Attukal Bhagavathy Temple — Attraction in Kerala

The temple is renowned for the annual Attukal Pongal festival, in which over three million women participate.[1] A festival that has figured in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the single largest gathering of women for a religious activity, the Attukal Pongala continues to draw millions of women with each passing year. Devotees believe that all of their wishes are fulfilled by the goddess, whose worship can allow them to attain salvation. The goddess is often venerated as all three goddesses of the Tridevi: Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati.

Legend edit This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (August 2008) Main article: Kannagi One regional legend of the temple is based on the legend of Kannagi in the Cilappatikaram. According to the epic, Kannagi who was married to Kovalan, the son of a wealthy merchant. After their wedding, Kovalan met a dancer named Madhavi and spent all his riches on her, neglecting his wife. When he became penniless, he returned to Kannagi. The only precious item left to be sold was Kannagi's pair of anklets. The couple went with it to the king of Madurai to sell it. Coincidentally, an anklet had been stolen from the queen of Madurai, which resembled Kannagi's. When Kovalan tried to sell one of Kannagi's anklets to the king, he was mistaken for the thief, and was beheaded by the king's soldiers without a trial.

Kannagi was infuriated when she heard the news and rushed to the king with her other anklet. She broke one of the anklets, which contained rubies, while the queen's had contained pearls. She cursed the city of Madurai to burn, and it is said that due to her chastity, the curse was fulfilled. Kannagi is said to have attained salvation after the goddess of the city appeared before her.

According to regional legend, it is said that on her way to Kodungallur, Kannagi passed Attukal. She assumed the form of a girl. An old man sat on the banks of a stream, when the girl went to him and asked him if he could help her cross it. Surprised, to find the young girl alone, he took her home. After some time, she disappeared. She appeared in his dream and asked him to build a temple on the spot he found three golden lines in his grove. The old man did so, which is regarded to be the location of the present Attukal temple.

A different legend identifies the goddess of Attukal as Bhadrakali, who emerged from the third eye of Shiva to slay the asura king Daruka.

Pongala festival edit Attukal Pongala is the main.[2] Attukal Pongala Mahotsavam is a 10 days festival which falls on February – March every year (Malayalam month of Kumbham).[3] The festival begins on the Karthika star with the traditional Kappukettu and Kudiyiruthu ceremony, the idol of Devi, is embellished with Kappu (Bangles).

Worship during Attukal Pongala at Tippu Street, South Fort, Thiruvananthapuram.[4] The 9th day of the festival, 'Pooram day' is the major attraction, The Attukal Pongala day and the festival will conclude with the Kuruthitharpanam at 10th day makam star night.[5]

Attukal pongala Millions of women gather every year in the month of Kumbham around this temple and prepare Pongala (rice cooked with jaggery, ghee, coconut as well as other ingredients) in the open in small pots to please the Goddess Kannaki.[6] Pongala (literally means to boil over) is a ritualistic offering of a sweet dish, consisting of rice porridge, sweet brown molasses, coconut gratings, nuts and raisins. It is done as an offering to the presiding deity of the temple – the Goddess – popularly known as Attukal Amma. Goddess Attukal devi is believed to fulfill their wishes and provide prosperity.[7]

worship during attukal pongala at sree padmanabhaswamy temple Other festivals edit The other festivals in this temple are:

Mandala Vratham – Festival in connection with the annual Utsavam of Sabarimala Vinayaka Chathurthi – Pooja to the Lord Ganapathy Navaratri and Pooja Vaypu – Identical to Dussera festival (Saraswathy Pooja and Vidyarambham) Sivarathri – Siva Pooja Karthika – Karthika Deepa Ayilya Pooja –...

Attukal Bhagavathi Temple is a famous temple of Goddess Kannaki/Bhadrakali at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Darsanam to Northwards.

Most of the famous temples in kerala are with ancient mythological history, but Attukal is comparativly a small temple of Goddess and became famous during the last 50years. It became famous due to insurge of devotees specifically women to worship the Goddess with their nivedyam known as Pongal.

Upadevatha (Subdeities): Ganapathi, Sivan, Naga, Madan Thampuran...

Vazhipadu: Special Vazhipadu is Kalabhabhishekam and Lighting of Lemon lamps infront of the temple. All other offerings as per Devi temples.

Temple: Attukal temple was a small temple and recently renovated with Nalambalam, Gopurams etc. Temple structure is a mix of Kerala and Tamil Architecture styles.

Festivals: Ten days festival during month Kumbham starting on Karthika day and ending on Uthram day. The ten days festival is celebrated with different temple rituals, Thaalapoli for girls and Chooral kuthu for boys and variety of Stage shows. Ninth day of festival, on Pooram day pongala nivedyam by women devotees is celebrated.

Attukal pongala is considered as the most famous ritual celebrated by women devotees now in kerala. Lakhs of women devotees are gathering in and around the temple premise to prepare pongala to submit Devi as nivedyam. Now around 10km radius of the temple will be gathered by these women devotees to perform this ritual, literally Thiruvananthapuram city will be in stand still condition on the day. Also very recently this festival has been entered in to guinnes book of world records for the 'largest gathering of women' for a festival within a day.

History/Mythology: An old man living near Attukal was so happened to see an young girl near the bank of Killiyar and helped her to cross the river and received as a guest to his family. But the same night she disapperaed and appeared through a dream to the man as a goddess and requested to put a small temple for her in an identified nearby location. Hence as per the advise from the Hindu priests also, he initiated to build a small temple to worship the divine power of Devi for the devotees.

How ever this temple has some spiritual and functional link with the famous Kodungalloor temple and it is belived that the Devi who appeared to the old man was Kannaki on her way to Kodungalloor after destroying Madurai city of Pandya dynasty. The Thottampattukal which is being sung during the festival days are the history of Kannaki from Chilappathikaram written by the great Tamil Poet Elankovadikal can be considered as a proof of this mythology.

Also it is believed the Deity, Dharmasathavu of a nearby temple at Manacaud has a brother-sister relation to Attukal devi and accordingly some rituals/functions are being performed between these temples as part of festival celebration.

Location/Travel: At Attukal of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation around 2-3kms from East fort and Thampanur Railway station /Bus station.

Facility: Large vehicle parking space, Washrooms, small fancy shops etc. are available within the temple compound. Also a Hospital and Kalyanamandapam are functioned within the temple premise under Attukal...

Located in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple is a revered spiritual destination that embodies the essence of devotion, faith, and femininity. Our visit to this sacred site was a profoundly enriching experience, showcasing the perfect blend of spiritual significance, architectural beauty, and warm hospitality.As we approached the temple, we were struck by its stunning architecture, which seamlessly blends traditional Kerala style with modern elements. The temple's facade, adorned with intricate carvings and ornate decorations, seemed to radiate an aura of serenity. We were fascinated by the temple's unique design, which features a distinctive blend of circular and rectangular structures. The Attukal Bhagavathy Temple is dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathy, a revered deity in Hinduism. The temple's sanctum sanctorum, housing the majestic idol of Goddess Bhagavathy, exuded an aura of divine energy. We were deeply moved by the temple's spiritual ambiance, which seemed to transcend the boundaries of time and space. The Attukal Bhagavathy Temple is famous for its annual Pongala Festival, which attracts millions of devotees from across the globe. We were fortunate to witness this spectacular event, which showcased the rich cultural heritage of Kerala. The festival's highlight, the Pongala ritual, where devotees offer sweet rice to the goddess, was a truly unforgettable experience.The temple is an integral part of the local community, hosting various cultural and spiritual events throughout the year. We were impressed by the temple's efforts to promote education, healthcare, and women's empowerment in the surrounding areas. The temple's community development programs, aimed at promoting social justice and equality, were particularly inspiring.The Attukal Bhagavathy Temple is committed to serving the local community through various humanitarian initiatives. We learned about the temple's efforts to provide food, shelter, and medical care to the needy and marginalized. The temple's disaster relief programs, aimed at providing aid and support to affected communities, were particularly commendable.

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Best time to visit: Early morning or late afternoon Dress modestly and remove shoes before entering the temple Respect local customs and traditions Attend the Pongala Festival for a unique cultural experience Ideal for spiritual seekers, cultural enthusiasts, and those interested in community development

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Location: Attukal, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala Distance from Thiruvananthapuram city: 3 km (1.9 miles), 10-minute drive Nearest airport: Trivandrum International Airport (TRV) Nearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram...