TEMPLES IN KOLLAM

AMMACHIVEEDU MUHURTHI TEMPLE

 The origin of the Temple can not be traced through records. But it is founded some six hundred years ago for the spiritual benefit of Ammachi Veedu family, an ancient aristocratic family in Quilon (Kollam). It is believed that the Diety (No Idol) is the Guru of Dharma Sastha of the Temple named Shasthamkotta Temple about 35 kms meters away from theAmmachi veedu. On the basis of a marriage ceremony Lord Dharma Sastha with pleasure entrusted the Diety to one of the Karanavans, who is now worshipped in the Temple as 'Brahma Rakshas', on the right hand side of the Diety. Since the Diety has the position of a Guru, the members of the Tarawad is prohibited to enter into the premises of Shasthamkotta Temple. But on all auspicious occasions poojas have to be performed there, and get the blessings of Dharmasastha. The most important aspect is that the 'Garbhagrah' of this temple is only 4 x 4 x 6 width, breadth and height. There is a Peedam over which the diety is installed. Two 'Coanches' are placed over the Peedam and recently the Peedam is covered by silver plate and the two coanches are placed in golden covers. The diety is considered as powerful and the devotees without caste colour and creed worship in the temple. Adjoining the temple there is a Sarpakavu where in Parappooramma Bhagavathi is installed and Nagaraja, Nagayakshi and Naga Kanyaka are also there. The annual 'Noorum Palum, and Sarpabali is performed by Tantri of 'Pampumekkadu mom of Mala' .So also the Tantri of the main temple is Sreedharan Namboodiri of Puthumana mom. The main Upadevathas are Ganapathy, Rektha Chamundi, Paramparu, Yakshi, marutha, Rekshus, Gandharvan, Vethalam, Yogeeswarans. Apart from there another diety which is placed out side the temple premises is 'Ginnu', worshipped by Muslim community. 

There is no exact date on which the festival is to be conducted. The annual festival falls on Dhanu of every year but it is to be done after the Mandala Pooja is over. This fact gives ample proof that the diety has some relation with Dharmasastha and the members can not go on pilgrimage to Sabarimala temple. 10 days festival is conducted in the temple without any financial support from the public. No donation is solicited for the purpose. On the 10th day the Karanavan conducts the pooja in the Kalam specially prepared for the purpose and boiled Ninam is offered to the diety. This is a rarest phenomina available in the temple.

The diety is worshipped by the name Moorthy Amma, which, denotes the absence of an idol. Every year Sahazrakalasam is conducted and this year it will be on June 5 to 7. The desires of the people will be materialised in all sense by the Mother. There is a Sree Chakra prathishta in the temple on the left side of the Diety. This Amma can be worshipped in any form, it is on the basis of mental desire of the worshippers.

Main Offerings - Ganapathi Homam, Bhagavathy Seva, Muzhukkappu to Ganapathy, Palpayasam, Vidyarambam, Thulabharam, Kunjoonu, Malarnivedyam, Meni payasam, Abhishekas, Noorum Palum, Ayilyam Oottu, Panthirunazhi etc are the important offerings in this famous temple.

CAVE TEMPLE

The cave temple at Kollam is carved out from a gigantic piece of rock, lying in the middle of a paddy field. From a distance this architectural wonder gives the impression of a sleeping elephant. This rock cut temple represents the ambiance of an ancient culture and also the traditional artistic excellence prevalent during that period. The temple, known as Kottukal Kal Thrikovil Cave Temple, has two square rooms with the main deity, Lord Ganapathy in between. The other deities at the cave temple include Lord Siva in the form of Siva Lingam, Hanuman and Nandikeswara. A Mandapam in front of one of the rooms stands testimony to the skills and genius of sculptors and architects who build this temple from a single piece of rock. The temple premise also has a perennial well.

DHARMASASTHA TEMPLE

The deity here is Lord Ayyappa. Here the temple roof is of corrugated GI sheets as against tiles in most of the shrines in Kerala. This is just to save the roof from the wrath of monkeys in large number as if they are the devotees. The custom here is that devotees have to step on the droppings of the primate. The temple is close to Sasthamkotta lake which meets the drinking water needs of the entire district. 

KODIMOOTIL SRI BHAGAVATHI

It is a family temple of Kodimootil family.Located at Paripally in Kalluvathukkal Panchayat. This shrine is co-related to Mandakkadu Devi temple. The story behind the co-relation is interesting. The eldest male member of the Kodimootil family was a staunch believer of Kandakkadu Devi. He used to light oil lamp assumed for Devi in the premises of his home and prayed before it. Later this task was entrusted to his young grand daughter. One day when she came to light the lamp she noticed a a soil mount like the one created by white ants on the side of lighting spot. She removed it and went through the process of lighting. Next day she again noticed soil mount which too she removed. This process continued for days and ultimately she reported the matter to the grand father. He visualized the presence of Devi and conducted a Devaprasanam (astrological verification) when his visualization was confirmed. Soon after, he raised a temple and installed the deity.The co-relation is also reflected in the festivals in these two temples. The 10-day festival ends on the last Monday of Kumbam (February/March) whereas in Mandakkadu temple the festival concludes on the last Tuesday of Kumbam. The one day difference in the concluding days at both the temples is to enable the eldest male of Kodimootil family to go to the Mandakkadu temple with Irumudikettu (auspicious bundle containing sanctified food items on the head) to participate in the final day of festival in Mandakkadu temple as obligatory.The 10-day festival begins with Pongala on the 1st day in which several thousands of women participate. The next important event is Paduka which is a ritual found only here. The devotees together with relatives and neighbours collect ritual items and bring them in baskets to the temple with Vadyagosham (percussion musics). This procedure is Paduka. It is done region-wise in order to control the crowd. The concluding day is earmarked for Shayana Pradikshana. Devotee blinds his eyes with cloth bandage and both the hands (stretched) and both the legs (stretched) tied with cloth. Thereafter lay bare body in the outer courtyard ground of the temple and circamambulate three times. This is Shayana Pradikshana. This ritual starts from 4 in the morning. The individuals with Vritam (fast) who participate in this ritual come accompanied by percussion musics and artifacts. Several people participate in this ritual.

UMAMAHESWARA SWAMY TEMPLE

The legend says that Uma (Parvathi) and Maheshwara (Shiva) came down from the peak of Kailasa mountain in Himalaya to the Agastya mountain and finally reached Kollam town. Amazed by the beauty of Kollam articulated by beautiful gardens, palaces and royal highways, Shiva told Parvathi : one who visits Kollam will desert his/her Illam (Illam is a Brahminical idiom for home). The beauty of the place persuaded them to stay for the night and they located a banyan tree to rest under. The sculptor Venkiteshwaran who was living nearby had a dream in that night that he should build a temple for Shiva and Parvathi under the banyan tree. Obeyingly he constructed a temple and installed the idols of Uma and Maheshwara which later glorified into Mahaskhetra (big temple). Here both the deities are on a single Peedam (small platform).No religious discrimination. Everybody is welcome. When Chinese, Parsis, Portuguese and Brits were here they used to come for the accomplishment of their wishes. The attitude of Shiva and Parvathi is: demand and get. Swayamvara Archana is a simple ritual for availing good marriage alliance whereas Uma Maheshwara Pooja and Ganapathi Homam (Homam is a bonfire ritual) are aimed at nullifying the ill-effects pronounced in the horoscopes.The temple festival is in the month of Edavam ay/June).
OCHIRA TEMPLE

Also known as Dakshina Kashi, Ochira is a unique pilgrim centre, situated 34 km north of Kollam town on the way to Alappuzha. There are many versions about the origin of the name Ochira. One of them is that, 'Om' the representation of Parambrahmam, the god of all gods and the word 'Chira' (piece of land) combine together to form 'Om Chira' meaning the 'land of Parambrahmam'. During the course of time Om chira became Ochira.

Attracting thousands of devotees, Parabrahma temple in Ochira is uniquely different from other temples in Kerala. The peculiarity of the temple complex, spread across 36 acres of open land is that it does not contain a sanctum sanctorum nor is there an idol or deity for worship. This pilgrim center believes in the existence of universal consciousness or one supreme power known as Parabrahma. One can only find 'Aal thara's' (a peepal tree with a base foundation) where pujas are performed. There are no official pujaris.

The 50 feet high twin gopuram (tower) in front of the complex is carved with many ancient sculptures. These Gopurams, East Nada, West Nada, Theerthakkulam (sacred pond), Ondikkavu, Ayyappa Temple, Mahalakshmi Temple and Ganapathi temple are the points of worship at Ochira temple. Another interesting feature of the temple is connected with its offerings. Bulls are considered to be sacred in this temple and believed to be the vehicle of Parabrahmam. Hence offerings are made in the form of well decorated bulls named 'Ochirakkaala' (Sacred Bull). Devotees can also donate calves as an offering.

Ochira Kali (held in mid-June), Panthrandu Vilakku ('twelve lamps festival', held in November-December) and Irupathettam Onam are the famous festivals celebrated here. For the last 60 years, the temple administration manages a social organisation named 'Annadana Mandhiram' and this organisation serves daily free lunch for about 500 people 

27 km away from the town and near Alumkadavu. The idol-less temple is dedicated to the notorious Kaurava. Duryodhana was served food and water when he was found tired by the low-cast Kuruvas here during his pursuit of Pandavas. As a custom, the priest of the temple is from Kuruva community. The rituals and customs are Dravidian. Animal sacrifice was a usual practice here earlier. Following vehement protests from enlightened citizens this deplorable practice is discontinued now. During worship a rooster wanders around symbolically. In the 2nd Friday of Meenam (March/April) there is festival when Duryodana’s favoured beverage toddy is brought by the devotees as offering. As the toddy is in great demand during this day, the devotees who are unable to get toddy bring tamboolam (betel nut and arcecanut),red silk or a rooster as offering. Malanad is located 14 km away from Sasthamkotta