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