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Home , Attukal, Attukal Temple, Kavu, Mother goddess, Sabarimala

International Journal of Advanced Development in Science and Technology Volume : 2 Issue : 03 May 2020 www.ijadst.com e-ISSN: 2582-1059

SITUATING TEMPLE AND KANNAKI CULT: A REPRESENTATION OF CONCEPT 1 Sumitha S S, 1 Research Scholar, Department of History, 1 University of , , 1 [email protected].

ABSTRACT in different forms such as , Siva etc. There are so many gods and in The cult of has prevailed from . The mother goddess concept in Kerala can remote antiquity. It may be supposed that the Pre- be seen in the form of cult and Aryan rules defined the female principle which Kannakicult. In Kerala the mother goddess is ultimately developed into a cult of Mother Goddess. worshipped as the goddess of fertility also. The cult is Many primitive tribes have a belief that the goddess evident from the seals discovered from Harappan gives them abundant harvest and prolific cattle. sites. Almighty the Eternal is worshipping in The Mother Goddess is worshiped as the different forms such as Brahma, Vishnu Siva etc. The goddess of fertility also. The belief in a goddess of cult of Mother Goddess has prevailed in remote fertility as a manifestation of is found antiquity. in the Indus Civilization. The cult of Bhagavathy or goddessis very A concrete evidence of this belief has been popular in Kerala many tribal and indigenous unearthed by the archaeologist from Indus Valley goddesses are also got incorporated into the popular sites. In South the Mother Goddess concept is cult. Kannaki is a symbolic representation of popular among people in the form of Sakthi or chastity, nobility and beauty. The temple at Attukal is Bhagavathy cult. The religion was of the type situated in a central place of the ancient city of practiced by other early agricultural communities in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala state and the Mediterranean region and the Middle East the abode of ‘ Sri Padmanabha’. Pilgrims from centering round fertility rites and of Mother all over the country who visit the Sree Padmanabha’ Goddess. The overriding impression of the spiritual also visit . Attukal temple in famous for basis of the Indus culture provided by archaeology is the Bhagavathy cult. Attukal Temple popularly of the fertility of religion; Man’s attempt to come known as of Women. terms with the relatives of his agrarian existence. In so Keywords: Kannaki, Pilgrims, Sabarimala of women, far as agriculture has remained the main basis of the Mother Goddess Indian spiritual culture still rooted to the soil, has taken over the heritage of Indus culture. This is 1. INTRODUCTION certainly true; much of the Harappan religion had There are so many gods and goddesses in survived in Hinduism which is a social as well as Hinduism. Almighty the Eternal God is worshipping Economic Phenomenon.

IJADST Page 1 International Journal of Advanced Development in Science and Technology Volume : 2 Issue : 03 May 2020 www.ijadst.com e-ISSN: 2582-1059

2. MOTHER GODDESS CONCEPT example, on certain days , is supposed to take Hinduism is rather the mosaic of distinct up her abode in it and the walk round the tree. cults, , sects and ideas and the adjusting, in Tree itself is worshipped in its natural form, the other extra posing or distancing of these to existing ones, the in and endowed with human shape and human placement drawing not only on belief and ideas but attributes. also on the Socio-Economic reality. The numerous The mother Goddess reappears in the religious pottery figurines from Mohen-Jo-Daro and Harappa life of India only after the laps of over a thousand provide the investigator with more definite years from the fall of Harappa. As already stated she information on the subject of deities particularly the was evidently the divinity of the people and the upper female . The female figures are almost invariably class seem to have preferred a god, who also shows in a damaged condition, but there is strong reason to features found in later Hinduism. In many ancient believe that they represent the great Mother Goddess, cultures the worship of Mother Goddess associated who was worshipped so widely in the ear and Middle with that of the bull, and these were no exception. East in ancient times, and whose cult is almost Some of them like the women kneeling down or universal amongst the lower class people in Modern holding a dish of cakes in her arms are probably India. Such figures are found both at Mohen-Jo-daro merely toys, without say religious meaning. and Harappa and are paralleled as we shall see, by The great Mother Goddess was made manifest kindered examples from the neighboring country of in female figurines and other iconography. Some of Baluchistan.In Mohen-Jo-daro and Harappa there are the female figurines manufactured by Harappans were evidences prevailing the nature worship a horned toys, but other was possibly motive offerings or Goddess is shown in the midst of the pipal, or sacred perhaps cult images for house hold . In some of big-tree, before which another horned deity is kneeling these countries they appear later or more and doing obeisance. spasmodically than in others, but there seems little Both the Goddess and her worshipper wear doubt that the various groups are traceable, if nor long plaits of hair, have their arms adorned with many directly to a common origin, at any rule to a bangles, and in the case of the latter, and possibility of community of religious ideas shared by the countries the former also, there is a floral or leafy spray were they are found; and generally accepted view springing from the head between the horns. A row of concerning them is that they represent the great female spirits, or deities, facing the opposite way to Mother or Nature Goddess, whose cult is believed to the seen, above, occupies the whole of the lower have originated from Antolia (Mother godeess) and register of the seal amulet, each figure wearing a spread theme though out most of Western Asia. spring on the head, along pigtail behind, but not horns. It seems certain that these pottery images of the These figures, the mythical seven in number, recall the Goddess, whose name is unknown, were kept in small pox Goddess ‘Sitala’ and her six sisters a almost every house in the ancient Indus cities, primitive Indian Cult regarded as indigenous. The probably in a recess or on a bracket on the wall, which pipal is, however, one of the many trees regarded as would account for the fact that the figures are nearly sacred in most part of India today, and there are all roughly finished at the back. The poorer and more several ceremonies connected with this cult. For illiterate people probably found a deity like the Mother IJADST Page 2 International Journal of Advanced Development in Science and Technology Volume : 2 Issue : 03 May 2020 www.ijadst.com e-ISSN: 2582-1059

Goddess, easier to understand and worship than any occupied by these Mother Goddess. In Vedic other. As already stated he was evidently the divinity mythology Goddess play only a subordinate part; the of the people, preferred a God, who also shows principal deities where exclusively male, and it was features found in later Hinduism. solely by virtue of their position as consorts of these In no country in the world has the worship of male Gods that the female deities acquired their the divine mother been from time immemorial so influence. Prithvi, the Goddess of the Vedic deep-rooted as in India. Her shrines are found in every Aryans was a figure quite distinct from the Great Earth town, every village and hamlet throughout the . or Mother Goddess of the older people. In the She is the “Mother” or “Great Mother” and prototype Gupta period female divinities, mostly of tribal origin of the power (Prakriti) which developed into that of and background, began to attain a position of Sakthi. Her representative are the Gramadevatas, importance. Brahmanical Gods, anticipating the whose name are region and whose local attributes may prominence they were destined to achieve in later vary, but who one and all personifications of the same times. Shri-Lakshmi the Goddess of wealth and plenty, power. became popular among the and . Every village has its own particular Goddess, to The assimilation of female deities into the whom rich and poor alike look for protection and Brahmanicalpantheon led to the growth of the whose worship often takes the place of every other cult which preached that the male could be activated creed. Nowadays, these gramadevatas are represented only through union with a female. The phenomenon generally by rudely carved images, but sometimes by owed much to the interaction between Brahmanical mere symbols such as a stone, while occasionally their and tribal ideas, facilitated by the ever-increasing shrines are quite empty. That like the Mother Goddess number of settlements in the backward areas; of Western Asia, they originated in a matriarchal state it later became the central feature of the tantric of society, is a highly reasonable supposition, but, religion. however this may be, there can be no question that By the connection of the goddess with they held a pre-eminent position among the national vegetation, she is addressedAnnadada (giver of food) deities of the non-Aryan population. and Annapurna (she who is full of food). In an This is indicated alike by the popularity of their agricultural society the Goddess of vegetation enjoyed cults among the primitive tribes, and by the fact that a place of supreme importance. The great Mother the leading parts in their rituals and ceremonies are Goddress of Asia minor, Ishtar and Isis also appear to taken, not , but by low-caste Pariahs be definitely associated with vegetation cults11. The members of some of the old tribes who are supposed striking representation of the , with a to know how to win the ear of the Goddess. plant growing from her womb is not unnatural when Some of the Pre-Aryan tribes have never really compared to the description found in the literature. come within the fold of Hinduism, and among these In an agricultural society the Goddess of tribes the worship of the Mother or Earth Goddess is vegetation enjoyed a place of supreme importance. comparatively strong. As a fact, there is no example of Gradually many aspects of Sakti or Mother Goddess the ancient Aryas, whether in India or else where, were worshiped by the Indian masses in different having elevated a female deity to the supreme position forms under a variety of names such as and IJADST Page 3 International Journal of Advanced Development in Science and Technology Volume : 2 Issue : 03 May 2020 www.ijadst.com e-ISSN: 2582-1059

Kali were the widest known. Sakti is personifies as became popular in this region. During the composition Goddess Devi having or magical facilities of Chilappathikaram, Kottavai was popular Goddess in and with countless ramifications. Goddess is thus the Tamilakam. She is described as the victorious manifestation and source of all energies of virtues and Goddess who carries in her hand a glorious spear and evil in nature. Sakthism is merely the off shoot of stands up on the neck of a defeated buffalo losing its saivism and tanthras hold that Siva and Sakti are blood through its flesh wounds. inseparable and it is the Sakthi which brought the A Bhagavathy of a particular locality is known Universe into existence. after that place name as a village Goddess. Generally The Goddess Durga is a popular diety and the the seat of the Goddess is found in a Kavu or grove. name is indifferently applied to all Goddess with a The term kavu is also applied to the separate shrines or terrible appearance and in a fighting attitude as Pampumkavu. The Goddess is supposed to destroyer of enemies. protect people from contagious diseases like small- The basic principle under lying the worship of pox, cholera etc. Devi is that Devi is the embodiment of Sakthi either in There are no idols in the non-Aryan particularly the form of virtue or evil aboriginal Goddess Dravidian shrines. Sometimes there is only a spear or originated from the popular cult of Mother Goddess trident (the weapon of the Goddess) fired straight in were gradually amalgamated with the galaxy of ground before a stone under a tree. In many of these Goddess described in and sacred shrines in Malabar the dance of is performed literature and found a place among the devotees for propitiating the gods and goddesses. Theyyam is through a revival for the traditional past. Thus many the most colourful and spectacular ritual theatre form Goddess like Ambika, Durga, Kali etc found in post- of Kerala. Theyyam means the dance of the god. The Rig Vedic literature were probably the non-vedic worship of Mother Goddess ancestor, hero, animal, deities adopted by the Vedic Aryans. snake are the important theme of theyyam dance. Bhadrakali, being a fierce Goddess as per On the whole these different Goddesses Sankalpa is worshipped different form of an represent the popular concept of of Hindu Ardravadi, Kali, Sumukhi, Bhdrakali, , religion. But the concept of a predominant mother cult Karinkali etc. Whenever may be the description the or sakthi cult developed in the ideology of religion deity is treated asMother Goddess and is fully capable subscribes to a more popular concept of . of granting bond, as described by the worshipper. The The different forms and different names of a single Bhagavathi is also worshipped in several forms such Goddess lead the orthodox and tradition bound masses as Mariamma, Mutharamma, Yakshi etc. by certain to the philosophical absolutism of higher religion. classes of people depending on their own concept of The author of Chilappathikaram was also aware the Goddesses. of two types of cultural currents of his days, the The origin of the local folk Goddess like classical and the folly. He makes an attempt to Mariyamma (goddess of small pox) was later integrate those current of folly religion with the connected to the popular Aryan goddess. When the religion of sophisticated people. A Sangam poet Aryan settlements were established in Kerala, the NachclinarkKiniyar describes the sacrifices conducted Aryan Goddess Durga with her different forms in favour of Kottavai, who was the goddess of war IJADST Page 4 International Journal of Advanced Development in Science and Technology Volume : 2 Issue : 03 May 2020 www.ijadst.com e-ISSN: 2582-1059 also. By the 8th century AD, the Aryan Goddess had Mother Goddess Kannaki along and installed became popular at least in their settlements in Kerala. her in a temple still known as Kannaki Temple, at Gradually the cult of Mother Goddess was Muthanthara in Palaghat. The Sankalpa of Kannaki is amalgamated with the popular cult of Bhagavathi. that she is a widow, should be attired in white; only The cult of Bhagavathi is very popular in white non-fragrant flowers should not worship. Kerala, many tribal and indigenous Goddess are Chettikulangara in , is worshipped incorporated in this popular cult. Thus the traditional primarily as Bhagavathi, and seldom referred as Kerala society still maintains some of this Kannaki. characteristics of the tribal past, especially in religion. The catalogue of drawings of the Goddess Probably there is no village without a or Kavu Mother in the repertoire of Mannan and Kurup of Bhagavathi in the region. functionaries included Kannaki, showing her as the Worshipped in diverse forms and under ‘Single Breasted one’. different names, the mother goddesses cult gives Chera Prince turned Jain Monk IlangoAdigal is religion of Kerala and its folly culture an individually the author of the epic Chilappathikaram. In of its own. For several ruling families in Kerala, the KaverippoomPattanam, Kannaki and Madhavi are different forms of Bhagavathi had been the shown living as two outstanding characters of nobility Kuladevatha or family deity. and beauty. Kannaki is the symbol of chasting, A multiplicity of village Goddesses are nobility and beauty. Madhavi is an alluring apsara and propitiated during the festival of the Kalakam. They an acclaimed dancer who is almost equated with are considered to be the guardian deities of the Kannaki in importance. villages. These Goddesses bear different names. In IlangoAdikal begins Chilappathikaram by several items, the same costumes and makeup are used introducing Kannaki in her bridal grandeur. Kovalan is by the folly dancers. Thus in appearance many of them the son of Masathuvan, a popular merchant in the have no separate identity. They are called after the capital of the Chola Kingdom, is enamored of villages where there primary shrines are situated. As Madhavi a dancer and spends his time and wealth on the cult of Mother Goddess is laying prevalent in her neglecting his wife Kannaki. Madhavi loves him Kerala in different forms the popular cult among the but owing to a misunderstanding Kovalan, having lost village folk is still the cult of Mother Goddess. all his wealth. He leaves her and goes back to his wife who then accompanies him to Madhavi. Then he 3. KANNAKI CULT return to the Pandya Kingdom, in hope that may Kannaki is a symbolic representation of recoup his fortunes. chastity, nobility and beauty. She is a paragon of Kovalan, trying to sell his wife’s anklets in virtue. She is an embodiment of values. Kannaki, the Madhurai, is suspected of having stolen it from the heoine of Chilappathikaram is not worshipped as queen of the land and is executed as a thief. When she much except in a few temples in Palaghat town. She hears of her lord’s, Kannaki takes her other anklet, is the goddess of the Muttan community of traders, goes to the Pandya king proves her dead husband’s originally from Chola and Kongu territories, who had innocence and calls sown divine vengeance on the migrated to Valluvanad about centuries back. city.The Pandya King dies on knowing the injustice he IJADST Page 5 International Journal of Advanced Development in Science and Technology Volume : 2 Issue : 03 May 2020 www.ijadst.com e-ISSN: 2582-1059 has caused of Madhurai is burned into ashes and changes into an angry, terrible one whom she people begin to worship Kannaki as a Goddess. confronts evil. She gives light and luster to all under It is said, the Chera King, hearing of these her mighty radiance. events, undertook a of conquest to north The pilgrims from all over the country, who brought stones from the Himalayas and water from visit SreePadmanabhaSwamy Temple and worship the the river Gangas and built a temple for Kannaki. It is Lord, do not consider their visits complete without the the Chera King’s brother Ilango, who sings this epic. visit to the shrirne of the supreme Mother In the emotional stasis it achieves this epic is very Attukalmma. Vishnumaya took the incarnation of modern in spirit and can ranks as one of the best long Bhagavathy to annihilate the evil and produce the poems of the world, along with Homer and Dante. good in the world in the present Era namely Kaliyuga. Thottam songs conducted in Bhadrakali temples in The temple at Attukal is situated in a central Kerala considerably influenced by this epic.As days place of the ancient city of Thiruvannathapura, the passed on, the dietyKannaki was called Bhagavathi. capital of Kerala state and the abode of ‘Lord Sri By offering PongalBhagavathi is worshipped in many Padmanabha’. Pilgrims from all over the country who parts of Kerala as she grants what is wished.It is visit the SreePadmanabha’ also visit Attukal believed that this Kannakitravelled to Temple.Attukal is easily accessible by road, rail and Thiruvananthapuram, and stayed here at the banks of air from any part of India. It is about 2 kms. South Killiyar just to cool off her strined legs. It is in this east of SreePadmanabhaSwamy temple and is not far sense the place got the name Attukal (the place which from the confluence of the two rivers viz. Karamana helped to cool off this travel-sore legs of the andKilliyar and is linked to the - Taliyal Kannaki).So AttukalBhagavathi is worshipped road. Amidst green paddy fields and shady especially by women not only from India but even palms, on the extensive ground, the temple of Attukal from different countries, too with extraordinary shines majestically as a beautiful landmark. Here the devotion by offering Pongala. In this temple the omnipotent Goddess reigns supreme, eternally Mother Goddess concept is worshiped in the form of bestowing peace and tranquility to all. Kannaki cult. Accroding to mythology, AttukalBhagavathy is supposed to be the divinized form of Kannaki, the 4. ATTUKAL DEVI WORSHIP famous heroine of Chilapathikaram, written The AttukalBhagavathy temple, one of the byIlangoadikal, the Tamil Poet, The story goes that famous temples of South Inida, is popularly described after the destructionof ancient city of , as the “Sabarimalaof women”, as women form the Kannaki left the city and reached Kerala via major portion of devotees. The Goddess in the temple and on the way to Kodungalloor took a of Attukal is workshipped in the present era viz. sojuoun at Attukal. Kannaki is supposed to the ‘Kaliyuga’ as the Supreme Mother. She is recognized incarnation of Parvathy, the consort of Paramasiva. both as the creator of all living beings and the mighty The pongalaMahotsavam is the most important preserver as well as the destroyer of them all. Even festival of AttukalBhagavathy Temple. The offering though she is gentle and kind to her devotees and of Pongala is a sepecial temple practice prevalent in resides in their hearts, her gentle and pious form the southern part of Kerala and some parts of IJADST Page 6 International Journal of Advanced Development in Science and Technology Volume : 2 Issue : 03 May 2020 www.ijadst.com e-ISSN: 2582-1059

Tamilnadu, It is a ten-day programme commencing above said facts one can assume that the Kannaki cult on the karthika star of month of Makram- which seen in Attukal temple is nothing other than the Kumbam (Febrary-March) and closing with the modified version of Mother Goddess worship sacrificial offering knows as Kuruthithrapanam at REFERENCES night. On the ninth day of the festival the world BOOK famous temple with premises of houses of people of [1] Anita Ganeri, World History,Delhi, 2016,p.36 all caste, creed and religion, open fields, raods, [2] A.L.Basham,The wonder that was commercial institutions, premises of Government India,Newyork,1954,p.23.2 offices etc. Emerges as a consevrated ground for [3] Irfan Habib,The Indus civilization,New Delhi, observing Pongala rituals for lakhs of women devotees 2002,p.56. assembling from different parts of Kerala and outside. [4] Asko Parpola, Decephering the Indus Script, New The ceremony is exclusively confined to women folk York, 200 (ed.) p51 and the enormous crowd, which gathers in [5] Jha, DN, Early India, New delhi, 2004, p.170 Thuruvananthapuram on this auspicious day is [6] Jayasankar S, Temples of Kerala, reminiscent of the Kumbhamela Festival of North Kerala,1997,p.18 India. On either side of the elegant front gopura- are [7] K.K.N.Kurup,The Cult of Theyyam and Hero the icons based on the story of Goddess Kannaki. On Worship in Kerala,Calicut,2000,p.40 the southern Gopura, the puranic story of “Dskshyaga” [8] Tyler,E.B, Primitive Culture, London, 1903,p.70. is depicted in sculptures. The decorated gate at the [9] Lekshmi Rajeev, Attukal Amma : The Goddess entrance of the temple is by itself an excellent example of Millions, Kerala, 2016 Aug 1 of architectural beauty. [10] Pattom G Ramachandran Nair, There are two idols of the Goddess in the Thiruvananthapurathinte Ithihasam, Government sanctum sanctorum. The original idol is preserved in of Kerala ,2003,p.407 all its pristine beauty covered inornamental gold [11] . Attukal Amba Prasadam, Attukal Bhagavathy embedded with installed stones. The second idol of Kshethra Trust, Thiruvananthapuram, 2009. the Goddess is installed besides the original one. [12] Attukal Amba Prasadam, Attukal Bhagavathy Within the temple corridors are also installed carvings Kshethra Trust, Thiruvananthapuram, 2012 and sculptures of Lord Ganesan, the God and Lord . At the centre of the Sanctum within the Sreekovil, at a consecrated spot is installed the idol of the Goddes Attukal Bhagavathyemaninating light and luster to all.

5. CONCLUSION The temple is essentially a vehicle of religion built for fulfilment of the spiritual aims of the people. In Kerala the Mother Goddess is worshipped popularly in the form of Bhagavathycult. After considering the IJADST Page 7