Dear friends,
Having my sister's residence at Thripoonithura, I visited Chottanikkra temple which is about 10 KMs away from Thripoonithura whenever I called on her.
Sincerely,
Gopala Krishnan 4-2-2014
Reposted after editing and updating on 18-08-2020. R Gopala Krishnan
1 Sthalapurana[ legend of the place]
According to the Sthalapurana the place where the temple sits today was once a dense forest inhabited by tribal people. Among them was one by name Kannappan. One day he brought home a cow to slaughter for food. To his utter consternation it escaped into the jungle. He tried to trace it but failed.
He returned home disappointed when he saw the same cow being caressed by his little daughter who would not allow him to kill it. Subsequently the girl his only child, died. Wisdom and enlightenment dawned upon him. He turned his thoughts towards god.
One day he had a dream in which Mother Sakti appeared before him and told him that the cow, which brought about his transformation, was Herself. She also informed him that the presence of Her idol and that of Vishnu would sanctify the cowshed. The very next day Kannappan repaired the shed and found the idols. He built a temple and spent the rest of his life in the Worship of the Devi.
After the death of Kannappan the temple fell in ruins, as the place became uninhabited.
Centuries passed. One day a Pulaya woman who had come to cut grass whetted her sickle on a stone, which started to ooze blood. The horror-stricken woman shrieked aloud and the Pulayas in the neighborhood came running to the spot.
2.Edathu Namoothiri
They, in turn, informed the learned Edathu Nambudiri, who visiting the spot, realized that there was divine Chaitanya[aura] of Parasakti at the place.He bought malar(popped paddy) and offered pooja.
Some other Nambuthiris too gathered and a prasnam[ astrological inquiry] was held in which it was revealed that the stone be worshipped as Devi and the adjoining one as Vishnu and both together as Lakshmi Narayana.
The spot where the goddess appeared first is the present [the deck around the queen of night tree]Pavizhamallithara on the southern side of the temple. It was Edathu Nambudiri who built a shrine, performed pooja and managed the temple for several years.
3.Kakkasseri Nampoothiri
Later some trustees took over. The celebrated Kakkasseri Bhattatiri who defeated the equally celebrated UddandaSastri in a debate was one of the trustees.
4. Ayinakkad Nampothiries-earlier trustees
They appointed one Ayinakad Nambudiri of Kurumbranad in North Malabar as Manager. But he became so much engrossed in his devotion to the Bhagawati that he forgot even to maintain the accounts regularly. During the mandalam (November- December) when the trustees assembled to perform the customary Eswaraseva, they, as usual asked the manager to produce the accounts, which he could not.
They were naturally enraged and were contemplating action against the defaulter. But the Devi came to the rescue of the embarrassed Ayinakad. An unknown voice was heard: "I am satisfied with the devotion of Ayinakad more than his accounts." From this date Ayinakad himself became a trustee.
5. Devaswam Board take over In course of time, he however became old and ill and eventually the Cochin Governmenttook over the management of the temple in 1064 according to Malayalam era (A.D, 1888). The rulers of Cochin were a great devotee of the Bhagawati. They brought about several improvements. The nalambalam, srikoil, mandapam etc. were renovated and their roof covered with copper plates. The golden flagstaff was also installed by them besides building ana pandal[ shed for elephant], bhajanapura (shed for bhajan) etc.
Today the temple is under the administrative control of the Cochin Devaswom Board. It can easily reached by bus from Ernakulam or Thripunithura. Thanks to the increasing faith in the healing power of Rarajeswari, the temple is flourishing as a popular pilgrim centre in Kerala, next only to Guruvayur.
6. Deities in the temple
The main deity at Chottanikara is worshipped as Rajarajeswarias sung by Semmangudi SreenivasaIyer, the doyen of Carnatic music. In his inimitable style, 'Pahimam, Rajarajeswari, Kripakari, Sundari pahimam Sri Rajarajeswari- (Oh Goddess Rajarajeswari, the benevolent, the beautiful, please protect me.)
The vigraha[idol] which faces east is of laterite, three or four feet high and is said to be self-maniffested. It has no well-defined shape. It can be seen only in the morning when the nirmlyam (previous day's flowers, garlands etc.) is removed.
At other times, it is covered with beautiful golden raiment about four or five feet high. This idol has four arms -- the upper right holds the disc, the upper left bears the conch, the lower right hand is held in a boon-conferring pose the lower left indicates the abhaya (fearlessness) pose. Indeed the golden-hued idol bedecked with flowers, garlands and jewels and bathed in myriad lights kept in front shines resplendently.
6a Three different forms of worship
The deity is worshipped in three different forms Saraswati in the morning clothed in an impeccable white garment, as Bhadrakali at noonwith crimson red cloth as Durga in the eveningwearing a bright blue dress.
It is because of these threefold aspects of Saraswati, Bhadrakali and Durga that she is worshipped as Rajarajeswari.
A feature of the deity is that it is not fixed with asthabandha, as is the case in most of the temples. Hence the area around the pedestal is full of loose sand. Hence the water poured on the deity does not flow out through gomukha at north side (generally fixed to north) but percolates underground. It is believed water flows underground and joins the tirtha of the OnakkurBhagawati temple, one and half furlongs away.
6.1 Vishnu idol
Alongside the Devi, to her right, is another image Vishnu-in granite. This is about two feet tall springing from the same pedestal. They together are called Lakshminarayana. Hence the popular chant of devotees. "Amme (Mother) Narayana," "Devi Narayana", "Lakshmi Narayana," etc.
6.2 Dharma sastha as grihastha
On the northeast side of the main deity is. Dharma Sasta shrine. Here he is depicted as a grihastha with his two wives, Purna and Pushkala. The vigraha[idol] of Sastha is also of granite, about half a foot tall with golden covering. There is a legend about the advent of Sasta in the Chottanikara temple.
6.2.1 Sastha- Meppazur mana family deity
Once Bhagawati went in procession to Meppazhur Mana for para (offering of a measure of paddy). On the way some rowdies harassed those accompanying the procession. Hence while returning the Meppazhur Nambudiri provided escort by sending his family deity, Dharma Sasta who, however, continued to stay at Chottanikara serving the goddess.
Outside the nalambalam in front of the shrine there is the usual flagstaff, altar (balikallu), anapandal (pandal for elephants) etc. On the south, somewhat in the middle, there is a platform called pavizhamallitharawhere the Devi is supposed to have made her first appearance.
6.3 Siva and nagadevathas
On the southwest there is a Siva shrine, Nagadevata and Yakshi-the same that followed' the Kandarappalli Nambudirias a beautiful woman. (Story told in the next part)
6.4 Kizhkavu
Outside the main temple on the northeast there is a flight of stone-steps, which leads to the famed Kizhkavu, the abode of Bhadrakali mentioned earlier (story told elsewhere). This is also one-foot granite image facing west clothed in a raiment made of panchaloha. This is said to have been installed by VilvamangalamSwamiyar who had retrieved it from inside the tank in front of the shrine. A landmark here, which cannot be missed, is of course the Paala tree[Devil's tree] described earlier, with hundreds of nails driven into its trunk.
CHOTTANIKKARA TEMPLE PART 2
Continued from part1
6.5 The Festivals
The annual festival of the temple falls in Kumbham(February- March). It lasts, for nine days starting with flag hoisting on Rohini asterism and ending on Uttram day. A special feature is the daily arattu[ bathing of deity ] during the festival, not on the last day as in other temples.
6.5.1 Makamthozhal
During the festival, darshan on the Makam day is very auspicious and attracts a large crowd of pilgrims especially between 2 P.M. and 5 P.M., the period considered most efficacious.
Women pray for mangalya[ lingering matrimony] and for the prosperity of children. Others pray for grant of their wishes.
The deity specially decorated for the occasion with gold and diamond shines in its entire splendour. It is believed that the goddess gave darshan to Vilvamangalam Swamiyar on this day and appears in the same form to her innumerable devotees.
7. Gupthannampoothri story
Once, one Gupthan Nambudiri of Kandarappalli illam Chottanikara set out for Tripunithura, nearly 9 km away, to witness a Kathakali performance. In those days there were neither good roads nor any vehicles. It was a pleasant moonlit night. The Nambudiri decided to trek all the way. He crooned merrily some Kathakali tunes to relieve the solitude.
On the way he had a pleasant and sweet surprise. He saw a bewitching beauty standing before him and smiling at him coquettishly. The smell of jasmine wafted through the night air. The Nambudiri was tickled at being alone with such a damsel who dazzled him out of his wits.
It was the beautiful woman who broke the ice. She assured the bewildered Brahmin that she was none other than the well-known Ithuttu
Varasyar .She was also bound for Tripunithura and was waiting there looking for a suitable companion. The Nambudiri, she thought, was indeed a godsend.
Thus they resumed their walk talking sweet nothings and exchanging amorous glances. Presently, they reached the gate of his guru's house Kosapalli Mana. Gupthan Nambudiri asked her to wait there while he went inside and handed a holy grantha, which he was carrying with him.
The woman protested. How could he leave alone on the road? Could he not return the book in the morning while returning from Tripunithura? But the Nambudiri insisted on returning it then and there, as otherwise he would incur the wrath of his teacher. He went inside assuring her that he would not take long.
8. Terrible Yakshi-Ithuttu Varasyar
Kosapalli Achan Nambudri was reciting the Bhagavata after his dinner. Gupthan Nambudri gave the book and asked his leave immediately since Variasyar was waiting outside. The learned Achan Nampoothri suspected something rotten. He came out and saw the woman. He told his disciple to touch him and look at her. Lo! It was an apparition, a fiendish woman with fierce eyes and protruding teeth .Little did Gupthan Nabudiri realized that he was in the clutches of a terrible yakshi out to entice men and devour them.
9. GupthanNampoothiri runs to Chottanikkara
AchanNambudiri advised him to run to Chottanikara Devi who alone could rescue him from the ogress. He chanted some mantras invoking the blessings of Bhadrakali. Giving Gupthan a wet cloth he advised him to go inside the temple and throw the cloth behind.
Accordingly Gupthan ran, the yakshi closely followed him. On reaching the temple he placed one foot inside and dropped the cloth behind, when all of a sudden the yakshi caught him by the other foot. He fell down entreating the goddess for protection.
10.. Rakthakulam
Moved by compassion the Bhagawati rushed to the spot, sword in hand. The yakshi left hold of the victim and ran away. But the Mother caught her by the hair, beheaded her and threw the head into the southern tank.
As a result the water became blood red. This tank is therefore still called Rakthakulam (blood tank).
After the slaying of the yakshi the priest is said to have performed abhisheka and offered malar (popped paddy) as naivedya. This custom still continues.
It is widely believed that this incident actually took place some two hundred years ago.
11.. Variation of Gupthan Nampoothiri story
There is however another version with a slight variation. According to this the Nambudiri was going to Triprayar for the Pooram festival when he met a beautiful woman walking alone in the night.
At the temple, it was Kalloor a great magician who met him and pointed out he was in the company of a fiendish girl.
Then followed the same advice: to run to Chottanikara. He gave him some pebbles to be thrown behind his back till he reached the temple. The rest of the story is the same.
12. Spirits Leaving-Unique Sight
The fact remains that to this day one can witness the most unique sight at Chottanikara, that is, the possessed being exorcised in large numbers. This takes place at noon worship particularly on Fridays.
The possessed offer prayers to the deity, their hearts throbbing with ecstasy. Amidst the beating of the drums and the chanting of 'Amme (Divine Mother) and Narayana" they shriek and dance. Often a tussle ensues between the Devi and the evil spirits in it is the latter, which admit defeat and depart.
One can hear the altercation in different tones though one and the same afflicted person utters it. It something like this: The spirit utters: "No, No, I will not leave ." But the Goddess insists: "Leave you must."
Usually minor cases are disposed of at the nearby Sasta shrine. A nail is driven into one of the pillars in front and the exorcised spirit is thus bound preventing it from affecting others.
13.. Kizhkavu –driving nails into Pala tree[ devil's tree]
The more serious ones are dealt with by the Devi directs the patient to the Bhadrakali at Kizhkavu. The fierce goddess sees to it that the person is freed from the affliction when he or she falls unconscious. If necessary, Guruthi[ sacrifice] is also offered. One or more nails offered by the priest, depending on the severity of the case, is thrust into the paala tree on the north side of the shrine by the devotee with the fist and also hitting the head against it.One is indeed amazed by the countless number of nails driven into or plates fixed to the tree, giving an indication of the vast number of people cured.
14. KizkavuGuruthi
Guruthi, as already mentioned, is a solution prepared out of turmeric and limewater, which looks like blood. It is a popular offering for Bhadrakali even by those who desire to achieve their cherished objects.
On Tuesdays and Fridays the offerings are so many that one has to book in advance. Three vessels are the minimum number to be offered. After partaking of the liquid the devotees carry it home and bury it in the four corners of the house and inside to ward off evil spirits.
15. Charms
Another protective device is the wearing of charms filled with loose soil taken from the pedestal of the main deity. The priest gives these to desiring devotees after offering Puja. The wearer will be free from diseases and will enjoy prosperity.
16. Real story of a couple
The couples were married in September 1968 in the sacred Palni Hills. Trouble started seven months after marriage. The wife was afflicted with a mental disorder. She was believed to be possessed by evil spirits and treatment by specialists in Bombay and Madras was of no avail. The couple became desperate. In this predicament an elderly neighbour advised: "Go to the Devi at Chottanikara in Kerala for refuge. All will be well."
The couple and their parents betook themselves to the shrine. There the prasnam (astrological investigation) revealed that five evil spirits possessed the woman .The priest's prescription: 14-day bhajan or worship at the temple. But the girl would not go anywhere near the shrine. She was somehow forced and made to sit before the sanctum.
With each puja the priest performed to drive away the different spirits she experienced some relief. One or two Major spirits were however particularly troublesome.. Offering of guruthi-a solution prepared out of turmeric and lime water-to Bhadrakali at the kizhkavu was the last resort and the lady got cured of mental illness.
17..My personal experience
I have personally seen the ecstasy of women circumambulating the temple during afternoon pooja and their shrieking and the guruthies in the Keezkavupala
No comments:
Post a Comment