SIVA TEMPLE AT KUMBALAM

I knew that there are two idols of Mahadevan in the ‘Sri-kovil’, sanctuary, of the Kumbalam Siva temple.  Apart from the deity placed on a main pedestal there is one more idol of Mahadevan on the southern portion of the same ‘Sri-kovil’. The devotees believe that this second idol is one that has miraculously and spontaneously appeared there.  The ‘Pujari’, priest, is the hereditary senior male Embramthiri of Andipalli Madom, gives the same reverence and offerings to both the idols. Parthasarathi Nambeesan of Karthika Madom is the ‘Kazhakakaran’, the hereditary employee who arranges the flower offerings, of the Siva temple.

An annual festival is celeberated for eight days in this temple. The ‘Astami’ day on the new moon days in the month of Kumbham (Malayalam calendar) is the ‘Kodi-yettam,’  which is the hoisting of  the temple flag for the festival.

The first day of the festival is celeberated at the instance of the Kochi ‘Devaswom’. The festive lunch is the main attraction. The following four days festival is celeberated by the ‘Kaimal’ families. It is performed in the following order, Chakkanat, Pullanat, Chala and Mondoth. Lots of women, young and old alike, take ‘Talam’ an offering to the deity lead by each ‘Kaimal’ family. The decorated paths of the procession are eye catching.  Every day after the morning puja there is, a ‘Shiveli’. This is a ritual when the deity is being taken out in procession with a caparisoned elephant accompanied by the ‘Panchavadyam’, This is a music from the five varied instruments. The ‘Chendamelam’, beating of a large drum and / or kettle-drum, artists are arranged for this around the temple premises. Special pujas connected with this festival are conducted everyday by the priests, Embramthiri of Andipalli Madom at Kumbalam. Nambuthiri of Puliyannur Mana at Eroor is the designated “Thanthri,” who is vested with the supreme authority for all religious matters i.e., “Vaidika-Thaanthrika Chatangukal” in Siva temple. On the sixth day is the ‘Valiavilakku’. On the 7^th day is the Sivaratri festival celeberation and colourful fire works at 8’o clock, time of opening of the ‘Sreekoil’ of Siva temple.

Like other entertainments light and sound of fireworks too is a crowd puller. Men and women of all age groups throng festival grounds without any discrimination of religion, caste and creed to marvel fireworks in connection with festival. Kids hooted and screamed with each crackle and whoosh. People cheered, burst into applause each time flares sizzled and exploded into bouquets of fire. Every few seconds, the backyard lit up in sudden flashes of red, green and yellow.  As the light and sound vanished the throng melted away.

On the final day around evening, in a solemn ceremony the flag is lowered and the deity is then taken for the ‘Arattu’ (holy bath) in the pond attached to Kalathil Bhagavathy temple. After that starts the famous ‘Arattu’ procession accompanied by three caparisoned elephants which terminates at Siva temple ground after the famous ‘Panchavadyam’ and ‘Chendamelam’.

A variety of cultural programmes especially temple arts like ‘Kathakali’ (Krishnan-atom, Prahlada-charitham), ‘Ottanthuallal’, ‘Thayambaka’, Classical dances like Mohiniyattom, Bharathanatyam, Kuchupudy), Thiruvathira-kali, Classical music concerts, ‘Bhajans’ were also arranged by Siva Temple Seva Samithy during these days. Thousands of people irrespective of caste and creed throng the temple for witnessing these programmes.

Excerpts from

MEMOIRS

An autobiography

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com