Two temples in Kerala where women worship and are worshipped

[V.Balasubramani]

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Two temples in Kerala where women worship and are worshipped

Image source: http://www.mannarasala.org




Women here are much more than just devotees.

The entry of women in the Sabarimala temple -one of the holiest pilgrimage destinations in the country- has been a subject of controversy for several years now with the Supreme Court recently questioning the Travancore Devaswom Board on whether it had the constitutional right to ban entry of women of menstrual age (between the ages of 10 and 50) to the shrine.

As the debate on gender-discrimination rages and critics and supporters of the issue counter each other vehemently, it may come across as interesting for some to know that there are two temples in the state where women are much more than just devotees.

The Chakkulathu Kavu temple in southern Kerala has been worshipping women for several centuries now in an annual ritual called 'Naari Puja'.
According to a report in The Times of India, on the first Friday of Dhanu (December), male priests wash the feet of female devotees who have fasted for 10 days.

See more at: http://www.thenewsminute.com/articl...and-are-worshipped-37789#sthash.jWSSm1hl.dpuf

 

[krish44]

Kanjaka puja-kanya puja is done on eigth day [ashtami] of navratra when virgin girls [normally girl children] are worshipped as Goddesses .

This is prevailing custom in north india,

There is a lot of bhakthi sangeeth relating to kanjaka by anuradha paudwal and others.

See you tube if interested

 

[Raji Ram]

"Legends say that when the Muthassan left for the Cellar, he had given certain rights and instructions to his mother. He instructed

that “Mother herself must offer me worship.” On certain special days men may be given a chance to worship. After Mother's time,

the senior-most Brahmin lady in the family will have the status of the Mother. From the time the mother assumes this high

position Mother should live as a brahmacharini and observe penance."

The highlighted portion is THE main point!!

 

[Raji Ram]

During Navarathri, young girls are worshiped in KanyA poojA even in Tamil Nadu.

SuvAsini poojA is performed too, in which Sumangalis are worshiped as the form of AmbAL. ray:

 

[krish44]

During Navarathri, young girls are worshiped in KanyA poojA even in Tamil Nadu.

SuvAsini poojA is performed too, in which Sumangalis are worshiped as the form of AmbAL. ray:

The girl children are given poori and halwa with small money as offering.

what is done in south?

 

[Raji Ram]

The girl children are given poori and halwa with small money as offering.

what is done in south?

No halwa here!

Odd number of girl children are invited and served full meals with vadai, payasam etc. After that the host applies

nalungu manjaL (turmeric paste made red by adding a little lime) on their feet and then presents them with new

dress, bangles, comb, small mirror, designer bindi, along with traditional thAmboolam.

 

[Janaki Jambunathan]

Mandala and Makara villakku at Ponnambala medu is all male only in Sabarimala !

But Pongala is all women only festival in Attukal Bhagavathi near Padmanabaswamy temple in Thiruvanathapuram It is a wonderful temple ! I saw last month!


The world’s only largest annual congregation festival of women is called “Attukal Pongala”. During my visit to Kerala’s capital , I was keen on experiencing this festival, as I had learnt about it from the Guinness Book of Records back in 2009 . More than 3.9 million women come together every year for this religious act where they offer their devotion , dedication & obeisance to the deity of Attukal Bhagavathy temple.

The only men you would see around this festival are the local policemen who stroll around with blood colour bikes to check on the health and security of the festival participants. The local and government bodies offer dedicated health care services during the festival as devotees might get heat stroke while performing the ritual in scorching heat. My memory of this festival was very smoky and sugary from the offerings which I had.

https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&r...gr_tlcPUOQfXP2j4g&sig2=NhdH2jFGWRkmFudtqpgNXA

 

[krish44]

No halwa here!

Even number of girl children are invited and served full meals with vadai, payasam etc. After that the host applies

nalungu manjaL (turmeric paste made red by adding a little lime) on their feet and then presents them with new

dress, bangles, comb, small mirror, designer bindi, along with traditional thAmboolam.

Thanks.Got educated.

 

[Raji Ram]

Thanks.Got educated.

Sorry! Made a mistake in my post. The number of girls is ODD! (edited now)

P.S: Mistakes happen when I am preoccupied!

 

[krish44]

Sorry! Made a mistake in my post. The number of girls is ODD! (edited now)

P.S: Mistakes happen when I am preoccupied!

You cannot drive a car in delhi as you cannot distinguish between odd and even.

 

[Janaki Jambunathan]

I thought Kejari exempted women from this odd and even rule! Kes(j)ari Halwa for women in Delhi!!

 

[krish44]

I thought Kejari exempted women from this odd and even rule! Kes(j)ari Halwa for women in Delhi!!

you are very sharp.

I thought I could get away with my post.lol

 

[Raji Ram]

May be it is known that women don't wish to share their property with anyone, whether it is a house or a car!!

 

[vgane]

Women who had cars were pretty happy during the odd-even..They got a special privilege! They could drop their kids too in school

But women who did not know driving but had cars were at their wits end as they had to depend on some one to pick them up else when their car was not permitted on every alternate day!

 

[sangom]

The highlighted portion is THE main point!!

I know that the eldest daughter-in-law has to assume the position of the priest in the Mannarassaala Nagaraja Temple, Haripad; it is not the seniormost lady by age. Sometimes it must have so happened, due to death, illness, etc., of the priestess that the next generation eldest DIL might have had to become priestess even though she might have been young and in her menstrual age. What is done in such cases is not known clearly; nobody asks and nobody will answer!

 

[sangom]

Mandala and Makara villakku at Ponnambala medu is all male only in Sabarimala !

But Pongala is all women only festival in Attukal Bhagavathi near Padmanabaswamy temple in Thiruvanathapuram It is a wonderful temple ! I saw last month!


The world’s only largest annual congregation festival of women is called “Attukal Pongala”. During my visit to Kerala’s capital , I was keen on experiencing this festival, as I had learnt about it from the Guinness Book of Records back in 2009 . More than 3.9 million women come together every year for this religious act where they offer their devotion , dedication & obeisance to the deity of Attukal Bhagavathy temple.

The only men you would see around this festival are the local policemen who stroll around with blood colour bikes to check on the health and security of the festival participants. The local and government bodies offer dedicated health care services during the festival as devotees might get heat stroke while performing the ritual in scorching heat. My memory of this festival was very smoky and sugary from the offerings which I had.

https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&r...gr_tlcPUOQfXP2j4g&sig2=NhdH2jFGWRkmFudtqpgNXA

Even for Attukaal Pongaala, many men accompany their women family members either driving the vehicle or carrying the loads of items taken for the pongaala, etc. But these men do not pose any problem at all since they also believe fully in the efficacy of the Pongaala and, further, their own womenfolk are there to see (and rebuke) if they start indulging in any indecent behaviour.