padmanabha
23rd January 2007, 06:48 PM
[tscii:4832bcac21]History, legend, pomp, splendor, antiquity and custom came to life today during the annual Ariyittuvaazhcha at Thiruvaarattukavu Temple in Attingal.
The temple is located 25 kilometers from the capital city on the National Highway (to Kochi). In India, as in many other countries history does get mixed up with folklore, but to the older generation in Attingal the members of the royal family are not just rulers of Travancore but they truly are rulers of Attingal even today !
Every year on the 9th & 10th of Makaram, the Maharaja and members of the Travancore royal family visit this temple for Ariyittuvaazhcha. Ariyittuvaazhcha is celebrated on Makaram 9th and Valiyavilakku is observed on the following day.
For Ariyittuvaazhcha Kattumaadassu thantri reaches Attingal from Maadayikkavu, Kannur. Attingal temple is the only temple in Travancore where the Kattumaadassu thantri has the right for the priesthood.
The festival at the temple begins on 1 makaram. Till 9th kalam of Bhadrakali is made at the Paattupuara to the right of the sanctum sanctorum. Puja is offered to this kalam twice daily. On the 9th day Athazhapuja is performed at 4.30. The Maharaja and the royal family members reach the temple at five in the evening. Before this ceremony the deity on the elephant’s back is escorted by the Maharaja. It must be remembered that the Maharajas of Travancore escort the Deities only on two occasions namely Aarat and Ariyittuvaazhcha.
At the Paattupura, on a specially decorated platform the sword of the deity is installed by the Kattumadassu thanthri after invoking the deity on the sword. He offers pujas rice is the main offering. The offered rice is taken out and the Maharaja just touches it. It is then taken to the sanctum sanctorum and showered on the presiding deity. It is the only temple where ablution of rice is performed. The priest sprinkles a few grains on the head of the Maharaja.
What does it signify?
Travancore was the Land of Charity. The Goddess entrusts the Maharaja to continue to take care of his subjects and their welfare. The custom still continues. On the following day the Maharani of the royal family lights up a huge pedestal lamp and offers VALIAKANIKKA.
About the temple:- The temple is celebrating its 7th centenary on the Avittam asterism of kumbham. Aavani Amma Thampuran of Attingal had no issues. She decided to adopt Sangramadhiran the ruler of Venad (1299-1313), and requested him to merge her Kingdom with Venad after her demise. In case of lack of progeny she requested him to adopt children from suitable royal families. One day Aavani Amma Thampuran was performing her daily prayers in a closed room. THE family members were worried for she did not open the doors for long. Having no other way the members barged in to find petals of sweet smelling flowers. It is believed that she attained salvation. This structure became the main sanctum. As suggested, Snagramadhheran adopted two girls from Chirakkal royal family (kolaswarupam). Thus came into being the matrilineal system of inheritance. For the two princesses he established two kolaswarupams in Attingal and they were made the senior and Junior Maharanis of Attingal. They ruled Attingal for long during which they signed agreements with the Dutch and the English. The deity of Attingal is the tutelary deity of female members of the Travancore royal family. Maharaja Swati Tirunal and her sister Ayilyam Tirunal Rukmini Bayi had composed many songs on the Tiruvarattu kaavu devi of Attingal. The flag pole in this temple was installed by the regent Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi (1924-1931).
On this very day Ariyittuvaazhcha is performed at the Maadayikkavu Kolaswarupam. Here the ablution is performed on the Kolathiri.
[/tscii:4832bcac21]
The temple is located 25 kilometers from the capital city on the National Highway (to Kochi). In India, as in many other countries history does get mixed up with folklore, but to the older generation in Attingal the members of the royal family are not just rulers of Travancore but they truly are rulers of Attingal even today !
Every year on the 9th & 10th of Makaram, the Maharaja and members of the Travancore royal family visit this temple for Ariyittuvaazhcha. Ariyittuvaazhcha is celebrated on Makaram 9th and Valiyavilakku is observed on the following day.
For Ariyittuvaazhcha Kattumaadassu thantri reaches Attingal from Maadayikkavu, Kannur. Attingal temple is the only temple in Travancore where the Kattumaadassu thantri has the right for the priesthood.
The festival at the temple begins on 1 makaram. Till 9th kalam of Bhadrakali is made at the Paattupuara to the right of the sanctum sanctorum. Puja is offered to this kalam twice daily. On the 9th day Athazhapuja is performed at 4.30. The Maharaja and the royal family members reach the temple at five in the evening. Before this ceremony the deity on the elephant’s back is escorted by the Maharaja. It must be remembered that the Maharajas of Travancore escort the Deities only on two occasions namely Aarat and Ariyittuvaazhcha.
At the Paattupura, on a specially decorated platform the sword of the deity is installed by the Kattumadassu thanthri after invoking the deity on the sword. He offers pujas rice is the main offering. The offered rice is taken out and the Maharaja just touches it. It is then taken to the sanctum sanctorum and showered on the presiding deity. It is the only temple where ablution of rice is performed. The priest sprinkles a few grains on the head of the Maharaja.
What does it signify?
Travancore was the Land of Charity. The Goddess entrusts the Maharaja to continue to take care of his subjects and their welfare. The custom still continues. On the following day the Maharani of the royal family lights up a huge pedestal lamp and offers VALIAKANIKKA.
About the temple:- The temple is celebrating its 7th centenary on the Avittam asterism of kumbham. Aavani Amma Thampuran of Attingal had no issues. She decided to adopt Sangramadhiran the ruler of Venad (1299-1313), and requested him to merge her Kingdom with Venad after her demise. In case of lack of progeny she requested him to adopt children from suitable royal families. One day Aavani Amma Thampuran was performing her daily prayers in a closed room. THE family members were worried for she did not open the doors for long. Having no other way the members barged in to find petals of sweet smelling flowers. It is believed that she attained salvation. This structure became the main sanctum. As suggested, Snagramadhheran adopted two girls from Chirakkal royal family (kolaswarupam). Thus came into being the matrilineal system of inheritance. For the two princesses he established two kolaswarupams in Attingal and they were made the senior and Junior Maharanis of Attingal. They ruled Attingal for long during which they signed agreements with the Dutch and the English. The deity of Attingal is the tutelary deity of female members of the Travancore royal family. Maharaja Swati Tirunal and her sister Ayilyam Tirunal Rukmini Bayi had composed many songs on the Tiruvarattu kaavu devi of Attingal. The flag pole in this temple was installed by the regent Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi (1924-1931).
On this very day Ariyittuvaazhcha is performed at the Maadayikkavu Kolaswarupam. Here the ablution is performed on the Kolathiri.
[/tscii:4832bcac21]