| Alumpeth temple is an ancient kalari temple of Sri | | | | season, Ayyappa devotees crowed in the temple |
| Bhadrakali (Devi), located at Vathikulam, a remote | | | | to start their sabarimala pilgrimage.Veerabhadra: |
| but beautiful village in Kerala state of South India. | | | | Brother of Devi, born along with her from Siva at |
| Vathikulam village is accessable by road travelling | | | | the time of Daksha's killing.Brahma Rakshas is |
| 7 kms towards east from Kayamkulam town. | | | | considered as a part of Lord Vishnu.Yakshi : Friend |
| Kayamkulam is a well known town on national | | | | and helper of Devi. Tender coconut is her favorite |
| highway 47 about 108 kms towards north of | | | | offering.Nagaraja and Nagayakshi : King and queen |
| Trivandrum and 110 kms towards south from | | | | of snakes worshiped in ancient Kerala.. Panoor |
| Cochin. Kayamkulam is well connected by railway | | | | Kavu, bush located 1 km. south west of the |
| also. | | | | temple is also known for snake worship |
| Motive behind the incarnation of Sribhadrakali | | | | .Yogiswaran: Ancient family chief and founder of |
| (Devi) is to save the gods from insult and despair, | | | | Alumpeth temple. His seat is Kadanath Kalari |
| people worship her in times of dejoice, neglect | | | | located 600 m. south of main temple.Gandharwan |
| and impending emotional distress. Devi is also | | | | (Musician of Heaven) also sits at Kadanath |
| known to be a goddess on call at times when life | | | | Kalari.FESTIVALSMajor festival in this temple is on |
| is in risk and existence is felt to be impossible. | | | | "Pathamudayom" (10th day of month Medom). |
| Since Alumpeth temple is in the form of ancient | | | | Usually it comes on 23rd of April every year. |
| Indian Kalari (school of literal and martial arts) | | | | Festival starts with special pooja for main and sub |
| people depend her when their progress in | | | | gods. In the morning ladies offer "Pongal" to the |
| educational, cultural, scientific and legal endeavours | | | | goddess. Pongal is a custom in which ladies cook |
| are thwarted by enemies or negative situational | | | | Pudding in temple premises for fulfilment of their |
| factors. | | | | long cherished dreams. Kalasam, ezhunnallathu are |
| PrayerSit in a comfortable position with closed | | | | conducted during day time. Night there will be |
| eyes and chant the manthra:"Ya devi | | | | traditional cultural programs like Kathakali, Music |
| sarwabhootheshu | | | | contest, Koothu, Theeyattu etc. Festival ends |
| mathruroopena samsthitha | | | | next day early morning with gurusi (holy sacrifice) |
| namasthasyai namasthasyai | | | | and fire works. Vijayadasami is another festival in |
| namasthasyai namo nama:"several times and | | | | this temple.Devibhagavatham (epic text on Sree |
| achieve bliss.Irrespective of size or amount, | | | | Bhadrakali) is read. Children from nearby places |
| devotees offer anything under the sun to Devi. | | | | are brought for vidyarambham (commencement |
| Offerings range from a garland or flower to an | | | | of study). Spiritual cheif writes alphabets on |
| elephant. Fridays and Tuesdays are very | | | | children's tongue with gold. |
| important for this prayer. For resolving long | | | | During Sabarimala season (Vrichikam, Dhanu |
| standing problems, one has to better follow | | | | months) special Ayyappa Poojas are conducted. |
| Velliyazhcha Vritham (Friday Fasting Prayer). The | | | | Ayyappa devotees crowed here for Malayidil |
| program starts on thursday after evening bath, | | | | (commencements of 2 months penence for |
| taking no solid food other than fruits from | | | | Ayyappa) and kettumuruckal (fitting their bags for |
| thursday evening to saturday morning. | | | | sabarimala pilgrimage).Other Hindu festivals like |
| Intoxicants, non-vegetarian food and sex should | | | | Onam, Vishu, Deepavali, Sivarathri, Bharani, |
| be avoided during these hours, should bath twice | | | | Ayilyam, Ekadasi are also celebrated. Star Rohini |
| a day and chant the above manthra, this should | | | | of every month is also important |
| be continued for any number of weeks until | | | | here.OFFERINGS(A) Vazhipadu/offeringBrief list of |
| desired outcome is received. This prayer has high | | | | major offerings are given. Rate mentioned is for 1 |
| significance from naturopathic and yogic | | | | year. Devotees can book the offerings by sending |
| perspective also.Mythology | | | | a cheque/Draft drawn in favour of Secretary, |
| Lord Siva married Sati, daughter of king Daksha | | | | Alumpeth Devikshethram, Vathikulam, payable at |
| and were living happily at kailas. Daksha conducted | | | | Kayamkalam. This may be accompanied by a |
| a yaga (grand ceremony and feast to gods) | | | | covering letter indicating the item of offering, |
| where Siva and Sati were not invited. Despite of | | | | devotee's star/date of birth. The offering pooja |
| Siva's admonishment, Sati attended the yaga | | | | will be conducted on the same date of every |
| expecting her parents would apologize and receive | | | | month for a period of 1 year (12 pooja's) and the |
| her. But she was neglected and insulted in public. | | | | prasadam (blessed remainings of pooja) will be |
| Sati felt desperate and ended her life jumping into | | | | send to the devotee over post.Ganapathy |
| the fire.Lord Siva turned furious and bang his hair | | | | Homam: Special offering to Ganapathy (Vinayak) |
| on earth giving birth to two frightening figures, Sri | | | | for eleminating barriers and adverse factors in life |
| Bhadrakali(Devi) and Virabhadra. They destroyed | | | | (Rs. 1250/- / 40 $). |
| the yaga and killed Daksha (Devibhagavatham 7th | | | | Mrithyunjaya Homam : Word meaning, win over |
| chapter). Hence Devi is believed to be a savior on | | | | death. It is a Siva Pooja conducted with the |
| call at times when ones esteem is | | | | objective of saving life of person whose life is |
| injured.HistoryAlumpeth temple is the holy seat of | | | | threatened. Lord Siva is considered as daring even |
| Sri Bhadrakali. Yogiswaran (ancient family chief) of | | | | to destroy god of death to save his devotes (Rs. |
| Mulamoottil family was a devotee of | | | | 1500/- / 50$).Sathru Samhara Pooja : Special |
| Panayannarkavu goddess who brought Devi | | | | offering to Sri Bhadrakali for total destruction of |
| through penence in 16th century to Alumpeth | | | | one's enemy (Rs. 1500/- / 50 $).Noorum Palum: |
| temple. Yogiswaran is the physical founder of this | | | | Specail offering to Nagaraja and Nagayakshi for |
| temple. Yogiswaran's predecessors where | | | | birth of children and healthy growth of next |
| accountant generals of kayamkulam dynasty and | | | | generation. (Rs. 1500/- / 50 $). |
| enjoyed immence power, wealth and all virtues of | | | | Ayyappa Pooja: Excludes the devotee from bad |
| feudalism. This was a glorious period in the history | | | | luck due to the influence of Sani (Saturn). (RS. |
| of temple. In 1924AD the grand family and wealth | | | | 1500/- / 50 $).Payasam/Pudding for |
| were divided into 7 branches and the 7th branch | | | | Veerabhadran (Rs. 200/- / 5 $).Payasam/Pudding |
| is Alumpeth temple. | | | | for Brahmarakshasu (Rs. 200/- / 5 $).Tender |
| Eravankara Punchaman Madom Thirumeni is the | | | | Coconut and varapodi for yakshi (Rs. 200/- / |
| thanthri (spiritual chief) and this position runs | | | | 5$).Full day Pooja: for main and sub gods includes |
| hereditary in that family. Temple committee with | | | | all the items 1 - 8 and unique pooja in devotees |
| the consent of thantri appoints poojari and other | | | | name to Sri Bhadrakali (Rs. 10000/- / 250 |
| temple employees from time to time.Siva: Third | | | | $).(B)ContributionsDevotees can also contribute to |
| of thrimoorthi (Hindu Holy Trinity) responsible for | | | | development of the temple. Recently made such |
| samharam (destruct ion). At Alumpeth temple | | | | contribution includes Mr. Pallickal Sunil's contribution |
| Siva sits near Devi. Purakuvilakku, Dhara and | | | | of a building. Another is an attractive protection |
| Mrithyunjaya pooja are important to | | | | wall to the temple constructed in memory of |
| Siva.Ayyappa: Son of Siva in Vishnu. Ayyappa sits | | | | Panoor Kizhakkathil Thankamma Kunjamma and |
| near Devi in t he temple. During sabarimala | | | | Thottathil Raghavan Unnithan. |