Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Attukal Bhagavathi Temple - The Sabarimala Of Women
Ancient scriptures suggest that when the world was riddled with demonic forces, the angels prayed to Lord Vishnu for help. It was then that the Lord took the incarnation of Devi to annihilate evil and protect the good in the world. Attukal Bhagavathi is believed to be one such incarnation.
Some say that Attukal Bhagavathi was the divinized form of ‘Kannaki', the heroine of ‘Chilappatikaram', written by Tamil poet Elenkovadikal in the 2nd century.
Kovalan and Kannaki are the main characters of ‘Chilappatikaram'.
The epic says that when Kovalan was unjustly accused of stealing the queen's anklets and executed, Kannaki destroyed the ancient city of Madurai. It is said that on her way to Kodungalloor, home to another famous Devi shrine in Kerala, she went to Kanniyakumari first and then stopped at Attukal. The hymns of the ‘Thottampattu' - collectively rendered by the devotees during the annual Attukal Pongala Mahotsavam - are based on the story of Kannaki. The architectural depictions of Kannaki on the gopuram of the temple, too, substantiate the story.
Kannaki is also believed to be the incarnation of Goddess Parvathi, the consort of Lord Shiva. It is said that the goddess revealed herself to a fervent devotee of a notable family called the ‘Mulluveet til'. One fine day, while the head of the family was bathing in the Killi river, a young girl showed up, requesting him to help her cross the river. Moved by her aura, the Mulluveettil family head bowed in reverence, helped her cross the river and invited her to his house.
Believing that the girl is of divine origin,To read the full article, click here....
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Labels: Attukal Bhagavathi, Thiruvananthapuram
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