Myths from Kerala: Part II
Kumaranelloor Karthyayani: the beloved of Vadakkunathan.
Stories from Vilwamangalam
(Mythological Significance: part 1)V
ilwamangalam Swami was a spiritual person whose mortal eyes had the visual power to see Gods or feel God’s presence using his sixth sense. Once during the month of Vrischika, on a karthika day, Swami went to the Vadakkunathan Temple for the vision of God. But he could not see the lord in the sanctum santorium. Immediately Swami came out and decided to take a round of the temple. When he reached the southern side of the temple, he could "see" Him seated on the southern end of compound wall.He asked the lord, "why are you seated here?"
God responded softly, " it is time for my beloved ‘Kumaranelloor Karthyayani’ (The Goddess) to pass this way after bath, fully adorned, in all her splendor. I came to have a glimpse of that beautiful sight."
Since that day it is believed that on that day every year, God is seated on the southern end of the compound wall of the temple to have a glimpse of the procession of Kumaranelloor Bhagavathi (the goddess), fully adorned. This way, year after year, it came into practice to perform the morning ritual for the Thrissoor Vadakkunathan on the southern side of the Temple’s compound wall during Vrischika month, on the karthika day.
The famous " Vatakke Chuttambalam" *
of Vaikkath Temple
Mythological Significance
(Part 2)Very few would be unaware of the spiritual powers of Vilwamangalam Swami. The mythological stories proclaim Vilwamangalam Swami as a personality who was endowed with the great power of ‘seeing’ Gods with his spiritual powers. One day Swami went out to the Vaikkathambalam for a ‘darshanam’ (vision). On reaching there he observed a big feast in progress for the brahmana community. But he was surprised not to ‘see’ the God in the sanctum santorium, and then with his divine powers he could ‘see’ the God in the disguise of a brahmana seated in the lunch hall, along with many others. He proclaimed the news in the Temple. After that, whenever there is a feast, till date it has become a practice, to spread a separate plantain leaf with all delicacies, near the pillar in the northern hall of the Temple. More so it has also become a special occasion for the Brahmana community to have feast in that hall on Ashtami day at the Vaikkath Temple – it has also come to be known as a special festival day as "Vaikkaththashtami naal."
note: * Vadakke Chuttambalam: Northern precinct in the temple premises
Marar * Sadhya# in the famous Ambalapuzha Temple.
Mythological Significance
(Part 3)We mentioned about Vilwamangalam Swami. In the mythological tradition let us consider this third story. Once our Swami was endowed with divine powers to ‘see’ the Gods at prayer time, happened to go to the famous Ambalapuzha Temple. As it happened in the earlier story, here too same thing repeated. God was not visible at the sanctum sanatorium to Swami’s eyes. He came out and looked around to have a ‘vision’ of the lord. His eyes could not miss Him. Swami saw Him near the nataka sala (drama hall) in the attire of a ‘Marar’ serving food to the ‘Marars’.
Swami recognized Him and asked slowly "there are enough people here to cook and serve food. Then why are you taking so much trouble"?
God replied this way to Swami, " It is the Marars who take so much trouble for conducting our festivals so beautifully. So serving them food to their contentment gives me immense pleasure." Since then in the Ambalapuzha Temple, during the festival season a feast day to the Marars gained importance as it came to be believed that God himself is present at the occasion. Even today because of that belief, the practice still continues.
* A caste of musical drum beaters (in temples)
# Serving varieties of food on special occasions
The Origin of Cherthala
(Mythological Episode)
Part 4During one of his adventures Swami happened to pass through an area, a mini lush forest which later came to be known as "Cherthala". Near the jungle he saw seven maids bathing in a pond. With his divine power, he could make out they were not ordinary human beings but heavenly damsels and so he moved towards the pond. Seeing him approach them, the maids tried to run and hide themselves. But Swami pursued them. To distract his attention and path, all of them jumped into seven different ponds enroute. Swami did not leave. He jumped into six ponds immediately after the divine damsels and made them sit at a place with his power. But the seventh maid jumped into a pond full of muck (used in producing clay). He had to use lot of pressure in getting her out from that pond. When he succeeded in his attempt, he shouted angrily, "you whore! Be seated here itself with all muck on your head ". When she was made to sit there, as Swami used the word "whore", the "Cherthala Bhagavathi"* as she was came to be known later, is believed to be fond of vulgar and abusive words. Songs sung during the "pooram" festival at Cherthala are equally famous like those at "Bharani" festival in Kodungalloor.
"Cheru": muck "thala": head * "Bhagavathi: goddess
English translation by
Lakshmy. N