Saturday, June 6, 2020

Tharananalloor, The Last Word in Kerala Tantric Rituals


kerala tantric

As told many times earlier, Kerala is being created by Lord Parasurama. After the creation of the land, he brought several people from other parts to live here. He has constructed many temples across Kerala and designated two Brahmin Families to take care of the Tantric part of the temple activities. Tharananalloor and Thazhaman were those two families. There is an interesting myth about how those names have come to exist.
Lord Parasurama was sitting on the banks of Holy River Pamba. At that time heads of both these families appeared on the other side of the river. Parasurama asked both of them to come near to him immediately. Actually, he intended to check their expertise in Tantra. When one of them crossed the river by walking over the waves, the other one crossed it by walking over the bed of the river. When the river stood standstill to enable the great tantric to cross by walking over it, it paved way for the other by keeping the water away from his way. The one who crossed the river by walking over it came to be known as Tharananalloor as he crossed it walking over it. The other one who walked over the river bed (Thazhe mannu in local language Malayalam means the sand beneath) came to be known as Thazheman.
Pleased with their expertise, Parasurama allotted the right of Tantra in all Sastha Temples to Thazhaman family and that of Devi temples to Tharananalloor family. As there were temples of other gods, these have been divided among them equally.  However, Tharananalloor Namboothiri, as the head of the family used to be known, had the rights of Tantra in different temples even outside Kerala too. He had the right to perform tantric rituals in the famous Madhura Meenakshi Temple in Tamil Nadu. He used to perform the rituals during the Kalabham Ceremony which has been conducted every year.
Once the administration of the temple has fallen in the hands of some new generation people who were not religious as much their predecessors were. They raised the necessity of performing the Kalabham ceremony every year after spending a huge amount. When the Tharananalloor Namboodiri came that year to perform rituals, the temple administrator demanded that he should be able to see Goddess Devi in person.
Namboodiri tried to deviate his attention to other things so that he will not insist on it again. But the administrator stuck to his demand. Then Namboodiri told him that he can peep through the temple doors when Namboodiri performs the rituals after closing the doors. Namboodiri also warned him that he will not be responsible for any unwanted things if something happens. Administrator agreed.
In the evening, when Namboodiri entered the temple for performing tantric rituals after closing the door, the administrator came in front of the door and peeped through the gap in between the two doors. He saw the ferocious form of Devi through the gap and fell down unconscious. Hearing his loud cry other people from the temple office came there and took the man away to the hospital. Although the hospital authorities tried their level best, he lost his eyesight and had to live as blind for the remaining life. Namboodiri did not know all these happenings and when he came out, people narrated him the entire incidents. He turned towards the sanctum sanctorum and told loudly.
“Oh, Goddess Ma, Now I am performing the rituals here. I am not sure whether my predecessors can do it or not. So I am surrendering my right to perform the rituals in this temple.” Thus Tharananalloor family ceased to be the Tantri of Madhura Meenakshi Temple.
There are many stories about the performances of different Tharananalloor Namboodiripads, who were the heads of the family at different periods. Since it will consume too much of space, only one such story is being narrated here.
Once, the Namboodiri, then head of the family went to have a bath in the family pond. It was early in the morning and there prevailed silence in the atmosphere. Suddenly he heard a loud cry from the other side of the pond and sent his servant to enquire about it. The servant returned and told Namboodiri that Neelakandan, who was residing on the other side of the pond died due to snakebite and it was the cry of his wife and children they heard. Then Namboodiri told his servant that Neelakandan has not died and ask him to bring the body there.
Neelakandan’s family members brought the body to the pond side. He asked them to keep the body in an open space. Then He waited near the body holding a small stick in his hand. Hours have passed and nothing happened. Villagers started gathering at the place and there were some rationalists also among them. They started kidding Namboodiri. Still, he waited there holding the stick and did not try to answer anybody’s queries.
After a few hours, a snake came there and raised its hood as if extending pleasantries with Namboodiri. Immediately Namboodiri asked his servant to bring milk and coconut water in two separate bowls. They have been brought and kept on both sides of the body of Neelakandan. After that, Namboodiri turned towards the snake and told it.
“Take it back.” The snake went near the body of Neelakandan and bitted once again on his legs. It kept its teeth for quite some time and then came near Namboodiri. Namboodiri told it not to worry as he has kept milk there, it can dip its head in it. The snake did the same and to the utter shock of the crowd gathered there, the color of the milk turned blue. Namboodiri again instructed him to take back the poison and the snake obeyed it. This time Namboodiri asked the snake to dip the head in the bowl of coconut water and that too turned blue. When the snake finished sucking poison from the body of Neelakandan, Namboodiri broke the stick he was holding in his hand. Everybody presented there surprised to see the body of the snake get breaking into two pieces. And adding more glory to the occasion, Neelakandan Woke up as if he was asleep.
By that time, Neelakandan’s relatives have made all arrangements for his cremation. The body of the snake has been cremated at that place and Namboodiri performed all rituals standing in the place of the snake’s son. He even observed the Deeksha (A ritual to be observed by the eldest son after the death of father) for a year.


Thursday, June 4, 2020

Temple for Vaidyanathan who Cures Epilepsy and Many Other Chronic Diseases


Lord Shiva has been worshiped in many forms and one among them is Vaidyanathan. The concept of Vaidyanathan is related to the curing of chronic diseases. It can be equated with the Dhanvandari concept of Lord Maha Vishnu. There is a temple dedicated to this Bhava of Lord Shiva in Kerala and that is Puramundekkad Shiva Temple. It is also known as Porandekkad Shiva Temple.
If you go to previous pages of this blog, you will come across the legend related to the formation of Kerala. It is believed that Parasurama, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu created this land. After creating the land, he had constructed 108 Shivalayas (Temples of Lord Shiva) to protect the land from evil spirits. Puramundekkaad or Prandekkad Shiva Temple is one of them. 

There is one another legend saying the installation of the idol has been done by Hara Maharshi.
Years have passed since then and the temple constructed by Parasurama got abandoned. People who used to reside in this locality have migrated to different other places and the area has become a thick forest. People from the villages used to go inside the forest to collect wood logs for their cooking purpose. Once, such a group of villagers who went inside the forest witnessed a flame of fire in the atmosphere. It was moving slowly and the villagers followed it to reach a place where a one-foot tall Shivalinga was found. Surprised with it the villagers collected flowers from the nearby plants and worshiped the god with devotion. They offered a few plantain fruits also.
puramundekkad shiva temple

Later the nearby villagers gathered there and constructed a temple for Lord Shiva. Here in this temple, Lord Shiva is in the Bhava of Vaidyanathan. As per the Hindu belief, epilepsy is caused by a Yaksha with the name Apasmaara. Here, the divine concept is that the Vaidyanathan is performing Thandava Dance upon this Yaksha. In other words, the Yaksha is in total control of Lord Shiva here. Hence, devotees believe that epilepsy and other chronic diseases can be cured by this power.

Another interesting fact is the offering of plantain fruit. It is a practice for the people residing in the nearby villages to offer the first product from their plantain cultivation to God. When you give it, the same will be taken inside the temple and will be offered to the Lord. After that, it will return to you but the sweetness will be lesser then. It is believed that Lord Shiva is accepting the sweet nectar inside the fruit.

This ancient temple is located in the Ponnani Taluk of Malappuram district. It is a swayambhoo linga and is facing towards the east. Unlike in other Shiva temples, there are two Nandi idols are being worshiped here. Apart from the main deity, Lord Vishnu, Ganapati, Dakshinaamoorthy, Ayyappan, Sri Krishna is also worshiped here. The temple is just 2 km away from Edappal Bus stand.

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

Thiruvarppu, the Temple that Opens first in India


It is a common practice to open temples in the early morning. Hence it may be difficult to say which temple opens first in India. No, doubt about as there is only one answer for this, it is none other than Thiruvarppu Sri Krishna Temple at Thiruvarppu, in the Kottayam district of Kerala. Every day, it opens at 2 a.m. and surprisingly it will not be kept closed during eclipses when all other temples throughout India will be closed as per the tradition.
Thiruvarppu Sri Krishna Temple

Legends behind Thiruvarppu Sri Krishna Temple

There is more than one legend behind this temple and all of them are related to the recovery of a Krishna Idol with four hands attached to a copper vessel which is called Uruli or Varppu in local language Malayalam. And all the legends connect this temple to the period of Mahabharata. It is believed that the Pandavas used to carry an idol of Lord Krishna during their stay in the forests (Vanavasa). Their Vanavasa ended up here in Thiruvarppu and before going in disguise (Ajnjatha Vasa) the villagers request the Pandu brothers to leave behind the idol there so that they can worship it as their village deity. They agreed and handed the same to the head of the village.
The villagers constructed a temple and consecrated this idol of Sri Krishna with four hands. To the utter surprise of the villagers, they had to face many hardships after starting worshiping the idol. They approached an eminent astrologer and he told them that they are not worshipping the idol properly. Since they are not able to meet the level of devotion Pandavas had, they cannot worship it properly in the future also so, he advised them to immerse it in the nearby lake. They did accordingly.
Years have passed. Once, Vilwamangalam Swamiyar, a great sage who was a tool in consecrating idols in many Temples in Kerala was traveling on a boat. Suddenly the boat stopped moving and the rowers though tried their best could not move even a bit further. As told by the Swamiyar, one of the rowers dived deep in the lake and found an idol of Sri Krishna. Swamiyar took custody of the idol and started his travel.
Thiruvarppu Srikirshna Temple

In between, he felt to have a bit rest and asked the rowers to anchor the boat near some good place. They did accordingly. Vilwamangalam Swakiyar got down from the boat and went near a tree to have rest. He had the idol with him. He kept the idol on a copper vessel (Varppu or Uruli in local language Malayalam) and kept it near him before he took a nap. After an hour’s sleep, he woke up. When he tried to pick up the idol, he could not as it got stuck to the soil. Hearing this news, the nearby people gathered there.  The land where Swamiyar took rest, was the property of a person called Kannankari Menon. He announced his consent to give the land for the construction of the temple and requested Swamiyar to consecrate the idol there.
In another legend, it is Padmapada Swamy, a disciple of Sankaracharya who was traveling by boat and he got the idol. It was kept inside Uruli. Then he searched for a place to place and found a temple in a nearby place where no idol has been installed. With the consent of the locals, he placed the idol in that temple.
There is one more variant of the first legend. In that, it is said that a group of fishermen who were catching fish in the sea got the idol but without a vessel. They took it to their village and constructed a temple and installed the idol there. However, many calamities happened in their village after that and hence they threw it back to the sea, and later Villwamangalam Swamiyar got it.

It is Hungry Krishna just after the killing of Kamsa

It is believed that the bhava of Krishna in this idol is that of the first moments after killing Kamsa. Hence, he is very much hungry. That is why the temple is getting opened so early at 2. Am. After opening it the priests will perform Abhisheka. Then after wiping out the water from the head of the idol, they perform a Naivedya (Feeding the deity with his favorite food) After that they will wipe out the rest of the body parts and perform the decorations and other rituals.
Moreover, this may the only temple where the chief priest is provided with the key to the main door of the Sanctum sanctorum and also an ax. This is to break open the door if he finds any problems with the keys. Lord cannot bear the hunger for a long time and it is necessary to open the door at exactly 2 a.m. If necessary, the priest can break open the door at that time. 

Why the temple remains open during eclipse

Unlike other temples in India, this temple will not be closed during eclipses. If it is closed, the lord will feel hungry which he cannot bear. It is believed that once the temple authorities closed the temple during an eclipse. When they reopened it, to their utter shock they saw the decorated belt of the idol slipped down. Fortunately, Vilvamangalam Swamiyar was there during that time and he told the authorities that it happened as the lord is too hungry. Since then, the temple will not be closed during the eclipse.
Thiruvarppu Sri Krishna Temple

Special Features of the Temple

The temple has a special type of drum which is made with bell metal. It is believed that the lord announced the killing of Kamsa by playing this Drum.
The temple festival is being organized every year during the Malayalam month of Medam (April-May). It is a ten-day festival and on the tenth day, the rays of setting sun will enter the sanctum Santorum of the temple.
The usual offerings to god are Milk Payasam, Ghee Payasam, and Appam