HISTORY OF KATTAKAMPAL KSHETRAM

Kattakambal kshetram is one of the

108 Lord Siva Temples installed by Parasuramar.

There is ancient story on how the present name Kattakampal was derived. The name Kattakampal is a combination of three individual words namely, Kadu, Kamadhenu. Pal. Kadu means Forest, Kamadhenu means Cow, Pal means Milk The history of the present temple goes as below: There was a hunter looking after a cow. After a few years, the cow delivered but the calf was not being fed any milk by the cow. The hunter was surprised at the

behaviour of the cow and decided to secretly find out the reason behind it. He started following the cows whereabouts. He noticed that the cow was going to a nearby place and at a specified location it was by itself milking all the milk on top of a stone. This continued for a few days. Surprised over the cows not so natural behaviour he informed the local chieftain about this. The king who became aware of the cows surprising behaviour convened an astrological forum to find out the reason behind and as per the astrological explanations that followed , a temple was to be constructed in the same location for Lord Siva. Since the cow was offering milk by itself in the forest, the place got its name Kattakampal. The speciality of this temple is that Lord Shivas energy is emitted in the morning as Lord Dakshinamoorthy, which is good for education and spiritual progress.

In the afternoon the energy is in a fierce form which is good for protecting devotees and safeguarding them from their enemies.

In the evening Lord Siva, blesses his seekers in the Ardhanaadeeswarar form.

The Bhagavathi in the temple is supposed to be present in

two forms : In a fierceful form known as Bhadrakali and in a calm and quiet form known as Kanyakumari Devi.

Bhadrakali is one of the forms of the Great Goddess Devi mentioned in the Devi Mahatmyam. In Sanskrit, the word Bhadra means "blessed", "auspicious", "fair", "beautiful", "good", "fortunate", "prosperous". There are atleast three traditional puranic references regarding the avataram of Bhadrakali. The first reference regarding the avataram is from Devi Mahatmyam and it was the form taken by Devi during the battle with Asura Raktabeeja. The second reference of the avataram is associated with the Dakshayagna, and glimpses of this reference can be seen in some Puranas and Mahabharata. According to Vayu Purana and the Mahabharata, she came into being by Devi's wrath, when Daksha insulted Shiva, during the Ashwamedha Yagna performed by him. The third reference and the equally most famous one is her divine birth as the daughter to Lord Shiva to liberate the world from demon Darakasura. The Markandeya Purana describes the events associated with Bhadrakali and demon Darakasura, whom she defeated in the battle in order to liberate the universe from the evil.

Bhadrakali is the most popular form of Devi worshipped in Kerala. In Kerala she is seen as the auspicious and fortunate form of Goddess Kali who protects the good. Durgabhagavati killed Mahishasura who had terrified the entire world. His charioteer Darakasura vowed to take revenge on Durgabhagavathi and did severe penance. When Brahma appeared before him, he asked Brahma to bless him that a woman who takes birth outside the vagina only can kill him, meaning that no one can kill him. He was terrifying the worlds and Devas and Rishis prayed to Lord Shiva for the destruction of Darakasura. As a result, Lord Siva opened his third eye and created Bhadrakali and she came out as a Jwala (fire). As per the Markandeya Purana, worship of this daughter of Lord Shiva spiritually purifies the devotee and grants liberation from the cycle of birth and death. She protects the honour of women and bestows all spiritual knowledge. Bhadrakali in the form of Kattakambal Bhagavathi, fought with Darakasura. In the fierceful battle, Darakasura pleaded for mercy because of the fear of failure but Bhadrakali was not inclined to forgive him for his actions. Bhagavathi cut his neck and caught his head in hand. There is a story behind the idol of Kattakampal Bhagavathy. Once there was a person who was doing pooja to Lord Siva with great sanctity and devotion. Lord Shiva enlightened him to go and pray to Kanyakumari Devi. Accordingly he went to Kanyakumari and devoted his entire time in praying only. After few days when the person returned back, the Devi's chaitanya came in the water he carried with him in a mud pot. The person was not aware of the same. On his return he kept his luggage along with the mud pot in the south side of the Siva Temple and went to take bath. When he came back and after performing prayers to Lord Siva, he was unable to lift the pot.

He became aware of the Devis wish to be installed in the same place and accordingly a Devis idol was installed in the southern area of the temple. The basic idol was made of wood and the pooja idol was made of stone. One of the offering to the Goddess is the Pachada (Ada without cooking). An interesting tale is there behind this Pachada also. The Devi wanted that while installing the wooden idol, Ada (which is made out of rice powder) be prepared and offered to the idol. But within a short span of time, cooked Ada could not be prepared and the uncooked Ada only was given as offering and it was accepted by the Goddess. Then since, Pachada is an important offering for Kattakampal Bhagavathy. It is a miracle medicine for all types of illness and there are several incidents where devotees have got rid of diseases. Thalapoli is an important offering wherein ladies take coconut, lamp, flower etc. in a thalam (plate) . During the Vrichika month, putting kolam and singing devotional hymns is a normal procedure. The last day after the singing, a procession is taken to the eastern entrance . There under the banyan tree on behalf of Bhagavathi, the lamp is lit on the thalam by the Kurup and the procession returns back to the temple.

Kattakambal Pooram is a very important festival. It is a nine day festival which ends on the day of Uttaram in Meda month. The flag is hoisted in the eastern entrance of the Shiva temple. After the last pooja of the first day, Devi Aarattu (bathing) is performed. From the second day onwards Devi visits each devotees house for accepting Paraezhunnallippu ( Brass vessel containing raw rice with husk and coconut flower). During the last two days of Pooram, Kuthiravela (horse play) is being conducted. Artificial horses are made out of straw and white cloth. This play commemorates the fight between Bhadrakali and Darakasura. Bhoothabali and Kalasabhisheka for Lord Siva is conducted for six days. On Pooram day, after the ucha pooja (afternoon pooja ) the deity is kept in the main temple. Then special pooja is conducted for pleasing Lord Ganapati. The family of the Kurup has the sole right to dress as Kaali and Darakusara and act accordingly. Kaali forces Darakasura to come the next day for the battle. The next day after the procession, Kaalis killing of Darakasura is enacted and devotees are blessed. The following day twenty five Kalasa abhisheka are also conducted . In the South - West corner within the main temple precints Ganapathi is present and in the south side outside the main temple Sastha idol is installed. In Sastha temple, one can see a square stupa with three lines on it. Lord Sastha is considered to sharpen his arrow tips in this stupa. There is a well in the temple complex in which it is believed that , Kattakampal Devi threw the bodies of 41 asuras as well as the Shoolayudham used by Her in the battle. Below is an aerial view of Kattakampal Temple is shown to assimilate the true sense of the word Kattakampal.

Let us all pray to the Almighty Goddess Bhagavathy, to shower Her blessings on us.

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