Kodungallur
Bhagavathy Temple
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 The
Bhagawati temple at Kodungallur is of great renown throughout
the state of Kerala. Kodungallur situated on the west coast,
was once a great port of the Chera rulers of Tamilnadu, It was
known by the Greek as the musris. Tiruvanchikkulam,
now a suburb of Kodungallur was a center of great historic significance
during the chera period. Cheran Senguttuvan is said to have built
the temple to Kannagi - a manifestation of Kaali or Kotravai
or Durga, here (Silappadikaaram). It
is believed to have been a Shiva temple originally, as worship
is offered first to Shiva before being offered to Bhagawati,
and there is a mandapam in front of the shiva shrine, and there
is none infront of Bhagawatis. The image of Bhagawati is believed
to have been carved out of a jack fruit three. The face of the
image is covered with a mask, and the image is decorated with
several pieces of jewellary.
There
is a crimson cloth hung on the western wall of the sanctum and
worship is offered here. There is also a secret chamber east
of the Kali image, with an underground passage. Also is a shrine
to Kshetrapala, the guardian deity and Vasurimala associated
with small pox.
The festivals of significance at Kodungallur are Makara Sankaranti and the Bharani Festival. Makara Sankaranti coinciding with Pongal in Tamilnadu is one of the important festivals at Kodungallur. As in Taminadu, the day prior to Pongal is celebrated with the burning of unwanted belongings in a bonfire. Makara Sankranti brings with it 4 days of colorful fanfare, with processions twice a day on elephants to the accompaniment of music, fireworks. The final day's procession is marked by the accompaniment of several women carrying plates of rice and coconut. In fact, the centermost entity in the procession, is a plate containing these offerings, on an elephant. A grand reception os offered to this procession when it reaches the temple. The procession rleaves from the original location of the Bhagawati temple, (the Kurumbayamma shrine in Kodungallur). The Bharani festival at the Kodungallur Bhagawati temple is one of the grandest in Kerala. It is a month of festivities from the Bharani asterism in the month of Aquarius to 7 days after the Bharani asterism in the month of Pisces. Traditionally the temple (especially during the Bharani festival) has been associated with a lot of animal sacrifices. These customs have been done away within the 20th century. The blood of the sacrificed used to be spilled over two stones in the prakaram, and as mentioned above, this practice is now stopped. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|