Chengannur Mahadevar Temple
Chengannur Mahadevar Temple 1/2 km northeast of MC road and 1/2 km
eastern side road from railway over bridge. one of the major temples
having golden flag staff. 28 days festival last 10 days are celebrated
with great pomp. Makaram Thiruvathira Aarattu. Sivan facing east and
Sree Parvathy facing west in the round Sreekovil. " It is still
a mystery and wonder of wonders that the pancha loha vigraha gets
her periods, which is rare in the annals of history of temples. The
periods of the Goddess is locally known as thripoothu and the festival
as thrippootharaattu. Being a rare phenomenon its details are briefly
described. In ancient days this used to occur every month buy now
a days it occurs three to four times in a year. every day morning
the nirmaalyam ( previous days flowers worn by the Godess ) and white
utayaata ( cloth) are handed over by the priest to Varrier attendant
without looking at it. The vaarier examines the dress closely and
if there is any discolouration it is send for etailed examination
to the Lady heads ( antharjanams) of Vanjipuzha and Thaazhamon families
for confirmation. ( of late it is sent to the family of Thaazhamon
Thanthri only ) when it is confirmed the discoloured cloth is brought
back, washed by a mannathi ( washer woman) and kept under sage custody.
Thereafter the archana- vigraha and the same is removed to the special
room at the north west corner of the naalambalam and the sreekovil
of the Goddess is kept closed till the fourth day. Only one pooja
is done in a day in the temporary shrine. It is significant to note
that two lady attendants or confidantes ( belonging to two families
) have to sit by the side of the archana vigraha for day and night
on all three days. on the fourth day Devi is taken on the back of
a caparisoned elephant ( according to tradition on a female elephant)
in procession to the aaraat katav ( Mithrapuzha ghat) of Pampa river
for a holy bath. At the Aaraat katav, pooja is done for the peetham
as well as for the waters of pamba. Then abhisheka of the idol is
done with ghee followed by gingerly oil and cleaned with eencha. Then
the Thanthri does abhisheka of the idol with turmeric powder and again
immerses it in water. Then new clothes brought by the washer woman
are put on the bimba and then taken back in procession with the accompaniments
of naadaswaram ( wind instrument) panchavaadyam, thaalapoli etc. at
the aaraat katav and also on the way nira para is offered by the devotees.
On arrival at the aanakottil of the temple, the balivigraha of lord
siva is taken out on a tuskers back and both of them together take
three pradakshinas and enter the Sreekovil through their respective
entrances. It is followed by kalabhaabhishekam for Siva. The archana
bimba of 'Devi is then placed by the side of the original idol of
devi and the power is invoked back into the original idol, followed
by Kalabhaabhishekam and raktha pushpaanjali, for the next twelve
days raktha pushpaanjali is the only vazhipaat in the temple. The
discoloured utayaata ( cloth) is treasured as a holy relic and is
available for sale ( rs 501). There is always a large queue for its
booking. the expenditure for the first thrippoothaaraat of the malayalam
year is met from the endowments given to the temple by Col. Munro,
( the resident diwan of travancore) as an atonment to his disbelief
and thoughtless action in disallowing the expenditure which was previously
followed.
Ph: 0479 245055
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