The Attukal Bhagavathy Temple is   a famous Goddess Temple in Trivandrum, Kerala. It is one of the most ancient temples of South India. The temple is 2Km   from the main city of Trivandrum and nearer to SriPadmanabha temple. Attukal Pongala which is main festival of Attukal temple entered Guinness Book of World Record of largest women gathering festival. Millions of women gather every year for Pongala and so it is known as ‘Sabarimala of the Women’. Pongala festival is  in the malayalam month of Kumbham. On this day around this temple women prepare Pongala (rice cooked with jaggery, cocnut, ghee, banana) in small pots as offerings to the Goddess Kannaki.

Festival is a ten-day programme commencing on the Karthika star of the Malayalam month of Makaram-Kumbham (February-March) and closing with the sacrificial offering known as Kuruthitharpanam at night. Pongala is on the nineth day of festival.

The goddess of Attukal is supposed to be the divinised form of "Kannaki".There is a legend behind the temple  It is said that, kannaki on her way to Kodungalloor, she  passed Attukal. She took the form of a little girl. An old man, while he was performing his oblations in the Killi River, the girl requested him to help her cross the river.  Surprised to find the young girl alone, he not only helped her cross the river but took her to his house nearby. When the household members were preparing a warm welcome to the young girl, she vanished. At that  night the Goddess Bhagavathy appeared in the old man’s dream and demanded that he should establish an abode for her in the nearby sacred ground where the   spot marked by three lines. In the next morning the old man went to the spot revealed to him in the dream and he did find three marks indented on the ground. He went ahead and did the same, and it is said that this is at the location of the present Attukal temple. Many years later, the building was renovated by the local devotees.  

                The Goddess in the temple of Attukal is worshipped as the Supreme Mother. She is said to be the creator of all living beings as well as their destroyer.Devotees from all parts of India come to seek an end to their afflictions and to receive blessings.

Article Posted By : jinivp  On April 24, 2013lView All Articles

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Keywords :
Bhagavathy Temple , Attukal