his suffering would end. Bhattathiri took pity on him.
He said- "Your sufferings are on the verge of their end Do as I say. Go to Trichur Vadakkuunatha temple on the next Dwadasi day at midnight and wait at North gate. Two Brahmins will come.. Follow them. However they try to leave you, never do so, follow them.
If they ask who asked you to follow them, NEVER TELL MY IDENTITY."
3. Curse of Brahmins
The Brahmin took leave of Bhattathiri and did as the Bhattathiri directed. On seeing the two Brahmins he joined .After a while they asked, why he followed them. He said he wanted to go with them wherever it was. They said, they were going to Badriasram, and why couldn't he go separately. The Brahmin then told them, he followed them as directed by an astrologer and he was not permitted to tell the name. But he would follow.
The Brahmins said-" We understand things. We cannot neglect a Brahmin. But the person directed you to follow us will have a DOWN FALL in due course of time. You can close the eye and follow us.
What a wonder, in no time they were at Badri ashram.
4. Brahmin becomes rich.
The two Brahmins then revealed their identity. "We are Vishnu doothas. Your Apphan[ father's younger brother] is on death bed here after finishing all his Kasi trips. You can meet him within 12 minutes. (Aranazhika] if you want so. The man on death-bed was conscious and recognised the heir.
He asked him to open a box, which had countless money. He handed it over to him and in minutes breathed his last . The Brahmin performed last rites of Apphan, and came with money and became rich. He informed Bhattathiri about down fall told by them..
My note- Sankunni Warier has used apphan and Brahmin in his write up. I have followed it. Normally among Nampoothiries APPHAN is used to mention father's younger brother.
5. Bhattathiri undertakes tour.
Bhattathiri thought ways to avoid down fall. He undertook a pilgrimage during the period. On the predicted day he was at PAZHOOR and decided to enjoy country boat trip with local friends in the day and after rest and food again in the night again in the Pazhoor River. Bhattathiri thought being in the river the downfall may not occur.
My note for readers not from Kerala - Pazhoor is a place close to Piravam in the Moovattupuzha Taluk of Ernakulam District.
6. Bhattathiri comes to Pazhoorpatippura
But at midnight sudden storm and heavy rain occurred. Boat pitched, rolled and shipped water . All swam to the bank.. The local friends returned to their respective houses.
But Bhattathiri- He was shivering. He wrung the wet cloth and wiped his whole body. He then wore it again walked ahead in darkness . He could see one patippura[ roofed gate] in the light of lightning. Thinking it is not time for formalities, he simply got in.. He found in the next lightning a cot with bed and pillow. He lay on the bed and slept since he was very tired. After some time storm stopped, and moon-light appeared. (The storm and rain appeared as if to Bring Bhattathiri there- destiny[Niyogam)[tiy]
7. Padippura Legend
The Padippura[roofed gate] was of an astrologer's compound. He was a drunkard. Many a times, coming late, he used to sleep on the cot provided there without disturbing his wife. On that day, he had gone to drinking after a quarrel.
Astroger's wife came out to answer nature's call in the night. She found the cot occupied. She felt to comfort her husband since he left after a quarrel, thinking it was her husband on the cot.
She too occupied the cot. In the warmth of the woman, Bhattathiri got into. This was the downfall. After relation ship, Kaniyathi realised it was Bhattathiri and not her husband. Time passed. ….
(As per Eithyamala the legend about PazhoorPadippura starts here.)
PAZHOOR PATIPPURA PART 2
Continued from part 1.
8. Battathiri leaves Pazhoor.
After the relation Bhattathiri woke up. He looked at the stars in the sky and computed the time. Yes. It was the time he had already computed himself for the DOWNFALL.
He now looked at the lady and asked about her identity. She said she was wife of the astrologer and apologised for seducing him unwittingly.
Bhattathiri said- " Do not have any remorse or worry. You will bear my son and he will be an eminent astrologer. Early morning I will leave for Sri Kasi and return if luck favours."
9. Kaniyathi delivers a male child
After the full term of pregnancy, Kaniyathi delivered a lovely male baby. He grew as an intelligent child and was educated and showed aptitude for Astrology became an eminent astrologer in due time as Bhattathiri said.
10. Nampoothri begets seven female babies.
During this period a poor Nampoothiri visited him. He had recently got married. His wife was in the family way. He was eager to know the sex of the baby.
Kaniyan[ astrologer] calculated, deduced and told it would be a female. As kaniyan said, Antharjanam delivered a female baby. Nampoothiri 's trust in the astrologer was augmented. Antharjanam conceived 9 times in due course, all the time Kaniyan said female baby and she delivered nine female babies. Nampoothiri wanted a male child. In the tenth time also he consulted Kaniyan and he said female baby.
11. Arrival of Taikkatu Nampoothiri
During this time, just like that a passer-by Nampoothiri visited this Nampoothiri's Illam[home]. He was Thaikkattu Nampoothiri. Knowing the sorrowful state of having already seven female children Thaikkattu Nampoothiri said- "If you permit me to stay in you illam for 41 days and give me food, I will ensure the child going to be born is MALE.
Poor Nampoothiri told him about the nine predictions of Kaniyan was right and this too as female in prediction. Thaikkattu Nampoothiri said-"whatever it is, I will give a blessed ghee , Ensure she takes it for 41 days. After that Thaikkattu Nampoothri left, telling he will come again at the time of delivery."
12. Delivery of Antharjanam
During Delivery period Thaikkatu Nampoothiri came as promised and said, he will be inside, and KANIYAN SHOULD NOT BE TOLD ABOUT HIS PRESENCE AND THE GHEE GIVEN in the initial stage of pregnancy. He wanted kaniyan not to cross the gateway.
As Thaikattu Nampoothiri said, "Kaniyan was asked to come, he waited at the gateway. During this period an elderly pilgrim from Kasi also arrived at the illam of the Nampoothri. Namboothiri again asked the Kaniyan about the sex of the baby- Kaniyan said, all my predictions made were right, how can this be wrong?
Hearing this the PILGRIM ALSO SAID- THE CHILD to be BORN WILL BE MALE.
Kaniyan felt the pilgrim knew a lot in Astrology after a few incidents of a cow's delivery and deciding sex of the calf etc during the same time. These descriptive Astrology parts are called NIMITTHAM[ augural prediction] are not included here.
13. Antharjanam delivers MALE child
Contradiction to what Pazhoor Kaniyan said, ANTHARJANAM DELIVERED A MALE baby. Kaniyan wanted to know about the details of pilgrim from Kasi seeing some thing different with him. Pilgrim said, he was his father Thalakulathoor Bhattathiri himself and both went to Pazhoor, Kaniyan's house.
14. Bhattathiri corrects kaniyan.
Bhattathiri appreciated his Kaniyan son and his knowledge, Kaniyan wanted to know where he went wrong in the predictions from his father.
Bhattathiri corrected his Kaniyan son- Sex of a child can be changed before 3 months after conceiving. Thaikkattu Nampoothiri giving ghee after manthram did so. Brahmins have siddhi to do so. So you should predict sex of child after three months studying all incidents happened during the time and not earlier. Kaniyan son desired his father Bhattathiri to stay with him and correct.
15. Bhattathiri stays at Pazhoor Patippura.
Bhattathiri accepted to correct his son if necessary and stayed in the WESTERN PATIPPURA. Kaniyan conducted prasnam[ astrological inquiry] and if necessary Bhattathiri corrected.
Bhattathiri said, he should be cremated in the Patippura after his death and his Atma would always be there to guide him. In course of time Bhattathiri breathed his last. As desired, he was cremated in the western patippura and later Kaniyan conducted all calculations and predictions only there as advised by father Bhattathiri. This is being continued even today. Kaniyan became famous for prasnam and astrology throughout the state.
16. Three patippura of Pazhoor house.
There are three Patippura for the Pazhoor house. The one on the south is near to Pazhoor River where Bhattathiri had relation with Kaniyathi. It is kept idle as memorial of the relation. (Eithihya mala period)
Kaniyan perform Prasnam in the western Patippura where Talakkulathur Bhattathiri was cremated.There is one more patippura on the EASTERN SIDE. This is very famous.
17. Pazhoor Eastern patippura.
As the fame of the Kaniyan reached far and wide, to test him Buddha(Mercury) and Sukra(Venus) took the form of two Brahmins and reached in the Eastern Patippura.Kaniyan welcomed the Brahmins. The Brahmins wanted to know the RASI where Buddha and Sukra were in at that time Kaniyan had already his own almanac and referring it he told the RASI where they were in.
The Brahmins said- "We too know little bit of Astrology. We do not think, your calculation is correct. Kaniyan made calculation to recheck the accuracy .He found different RASI now. He could not believe that he would go wrong. But Brahmins moved a little and said- We do not think your calculation is still accurate. Again you have to calculate.
Kaniyan made calculation again. What a wonder . He found them in some other RASI. Brahmins moved a little and again said- We do not think your calculation is still accurate. Once again check.
Kaniyan made a calculation again.What a wonder . He found again in a different RASI . Kaniyan observed movement of the Brahmins relating to changing of his Rasi positions . He understood they were not Brahmins but Buddha and Sukra masqueraded as Brahmins to test him.
Kaniyan said- "I have a book to refer to which is inside. If I refer to it I will not go wrong. It is a disgrace to me I could not calculate the position correctly of two grahas(planets).
Kaniyan continued-"Until I come back ,you both should not leave. The Brahmins agreed.
Kaniyan now said- Simply agreement not sufficient. "Sathyamcheyyanam".( Take oath) The Brahmins agreed and did so.
Kaniyan went inside the chamber. He did not return but he committed suicide. The Brahmins ( Buddha and Sukra) since taken oath, remain in the Eastern patippura . This is the significance and fame of Pazhoor Eastern Patippura.
Update-For prasnam at pazhoor Padippura, advance booking at least before 15 days is required
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