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The Attukal Bhagavathy Temple is a Hindu religious shrine at Attukal in Kerala, India. Goddess Bhadrakali (Kannaki), mounted over 'vethala', is the main deity in this temple. Bhadrakali, a form of Mahakali, who killed the demon king Daruka, believed to be born from the third eye of lord Shiva. 'Bhadra' means good and 'Kali' means goddess of time. So Bhadrakali is considered as the goddess of prosperity and salvation. Goddess 'Attukal devi', itself is the supreme mother 'Bhaadrkali devi', (in soumya aspect) the goddess of power and courage. She is often referred as Kannaki, the heroine of Ilanko Adikal's 'Silapathikaaram'.
The temple is renowned for the annual Attukal Pongal festival, in which over three million women participate. 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. According to the Attukal Temple Trust, around 4.5 million devotees are expected to attend the pongala in 2016. Attukal Temple is situated near the heart of the city, 2 kilometres away from Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, East Fort in Thiruvananthapuram. Devotees believe that all of their wishes will be fulfilled by the goddess, provide prosperity and can attain salvation. Attukal devi is often worshipped in 3 forms such as Maha Saraswati (goddess of knowledge), Maha Lakshmi (goddess of wealth) and Mahakali/ Durga/ Parvathy (goddess of power).
History of Attukal Pongala
For every festival there will be an amusing story behind it. In the case of Attukal Pongala also it is not different. It is believed that Bhagavathy Attukalamma is considered as the incarnation of 'Kannaki', the heroine of 'Silappathikaram' by Tamil Poet Illango in 2nd century A.D. Attukal temple, is one of the places where Kannaki took rest on her journey from Madurai to Kodungallur. It is believed that Bhagavathy (Goddess) appeared as a child before an old man when he was performing his evening oblations at River Killi. He was surprised to see a child there at that time, and he helped her cross the river.
He took her home along with him, but on reaching home she was not to be seen. On the same night, Goddess appeared in his dream and told him about three lines she had drawn in a sacred grove nearby, where she would like to stay. Surprisingly, the old man saw those three marks in the specified place, and built a small temple there, and the Goddess brought wealth and peace to the people there. Gradually, the temple was renovated to the present status. To ensure security to lakhs of women who come there to offer pongala, seeking divine blessings, Government deploys large number of police forces. Because of this security arrangement, this grand festival goes on smoothly year after year.
Kerala, the “God’s Own Country” is a land of colours! Be it the nature’s ‘green’ shade romancing the ’emerald’ backwaters, the ‘golden’ rays of the sun caressing the clear ‘white’ sands, or the ‘azure’ sky calling for the mystical ‘hues’, Kerala showcases all the colours of Mother Nature! Well, if you want to explore all these shades and colours of the nature, you must your Kerala trip during any of the fairs and festivals in Kerala! It is during the fairs and festivals; the entire of the state unites together, removes all the religious and communal barriers, to celebrate every moment with full vigour and enthusiasm. No matter what background they are from, the way these locals celebrate the fairs and festivals in Kerala, it simply creates an everlasting memory in the minds of everyone!
