Pattambalam
Kurattikadu Pattambalam Devi Kshethram is a very famous Devi Temple situated in Mannar, Kerala, India.
The main ritual of the temple is the Anpoli Vazhipadu which is during the festival season. The main deity worshiped is Bhuvaneswari along with Bhadra, Ganapati and Krishna. Here the Goddess Bhuvaneswari is also called as "Valiya Amma" which means Great Mother. 9°18′49″N 76°32′26″E / 9.31361°N 76.54056°E
Legend
- Aattilchattam on Medam 13th
When the ‘Parayeduppu’ reach Padanilam near Pampa river all the members of the governing body along with the devotees make a barricade so that Amma with ‘Jeevatha’ may not cross the river Pampa to reach her mother at Panayannaarkaavu. It is believed that Amma’s mother is in Panayannarkavu across the river and she want to go there to meet her mother. And it is believed that she may not return once she meets her mother. That is why the barricade is formed and Amma is pacified, consoled and brought back to Kurattikadu. This is a unique ritual, which you maya not find anywhere else.
- Changayil Ottam on Medam 15th
After taking the 'para', one measure full of Paddy as offering, from Changayil house, Devi visits a few more houses. All of a sudden the Amma runs back to Changayil. It is said that years ago, an old lady of Changayil tharavad, said in her mind that if Amma comes back she will offer five more paras . So Amma goes back and receives five more paras and gives the blessings and accepts the ‘Dakshina’ only after that.
- Vithideel on Medam 24th
In olden days ‘Harijans’ were financially unable to offer ‘Paras’. So on the last day of Anpoli Mahotsavam these harijans offer a part of their harvest paddy in front of Amma at Meenathethil House in their colony. This traditional ritual is still followed even though all harijans are now offering paras at their own houses.
- Anpoli Panthal
Anpoli panthal is decorated with ‘Kulavazha’, ‘Kuruthola’, ‘Alila’, ‘Maavila’, ‘Pookula’, etc. and ‘Kalam’ is made by spreading all types of flowers in the shape of a triangle. There will be fifteen ‘nilavilakkus’ with five ‘thiris’ each. These are in the order 5-4-3-2-1. Amma dances to the tune of ‘Panchari Melam’ on the ‘kalam’ and receives the para and blesses everyone.
Major Vazhipadus
- Anpoli - During utsavam
- Anpoli para - During utsavam
- Thiruvathira Paatu on Thiruvathira - every month (That is how the temple was named 'Pattambalam')
- Vedikkettu (Fire works) - It is the most famous in this area
- Vrischika Chirappu
- Pooja Veppu
- Vidyarambham
- Navaham - During Navarathri
- Sapthaham - During Vrischikam
- Daily Annadanam - During Sapthaham and Navaham
- Pongala - During Makaram
- 101 Kalam - in Kumbham
- Goshala Krishna Prathista Varshikam - on Meenam 10
- Laksharchana - on last Friday of Karkidakam
- Theeyattu - on Aswathi of each month
- Padayani - important vazhipadu for Bhadhra
- Thaali Vazhipadu - for removal of marriage obstacles
Anpoli Areepara Mahothsavam
Anpoli Areeppara is the most important event of our temple. It is the annual temple festival of 18 days from Medam 10th to 27th. On these days our mother visited her people at their doorsteps to receive their offerings as Paras and to bless them in person. Early in the morning Her Highness is brought out from the sanctum sanctorum with royal gaiety and drums in the Holy Jeevatha embedded with the Moolabimbam and is royally placed on the peetha. To receive two Anpoli Paras every day. A customary rhythmic dance of the priest shouldering the Jeevatha is followed along with the special Poojas in the Seva Panthal. Then the Holy procession sets off. Every household, cleaned and decorated await eagerly for the farbound sounds of Her procession reaching their door. Amma is welcomed with fireworks and vaikuravas and offerings of flowers, paddy, fruits, aval, malar in the form of para are offered. The accompanying crowd is treated everywhere with fruits, feast and pleasantries. The process goes on uninterrupted until late night and at about 12’o clock the procession returns to the temple and then the daily ritualistic ‘poojas’ and ‘nivedyams’ are offered in the presence of a huge crowd. After this, Amma is once again ritually brought out accompanied by royal drum beats and ‘vaikuravas’ to perform the Anpoli at the zero hours and in most cases in the early hours. ‘Anpoli panthal’ which is considered as a temporary temple is already erected to the north of ‘Elanjithara’ and an ‘Anpoli Kalam’ decorated with divine ritual drawings and fragrant flowers is kept in purity and lighted with Nilavilakku is there in front of the Anpoli Panthal. The rhythmic ritual dance of the shouldering priest in tune to the royal drum beats, come out of the Mathilkettu after 3 rounds around the temple, slowly approaches the Anpoli kalam in ritual steps. Large crowds follow and vaikuravas and fire crackers resounds throughout the night. Amma mount in the 'Jeevatha' on the shoulders of the priest ritually dancing on their steps, slowly awakened in this high concentration of dance, music, vaikuravas and the fire crackers. All of a sudden enters the Anpoli Kalam in the dense forest of light and oil lamps, and performs her own divine dance revelation. The priest becomes unconscious, faints and falls. Great fire works follows. Offerings there are distributed as prasadams to crowds of devotees thronging there and dakshinas are given. Amma is brought back to the SreeKovil. The process is to begin early morning next day.
Sree Bhuvaneswari Higher Secondary School is managed by the temple. 9°18′48″N 76°32′32″E / 9.31333°N 76.54222°E