chamravattam ayyappa temple

Sivagiri

Sivagiri is a pilgrimage centre in Varkala, India where one of its social reformer and sage Sree Narayana Guru's tomb is located and place where guru was enlightened and got the salvation. The Samadhi (the final resting place) of the Guru here attracts thousands of devotees every year during the Sivagiri Pilgrimage days 30 December to 1 January.

The Sivagiri Mutt, built in 1904, is situated at the top of the Sivagiri hill nearVarkala. Even decades after the guru died here in 1928; his samadhi continues to be thronged by thousands of devotees, donned in yellow attire, from different parts of Kerala and outside every year during the Sivagiri Pilgrimage days - 30 December to 1 January.

The Sivagiri Mutt is also the headquarters of the Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham, an organization of his disciples and saints, established by the Guru to propagate his concept of 'One Caste, One Religion, One God'. The Guru Deva Jayanti, the birthday of the Guru, and the samadhi day are celebrated in August and September respectively every year. Colourful processions, debates and seminars, public meetings, cultural shows, community feasts, group wedding and rituals mark the celebrations.

Gurudevan's association with Sivagiri in Varkala in south Kerala dates to 1904. Varkala used to be known as the southern Benares. A lover of nature and places radiant with natural beauty Narayana Guru built a hermitage on made a hermitage on top of the Sivagiri hill and stayed there. He grew some plants around the place. That solitary hill began to attract public attention ever since Gurudevan appeared there.

In course of time the Travancore state government granted the Sivagiri hill to Gurudevan and the people gave some of the surrounding places to him as gifts. Later Sivagiri grew into the nerve centre of Sree Narayana movements.

At first an elementary school was established there. A night school was also founded for the illiterate people of an untouchable caste. Lots of people came to Sivagiri to have a darshan of Gurudevan.

Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada Temple

Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada, popularly known as Peruviruthy Malanada or Malanada is the only Duryodhana Temple in South India. It is located at Edakkad Ward (Kara) of Poruvazhy village in Kunnathoor Taluk of Kollam district (Kerala State), India. This place is the northern border of Kollam district which Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts share the boundaries. The temple is located equidistant from Adoor (M C Road) to the Northeast and Sasthamcottah to the Southeast. It is also reachable from Kayamkulam andKarunagappally on the NH 47 and Kottarakkara (via Puthoor or Enathu) on the MC road

Malanada - There is a Temple (Nada) on the Hill (Mala). Unlike other temples, there is no deity, nor a ‘Sreekovil’ as such in Malanada. Down the hill on the south and west we see vast low lying paddy fields and on the east and north habitated agricultural land. In place of Sreekovil and deity we could see only a raised platform called ‘Althara’ or ‘Mandapam’. In the absence of an idol, devotees submit themselves to a divine power (of their imagination/understanding) through a mental process of ‘Sankalpam’.^[1]

It is believed that the ‘Sankalpa Moorthy ‘at Malanada is ‘Duryodhanan’, the Great Epic Hero of Mahabharatham. The concept is unique in Indian history in as much as ‘Duryodhanan’, the Kaurava King known for his ‘Thamoguna’ driven thoughts and actions, being adored as the principal deity in a temple. Enduring beliefs assimilate into personal value system. The myth unravels: as part of his efforts to trace out the ‘Pandavas’ in exile, Duryodhanan traversed the forests in the south and reached Malanada hill. By that time he was much tired and went to a nearby house on the north west of Malanada and asked for drinking water. It was Kaduthamsserry Kottaram, where Malanada Appoppan, the priest and ruler of the land was staying. An elderly woman gave him toddy which was customary at that time as a mark of respect. The king enjoyed the drink, but realized after seeing the ‘Kurathali’ worn by the woman that she belonged to an untouchable lower cast by name ‘Kurava’. The king consoled himself and appreciated the divinity of the place and its people who possessed supernatural powers (Siddha). Thereafter, in furtherance of his ‘Rajadharma’, the king sat on the hill and worshipped Lord Siva, praying for the welfare of his people (the prajas). As an act of charity he gave away 100s of acres of agricultural land and paddy fields as freehold to the ‘Devasthanam’. Even now the land tax of the above property is being levied in the name of ‘Duryodhanan’.^[2]

The king also ensured that Gandhari, the Royal Mother, Dussala,his sister, Karnan, his close associate and ‘Angarajan’, Dronar, his ‘Guru’ and the other members of his family were properly and adequately aboded and worshipped in the nearby places and members of the ‘Kurava’ caste are poojaris in all such places.

The temple administration at Malanada is vested in a committee elected by members of 7 ‘Karas’, supposed having Malanada Appoopan’s territorial jurisdiction. Kunnathoor Taluk N S S Union and S N D P Union have their representatives in the committee by having 2 members each. ‘Kaduthamsserry Kudumbayogam among Kurava caste and ‘Kettungal Kudumabayogam’ among Ezhava caste enjoying special status in the administration of the temple.

Sree Thirumandhamkunnu Temple,Angadipuram

Thirumandhamkunnu Temple is a historically significant Hindu temple inAngadipuram, which was the capital of Valluvanad Rajavamsham,inMalappuram district, Kerala state, South India.^[1] The temple deity,Thirumandhamkunnilamma, was the bhara devatha (official goddess) of thekings of Valluvanad, the local feudal kings ruled the area in the Middle Ages. The assassins (called Chavers) of Valluvanad king set out from this temple toThirunavaya, to participate in the famous Mamankam festival. A memorial structure called the chaver thara ("platform of the assassins") can be found in front of the main entrance of the Thirumanthamkunnu Temple.^[2]

The temple is also an important pilgrim center, especially for the eleven-day-long annual festival celebrated in March and April months of the Gregorian calendar. The "principle deity" of temple is the Hindu god Shiva. Other deities include goddess Bhagavathi, locally called as Thirumandhamkunnilamma and the elephant god Ganesha, for whom the famous Marriage Offering (Mangalya puja) is performed.^[3] Mangalya Puja, Rigveda Laksharchana, Chandattam and Kalampattu are the important religious offerings of the Thirumanthamkunnu Temple.^[4]

There are ceremonies and rituals specific to this Hindu temple that are not carried out at others.^[5] The Thirumanthamkunnu Temple courtyards are on a hilltop that provides a view of the countryside spread out below.

Mookambika Temple at Kollur, Karnataka

The Kollur Mookambika Temple at Kollur, Udupi District in the state of Karnataka, India, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Mookambika Devi. There are bus services from Udupi and Mangalore to Kollur at regular interval.

Mythology holds that at the Kollur Mookambika Temple lived a demon named Kaumasura, who unleashed terror upon the gods by the special powers he obtained from Lord Shiva. While the gods were trying their best to stay away from him, good news came that the demon would face death. Learning of his impending doom, Kaumasura undertook severe penance. Lord Shiva appeared, asking the demon what boon he would like to be granted. Sensing that grave danger would come of the demon if his boon was granted, Saraswati, the goddess of speech took away his ability to speak. Kaumasura came to be known as Mookasura or the mute demon. Thereafter, the goddess mobilized all the powers of the gods and killed the demon, and hence she came to be known as Mookambika. The place where Mookabika killed the demon came to be known as Marana Katte.

The establishment of the Mookambika temple is attributed to the Supreme, Lord Parameshwara, rather than to an individual person. Historically, the temple is estimated to be at least 1200 years old and is mentioned in conjunction with king Halugallu Veera Sangayya who installed an idol there.

As a legend goes, Adi Shankara, the much revered spiritual leader from Kerala, once offered intense worship to Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom and learning. The goddess appeared before Shankara in response to his prayers. Shankara told her of his wish to have her come along with him to Kerala, where no temple was dedicated to her as yet. Goddess Saraswati agreed to go with him on the condition that Shankara must lead the way for her to follow, without doubting her and not looking back even once to check if she was with him. Should he break the condition, she would stop and stay right where she was at the time. Shankara agreed to the condition. So they started walking down the Kodachadri hills, with Shankara leading the way and goddess’ anklets tinkling and letting him know that she was with him. After walking some distance, the tinkling stopped all of a sudden. Shankara waited a few moments and stole a quick look backwards to find the goddess still with him, watching him with reproach. In keeping with the condition, the goddess stopped right there. Shankara, however, was not one to give up. He apologized profusely for breaking the condition and repeatedly begged and pleaded with the goddess to go with him to Kerala. Impressed by his determination, the goddess finally agreed to be present at the Chottanikkara Temple in Kerala in the mornings and return to the Mookambika temple by mid-day.

Kollur Mookambika Temple Pooja Timings

TIMING	POOJAS
5:00 to 6:30 am	Ekadravya- Eka Nalikera Ganahoma
6:30 am	Danthadhavana Pooja, Guda Shunti Naivedyam
7:30 to 8:30 am	Morning Pooja with Panchamritha Abhishekam, Thrimadhura and Anna Naivedyam, Bali, Nithyothsava, Pallakki Uthsavam, Distribution of Thirthaprasadam & Thrimudram. Pooja to the Parivara Devatas.
11:00 am onwards	Mahapooja with Panchamrithabhishekam, Mahanaivedyam
12:30 pm (noon)	Mahamangalarthi, Noon Bali Uthasavam
2:00 pm	Kavatabandhanam (Door closure) In Mookambika Temple
12:30 to 2:00 pm	Anna Prasadam- Free lunch for devotees
3:00 pm	Kavatodghatanam, Devidarshanam begins for the afternoon
6:30 pm	Pradoshakala Pooja begins In the Temple
7:30 pm	Pooja with Panchamritham and Mahamangalarthi
8:00 to 8:15 pm	Pooja to the Parivara Devatas, Mangalarthi
8:00 to 10:00 pm	Anna Prasadam- Free meals for devotees
8:15 pm	Rathripooja, Rathri Bali, Nithyothsavam in palaquin Ashthvadhana Seva at  Saraswathi Mantapa
9:00 pm	Shayanothsavam, Kashaya Mangalarthi, Distribution of Kashaya Thirtham and then Kavatabandhanam(Door closure)

attukal amma