NEYYATTA MAHOTSAVAM PUTHUKKAI SREE SADASHIVA KSHETHRAM Panchayat/ Municipality/ Kanhangad Municipality Corporation LOCATION District Kasargod Nearest Town/ Nileshwaram Town – 1.7Km Landmark/ Junction Nearest Bus Station Nileshwaram Bus Stand – 2.2 Km Nearest Railway Nileshwaram Railway Station – 4.2 Km Station Kanhangad Railway Station – 13.3 Km ACCESSIBILITY Nearest Airport Mangalore Airport – 69 Km Sree Sadashiva Temple Puthukai,Neeleshwaram Kanhangad – 671314 Contact: Kanhangad Municipality CONTACT Phone: +91-467-2204530 DATES FREQUENCY DURATION TIME January –February (Makaram 6-22) Annual 15 Days ABOUT THE FESTIVAL (Legend/History/Myth) Neyyatta Mahotsavam is one of the important festivals at the Sree Sadashiva Temple in Puthukai. This temple is believed to be over 1200 years old. The presiding deity at the temple is Lord Shiva as Kirathamurthy. The legend of the temple is based on Lord Shiva’s and his consort Goddess Parvathi’s decision to test the devotion of Arjuna (third of Pandavas) who has been trying to appease the Lord for the deadly ‘Pashupatha Asthra’. The Lord disguised himself as a hunter and began a fight with Arjuna. Inspite of the best of his weapon skills, Arjuna was unable to defeat the hunter (the Lord in disguise). The Lord was pleased with Arjuna’s dedication and skill and granted him the weapon with the advice that it may be used righteously and only against an equal opponent, before disappearing into the Shivalinga that Arjuna worshipped at the place. The festival at the temple is in honour of the Kirathamurthy form of Lord Shiva. Local Over 10,000 RELEVANCE- NO. OF PEOPLE (Local / National / International) PARTICIPATED EVENTS/PROGRAMS DESCRIPTION (How festival is celebrated) Neyyatta Mahotsavam is one of the rarest of such festivals in kerala. At a predetermined time of the first day of festival, a number of Yogis (not less than 16 in number) begin Thidambu Nritham penance for 14 days. This includes following a Satwik once Vilakku Puja in a day diet and complete devotion to God through Neyyattam meditation and rituals. Neyyattam refers to pouring of ghee Thayambaka (clarified butter) ritualistically brought by the Yogis to the Sandhyavela sanctum sanctorum, on the idol. Sandhyavela is an Aarattu Sadya important ritual that is practiced beginning the 13th of Aarattu Makaram for 7 days. Yogis walk on burning embers one after the other amidst chanting of mantras. The festival is marked by traditional accompaniments of music and procession and ends with Aarattu and Uthra Vilakku. .