SHIVARATHRI SRI VAIDYANATHA TEMPLE, KANHIRANGAD

Panchayath/ Municipality/ Thaliparambu Municipality Corporation

LOCATION District

Nearest Town/ Thaliparambu Town – 4.7Km Landmark/ Junction

Nearest Bus station Sri Vaidyanatha Kshetram Bus Stop - 250 m

Nearest Railway Railway Station -11.5 Km station ACCESSIBILITY

Nearest Airport Calicut International Airport- 137 Km

Sri Vaidyanatha temple Kanhirangad Taliparambu-670142 Phone: +91-460-2227005 CONTACT DATES FREQUENCY DURATION

TIME February / March (Kumbham) Annual 1 Day

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL (Legend/History/Myth)

Lord is worshipped as Vaidya Natha (curer of all diseases). The temple is located at Kanhirangad, 6 kilometres from Thaliprambu, on a hill top. The main is Shiva, facing east. Here the deity is self incarnated and as the name (Vaidyanatha) implies, the deity is a celebrated Ayurveda physician. Bhagawathy, and Ganapathy are sub at this temple. Two deities are also performed in this temple Ullattil Bhagavathi and Katakulangara Bhagavathi. These are believed to be the watch and ward staff of Sri Kanhirangattappan.

Ullattil Bhagavathi is considered to be performing her duty while always on move and the other Bhagavathi is always seen sitting stable in her seat.Sri Vaidyanatha Temple is is located on a hill top at Kanhirangad, 6 km east of Thalipramba Town and 28 km north of Kannur Town. The temple is regarded as one of the 108 ancient Shiva temples of . Here the deity is self incarnated and as the name Vaidyanatha implies, the deity is a celebrated Ayurveda physician. Bhagawathy, Ayyappan and Ganapathy are sub deities. The deity is also commonly known as Kanhirangattappan (deity of Kanhirangad). Skin and eye diseases get cured here by offering Bhajan (singing of god praising poems). The Kanhiram tree with no bitter leaves is the other significant attraction of the temple. The two Theyyam deities, Ullattil Bhagavathi and Ktakulangara Bhagavathi, are believed to be the watch and ward staff of Sri Kanhirangattappan.

Local Approximately 6000 RELEVANCE- NO. OF PEOPLE (Local / National / International) PARTICIPATED EVENTS/PROGRAMS DESCRIPTION (How festival is celebrated)

Kodiyettu Koodiyattom Shivratri is the main festival which is in the month of Chakyar Kumbam (February/March). Another auspicious occasion is Theyyam the Aaru Njayar (Sunday that falls on the 6th day of any Laksham Deepam month). Besides this, prayers offered on any samarpanam, Sunday in general are also considered to be auspicious in Thiruvathirakali, nature as the deity was consecrated on a Sunday. , Sahasradeepam, The festival starts with the Kodiyettu and continues. It would Spiritual Speeches include performance of various art forms like Koodiyattom , Cultural Festivities , Theyyam etc. Dramas Arangettam Theyyam is part of the festivities here and is a popular ritual form of worship of in Kerala, , predominant in the area (consisting of present day Kasargod, Kannur Districts, Taluk of Wayanad and and Taluks of of Kerala) and also in and Kodagu of as a living cult with several thousand-year-old traditions, rituals and customs. The performers of Theyyam belong to the lower caste community, and have an important position in Theyyam.People of these districts consider Theyyam itself as a God and they seek blessings from this Theyyam.

The festival starts with Kodiyettam and the festivities are prominent in the evening time. Laksham deepam samarpanam, Thiruvathirakali, Panchavadyam, Sahasradeepam, spiritual speeches, cultural festivities, Dramas etc are prominent. Three days of continuous dance dramas and arangettam for students of dance etc are prominent.