Sree Mangottukavu Bhagavathy Temple, Athipotta Alathur

http://www.mangottukavu.in

Mangottukavu Bhagavathy Temple is situated at Athipotta, which is 24 km from Palakkad via Alathur. The Goddess Bhagavathy,presiding deity is worshipped in her most fierce form. She is also considered as the younger sister of Parakkattu Bhagwathi who has a temple in Kavasseri near by.The temple is built in Kerala style of architecture. There is a separate shrine for Lord Ganesha inside the temple and there is a temple for Mookan Chathan, a spirit on the Northern Side, outside the Temple compound.  The temple has a Kalyana Mandapam (Marriage Hall).

Mangottukavu Temple

History:

Mangottu Bhagawathi is supposed to have come to this place to fulfill the desire of a weaver. This weaver,Kuttan, was a great devotee of the Goddess. He and his people wove clothes and sold them in places where festivals were held. It is said that at one place, he was so mesmerized by the appearance of the Devi in the festival procession there, that he pleaded  her to come along with him. At that time, there was a whirl wind which removed the clothes of the idol of the Goddess which was being taken out in procession. Kuttan immediately threw the cloth that he had brought to sell on to the goddess. This cloth fell on the Goddess and got attached there. Next day Kuttan returned to his village. He was carrying an Umbrella. At a particular point he got so tired that he kept the Umbrella on floor and slept near by. When he woke up, he was not able to remove the umbrella from the ground. An astrologer was summoned who told Kuttan that the Goddess had occupied the Umbrella and she wants to live in this place. Then the astrologer threw the stick in his hand and told that a temple should be built where it falls. This place is the present Athipotha.

Festivals:

In the month of Medam (April–May) a festival is conducted here lasting seven days, after the first Sunday of that month. Apart from that after the Pooram festival of Parakkattu Bhagawathi temple, that Bhagawathi shuts her temple and comes and stays in Athipotha for seven days during the month of Meenam (March–April). Every year the annual festival (Vela) is conducted on the second Sunday after Vishu (in April), the starting of the Malayalam new year. The Mangottu Kavu vela is preceded by a host of festivities starting exactly a week before the actual festival. On the first Sunday after vishu the Kodiyettam (Flag hoisting) ceremony is performed. On Monday there is a kari-kali dance festival, wherein members of the Mannadiar and Nair community visit all the Hindu homes in the locality and dance and sing the deities devotional songs. On Tuesday chamanz-kali follows.

Mookkan chathan visiting homes during vela

Here too members of the Mannadiar and Nair community sing devotional songs visiting each Hindu home in the locality. Wednesday there is Kumati festival. There are other cultural events like chakiyaar kutt, pavva kutt and so on during this festival period. A host of devotees arrive for the main vela festival. This is a very important temple and various types of worship are offered here. Some of them are Pana Patasam,Ney Payasam, Tri kala pooja, Chandattam, Sahasranama pooja etc. There are also special poojas along with chanting of Eika mathya Sooktham, Sri Sooktham and Bhagya Suktham. 

The temple now has a website (http://www.mangottukavu.in) where it offers online puja booking for its devotees spread across the world. Website also has a wealth of information about the temple.

Sree Trikannad Thrayambakeshwara Temple, Bekal, Kanjangad, Kasargode

http://www.trikkannadtemple.in/

Famous as the "Dakshina Kashi" ,the Thrikkannad temple is located on the shores of the Arabian Sea, about 1 kilometres from Bekal in Kasargod district, Kerala. The temple is devoted to Lord Shiva in the form of RajaRajeshwara, and is believed to be established by the great sage Parashurama.It is one of the rare West facing Shiva Temple in India.This temple is widely popular for the various customs and rituals performed for the well being of the deceased soul also known as Pitru Karma. it is considered very auspicious to conduct the last rites to the deceaced or pithrukarmaa in West facing Shiva temple near to the sea. Thrikkannad is the only temple in kerala that aptly suits this criteria, hence is very famous.

legend:

Trikannad Shiva Temple is the headquarters of Anjooru Nayanmars.It is situated at a radius of 1 kilometer from the renowned Bekal Bridge. The location of this temple is unique and it provides the worshippers an opportunity to make their appeal to God. It is said that all the appeals are granted here by the Lord.As per the legends once a Pandyan ruler tried to attack the Shiva temple and the reigning deity of this temple set fire to his ship and turned him into a rock. this rock is seen from the temple, and is called Pandian Kallu. Since Shiva opened his 3rd eye or thrikkannu to burn the evil, it got the name Thrikkannadu.

It is believed that the idol of the temples is consecrated by the Great Sage Kanua. The exact period of installation is not known but the general assumption is that it existed even in the 11th century. .

Rituals:

On the new moon day, Amavasya thousands of devotees flock to this temple for Pitru Tharpanam, or homage to forefathers with gold or silver human idols. They perform the holy rituals and then take a holy dip in the sea facing the temple. This process is considered to be greatly benevolent to the families performing the rituals.

Festivals:

theyyam

March and April are the months of grant annual festival which last for 1 week. "Kodiyettam" or Flag hoisting marks the beginning of festival. The celebrations include performances of "theyyum" or "Thidambu Nritham", ritual art form of Northern Kerala. On the day of kudiyatham, the idols Or Thidambu of kizhur sree sastha Temple and kuthira kaaliamman are brought as a procession to the triambakeshwara aboard in trikkannad and in the presence of these 3 Devas the kodiyettam is performed. .

Ashtami Vilkku is celebrated on the 4th festival day of the week. The processions from the kottikulam and bakel Bhagavathi Templed with Idold reach the temple to pay respects to Lord Shiva. .

Palli Veta or the hunting expedition of the Lord take place on the last day of festival. The Hunt is symbolic of the destruction of Kama (desire), krodha(anger) and search evis that plague in our life. Thousands of devotees attend this festival where in the idols are taken as a profession to the Arabian Sea with percussion instruments and kept on the til the pooja and customary rituals by the fisherman tribe are performed. "Aarattu" festival is celebrated on the 7 day with great aplomb and colourful festivities .

The temple now has a website (http://www.trikkannadtemple.in/) where it offers online puja booking for its devotees spread across the world. Website also has a wealth of information about the temple.