Festivals

The panchadurga pooja:

In this special pooja known as panchadurga pooja, Aykunnu Panadavagiri Durga Devi, is uniquely worshipped in her five aspects. The singularness of this worship is that by performing separate poojas for each of  her five aspects – as Durga, Aaryaa, Devi, Bhagavati and as Kanyaka – the devotee is specially bestowed with her love and blessings. A ceremony associated with this pooja is the ritualistic washing of Brahmana’s feet and feeding him. This is believed to be greatly beneficial in redressing family problems, for begetting progeny, for mental peace, for family prosperity, for strength of mind for redress of poverty, family distress and such.

Mangalya siddhi pooja:

The temple management conducts the mangalya siddhi pooja to Aikunnu Pandavgiri Devi, the bestower of the boon of auspiciousness, on pooyam of every month on behalf of  the devotees who register for it. This highly popular and efficient pooja is specially beneficial for gaining nedumangalyam, the blessing to outlive the husband, for gaining the desired person as spouse, for removing hindrances to marriage, and for gaining one’s desire etc.

The manglaya siddhi pooja performed in the abode of Ayikunnu Mother, where Draupadi was granted this boon of nedumangalya as well as victory in battle for her husbands, is said to be very fruitful. It was certainly due Devi’s grace that Draupadi shed her body after living her long life as a wedded wife before any of her husbands passed away – a feat that neither Sita devi nor Rugmini devi could achieve. This pooja which lasts for about an hour, begins at 9 in the morning. The cost is Rs 400 per devotee who offers the pooja. It is necessary to book the pooja in advance by making payment at the temple cash counter. On the manglaya siddhi pooja  day, special poojas for solution of problems concerning land properties, as well as the sarvaiswarya pooja for cure of diseases, are also performed. All such special offerings must be booked in advance at the temple counter by making payment and obtaining a receipt.

A few memoirs from the elderly ones:

Some interesting and revealing memoirs in connection with the temple and its participation in the famous Aarattupuzha pooram as recalled by elders of the place is given herebelow:

It is believed that in the olden days, the village deity Thiruvullakkavu sastha, installed a flag post and hoisted the flag in the North nada of temple on behalf of Aikkunnu Pandavagiri Devi, the Peruvanam village goddess. The flag used to be hoisted by the Nampoothiris of Peruvanam households. Subsequently this ritual came to be abandoned because of severe discord among the Nampoothiri households. However after the renovation and rejuvenation processes of the temple (by HNP) were completed in 1995, a permanent flag post was installed for Devi in the Pandavagiri Temple itself. This flag post is decoratively encased in gleaming brass sheath. Yet, the Pandavagiri Devi continues her practice of going formally to the Thirvullakkavu Temple, to take  a round in circumambulation of Sastha and return.

The Peruvanam Pooram and Devi’s participation in it along with Cherpu Bhagavati:

In the olden days, the rights for the temple nada (entry gates) used to be held by the influential Nampoothiri households. The Eastern nada was under the control of the Poomulli Mana who were the owners of the Oorakattamma Thriuvadi while the rights for the Temple and its western nada was with the Chittoor Mana. The unhealthy competition between these manas to conduct the pooram festival, exceeded all bounds. It ultimately resulted in the blockade of nadas rightfully assigned to the Devi and Devas, thus preventing them from entering the temple for pooram. In one of the subsequent years, when it became apparent that the Nampoothiris of Chittoor mana  would obstruct the respected Oorakathama Thiruvadi from going to the Pruvanam Kshetram for pradakshinam after the pooram, the Oorakam people accompanied by Chathukudam Sastha (whose ownership rested with the Desamangalam mana), entered the temple, performed the pradakshinam and completed the temple rituals. The next year, anticipating  that the Cherpu Bhagavathi would be blockaded from entering through the eastern nada by the people of Poomulli mana (who owned that nada), the graama devata of Peruvanam accompanied by  the equally adorable Aikunnu Bhagavati  ceremoniously led the Cherpu Bhagavati for pooram through the eastern nada. Since then the joint ceremonial procession by Cherpu Bhagavathi and Aikunnu amma and the functions in aaraattupuzha, Todukulam and Mandaram kadavu, have become  a regular feature. On the day the attam flag at Cherpu Bhagavati temple is hoisted, the Aikunnu amma goes to that Bhagavati Temple and conducts a solemn pradakshina before returning to her Aikunnam  abode for the flag hoisting function in Devi’s own temple.

Aikunnu Devi’s aaraattu ceremonies in connection with the Peruvanam-Aaraattupuzha Pooram:

Star

Ceremony

Makeeram purappadu

Ceremonial bath (aaraattu) in Sankaramangalam Temple pond (teertha kulam) at 9 p.m.

Punartham

Aarattu in Sankaramangalam teertha kulam in the morning.

Pooyam

After the Peruvanam pooram, aarattu in Peruvanam Todukulam, in the morning, jointly with Cherpu Bhagavati.

Aayilyam

aarattu in Sankaramangalam tertha kulam in the morning Pooram: After the aaraattupuzha joint procession, joint aaraattu in Mandaram kadavu with Cherpu Bhagavati.

Pooram

After the aaraattupuzha joint procession, joint aaraattu in Mandaram kadavu with Cherpu Bhagavati.

 

 

Important offerings (Vazhipaadu) in the temple: 

Draupadi dinam (Draupadi day): 

09-May-2024 (Thursday)

Pattum taaliyum

For mangalya saubhagya Rs 350/-

Pudava, vaalkannadi

For nedumangalya siddhi Rs 400/-.

Ashtalakshmi taamboola samarpanam

For ashtaiswarya praapti Rs 450/-

Naarangaa vilakku

For satrudosha shanti and uddishtakaaryasiddhi Rs 15/-.

Pattu chaarthal

Rs 50/-.

Udyaasthamana pooja

Full day’s Rs20000/-.

Manjal para

For nedumangalya and mangalya, and roga samanam Rs 300/-.

Brahmani paattu

For nedumangalya and mangalyaRs 100/-.

 

Special Pushpaanjali:  

Swayamvara pushpanjali

For mangalya saadhya

Mangalya sooktam

For auspicious marriage

Bhaagya sooktam

For getting employed and for progress in employment

Purusha sooktam

For achieving the desired, and protection of conceived child

Sree sookytam

For family’s auspiciousness, progress and fame.

Samvaada sooktam

For harmony between wife-husband

Saraswatam

For enhancement of intelligence and shcolarship of the children

Dwaadasa panchaakshari

For begetting progeny and redress of illness

Special Homas/Poojas:

Mahaganapti homam

For successful conduct of karmas (actions)

Karuka homam

For relief from childhood diseases

Saraswati homam

For children’s progress in education

Mrityunjaya homam

For freedom from severe diseases and danger etc

Swayamvara homam

For removal of hindrances to maidens’ marriage

Aiykyamatya homam

For harmony and unanimity among married partners and family members, also for reuniting those living in separation.

Sarwaisvarya homam

For ensuring a fortunate life

Navagraha homam

For weakening the effects of misfortunes

Sudarsna homam

For preventing  enmity and violent  deaths.

Santanagopala homam

For getting progeny and ensuring their welfare

Tilahomam

For relief from matru-pitru saapam

Other important offerings (vazhipaadukal):

Neeranjanam

For Sani Dosha redress Rs 80/-

Tengamuri naivilakku

For enhancing intelligence and scholarship.

Sampoorna naivilakku

Rs 2500.

Kalabhaabhishekam

Rs 20000.

Choolu Vazhipadu

For luxurious hair growth, redress of scalp diseases.

Kayar vazhipaadu

For redress of breathing and chest diseases.

Uruli kamizhtttal

For successful pregnancy.

Vahana pooja

For protection of newly acquired vehicle.

Ari para

For redress of abdominal diseases and for begetting progeny.
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