CHAKKULATHU KAVU DEVI TEMPLE (PART 1) Dear friends,
This is adivine posting about Chakkulathu Kavu Devi temple near Tiruvalla in Kerala.I had been to the temple two times after renovation. During the period, once in20 minutes, transport buses operated from Trivandrum to Chakkulathukavu. Before the temple there is a medium bus stand.The bus stand was 95% occupied with buses arrived from different bus stationsduring my visits. The two temples in Kerala with bus stands in front the templeare Mannarsala andChakkulathu kavu. Attukal Pongala and Chakkulathukavu Pongala areworld famous. The temple is always crowded with devotees.Sincerely, GopalaKrishnan 27-09-09 Reposted after editing and updating information on21-2-2022. R. Gopala krishnan. . Introduction Chakkulathammais known as the Mother who answers the call of her devotees. Countless pilgrimsirrespective of religion reach the shrine. Chanting of Her names and mantrasdestroys the feelings of ignorance and pride like the flames of fire thatovercomes the darkness. Many are the miracles that we see right in front of theGoddess Chakkulathamma. About 5 daysback was AttukalPongala. Pongala is prepared at Attukal also by lady devotees of allreligions. I could watch in TV cine actresses AAni and Nayanthara preparing pongala there (neartemple in a home), both are Christians by religion. This year also due to Covid19 lady devotees had to perform pongala at homes. 2. Temple Location and address The templeis situated 12 Km westward from the town of Thiruvalla in Neerattupuram Junction.The famous rivers of Pampa and Manimala flow on either side of the temple. Buses reachChakkulathukavu from several places of Kerala. TEL: 0477-2213550, 9447104242 Email: [email protected] 3. Legend about the temple –appearance ofVanadurga The legendabout the temple dates back to almost 3000 years. The area where the templestands now was a big forest. A hunter had his hut near it and with the idea ofcollecting firewood one day he entered in the forest. He had his wife andchildren along with him. The hunter saw a serpent moving towards him all on asudden. The hunter attacked the snake with his axe. But thesnake was not hurt and it simply slipped into the forest. The hunter knew wellthat an attacked snake is dangerous if spared. So he decided to follow it.Finally he reached a lake. He could observe a ‘Chithalputtu’ and found a snakesitting on a shell.It was the very snake that he had axed and slipped. Not asecond to waste, the hunter thrust his axe again and again upon the serpent.But it was like cutting in the air. Surprisingly the serpent disappeared. The huntergot horrified at this incidence. Within seconds he saw that abundant wateroozing out from the shell. The hunterwatched with awe and wonder. ‘Akshatham’ and ‘Darbha’ appeared there in front of him.Meanwhile the wife and kids of the hunter joined him. All were spell bound atthe unbelievable sight in front of them. Suddenly ahermit appeared in front of the hunter. The hermit informed him that the veryGoddess who is the Mother of the Universe is residing with full powers insidethe shell of sand. He advised the hunter to respectfully pay homage while he breaksthe shell. The idol of a Goddess Vanadurga was within it.This Goddess was sure to shower many fold blessings. The hermitbroke the shell and took out the idol. The hunter and his family bowed beforeit. Meanwhile the hermit too disappeared. The hunter took the idol to his hutbrought flowers from the forest, offered garlands and prayed. That night he hada dream and it’s was in this dream that the hunter understood that the hermitwas sage Narada. In the nextmorning, many had gathered near the hut of the hunter. They made many offeringsto the Goddess. Henceforth that place turned out to be a spirituallyexceptional one. A small temple was 4. Mythological details about the Vana Durga atChakkulathu kavu Themythology of the Vanadurga is related to the Sumbha and Nishumbha referred to in the Devi Mahatmyam. The story goes that two demoniac characterscalled Sumbha and Nishumbha derived super human powers through rigorousmeditation of Lord Brahma. They received a boon that they could be killed onlythrough a battle with woman. Such a condition being almost impossible, Sumbhaand Nishumbha conquered Indra and other Devas. They became the unquestionedmonarchs of the three worlds. The helpless Devas under had to flee away and take shelter in remotejungles. Saint Naradafeeling pity at the misery of the Gods approached his father Lord Brahma. Brahma told Narada that ups and downs are the law of life and that waswhat the Gods were experiencing. There was only one way out for thisdespicable state of affair. Only one power could restore power and prosperityto Gods and that power was none other than the Goddess Durga. Devas accordinglymoved in search of Goddess. Reachingnear Himavan, the epic King of the mountains, they started chanting powerfulmantras to appease the Goddess. Goddess Parvathy had just arrived on the banksof river Ganga at that time. Echoes of the mantras reached her. There was atouch of grief and pleading in the sounds of Devas. Goddess Parvathy realisedthe pitiable plight of Devas. From her thoughts emerged another Goddess as ifsomething comes out of a cover. This was the incarnation of Goddess Durga, having taken adivine form to rescue the Devas from the hardships caused by the asuras. Needless tosay, the Goddess annihilated all the asuras. The Devas got back the earlypowers and prosperities. Sage Narada appeared in front of the Gods andexplained them about the invincibility of goddess Durga. She was the cause aswell as witness for the creation, maintenance and destruction the universe,told Narada. It is believed that the Goddess residing inChakkulathukavu is a wholesome reaction of this all-pervading Goddess namelyDurga. 5. Pattamana Illam Generationspassed like that. Poojas of the temple were structured systematically. Membersof a nearby Nampoothiri Illam namely Pattamana constructed proper temple. Theidol similar to that of Sivalainga, taken out by Narada was installed in the Sanctumsanctorum with all the prescribed ceremonies and Poojas. Pattamana Illam still stands near the temple.Members of this family have always been dearer to the goddess. DamodaranNambudiri is the Chief Priest now. His childhood days vibrate with powerfulreflections of the kindness and blessings of Chakkulathamma. Every daythere was the “Thermal Nivedyam” (a special sweet preparation of rice andjiggery covered with plantain leaves). During his childhood days DamodaranNambudiri used to ask for this Nyvedyam to his father. 6. Benevolent Mother Goddess On days hisfather told him just like that to ask the Goddess for Therali and fruits. Theinnocent child pleaded the Goddess to give him sweet and fruits. As the childwas repeatedly crying for the eatables there was a sound from inside thesanctum sanctorum. Somebody seemed to mention that fruits would soon reach thetemple. Suddenlysome devotees approached the temple with basketful of fruits. So intimate isthe love of Chakkulathamma to children. This love becomes renowned that parentsused to visit the temple with their children. Missingchildren are soon regained through prayers. Diseases are wonderfully cured.Worship of Chakkulathamma sharpens the intellect of children; The Goddess was adoredby all as the phenomenal “The Mother who answers”. 7. Chakkarkulam Many placesnear the temple have derived their original names from the legend about thetemple. For instance, the water in the historical pond of the temple had the sweetness of jaggery.‘Chakkara kulam’ became shortened in the long run and came to be known as Chakkulam. ‘Neeru’ inMalayalam means water. Water was absorbed into the sand shell, which containedthe idol. So the place around the temple came to be called as ‘Neerattupuram’. Andthe word denotes the place, which carried and contained the holy water. 8 Renovation of thetemple The templewas renovated in 1981. The illuminating idol of Vana Durga with the holy eighthands is installed nearthe original idol. Lord Shiva, Sastha, Vishnu, Vinayaka, Muruka,Yakshi, Serpent Gods and Navagrahas are installed as ‘Upa Devas’. I will continue in the next posting -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. 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