Chengannur Mahadeva Temple In Kerala Celebrates Menstruation Festival Of Goddess Bhagavathy

Add as a preferred source on Google

The Chengannur Mahadeva Kshetram is believed to be one of the oldest temples in Kerala, built around 300 AD. Shiva and Parvati are the main deities of this temple. Chengannur temple comes under the jurisdiction of Vanghipuzha Thampuran.

One day his maid servant, saw blood oozing out of a stone which she normally used to sharpen her knife. She promptly reported it to the head. So Vanghipuzha poured ghee on that stone to stop the bloodflow. With due advice from the thampuran, and other Brahmins learned in vedas, he decided to construct a temple there.

Upon digging a place as per the instructions from Brahmins, they found a Parvathi idol made of five metals. Temple was renovated. Tiruchenkunroor is one of the five ancient shrines in the Chengannur region of Kerala, connected with Mahabharat.

Tiruchenkunroor, is a place of historical significance. It is connected with an incident from Mahabharat. Yudhishtira offered his repentence and prayers to Lord Vishnu here for redemption from the sin of getting Dronacharya killed by wrongly announcing Ashwattaama hatah kunjaraha.

This kshetram is known for another miracle. The idol of Parvati Devi installed here, menstruates every month. When the stain is spotted every month, there will be a song and dance festival by women who pray for a happy wedded life for themselves at this juncture. But women during their menstrual cycle are not allowed to enter the temple.

At Padinjare Nada

In early days there was a belief and custom related to a hole in the western gopuram of this temple. Of anyone utters a lie while taking an oath here, by putting his hand in that hole, gets bitten by a snake that lives there. This is actually associated with an incident that happened around this time.

There was a Brahmin family that had a reputation of removing the venom from a person bitten by a snake. This family was called Muringoor family. Intensely devoted to Chengannur Devi, they had grown famous all over Keral due to the dint of their venom removing practices. One day, a tamilian saint visited Chengannur just to test them. But at this time, no one was present in the house, except a small boy who belonged to the family. Unable to face the saint in the argument, the small boy prayed to Chengannur Devi for a solution. On the same night he had a dream wherein Devi shows a brass pipe to the boy inside which a snake was present. She assured him that the snake will behave in accordance with the boys plans and hence the boy will win his case. So when the saint came to him the next day, the boy shows him the brass pipe and asks him to remove the snake from the pipe.

The saint was unable to remove it and the snake, irritated with the saint, pounced on him to bite him. Saint had to take the boys help to rescue himself from the snake. Boy sealed the brass pipe and then punctured a hole on the walls of the western gopura and put the holy snake into the hole. Later he warned people telling that the snake would bite anyone who put his hand into the hole and lied about anything.

Viewing The Sreekovil

The boy buried the medicines in a hole on the south side of Koothambalam. Whoever views the tip of the Gopura of the temple can stop thinking about snake biting them for that day.

The Story Of Chengannur Temple

This place was leased to one Nayanaru Pillai. One day while the maid servant (Kurathi) of Nayanaru Pillai,was working in this place, she saw blood coming from a stone on which she was sharpening her weapon. This fact was reported to Nayanaru Pillai and Vanghipuzha Thampuran.

As per the legend, soon after marriage, Shiva and Parvati visited Maharshi Agastya and when they arrived at the scene, Parvati menstruated. This temple is dedicated to this incident. Another version suggests that when Satis body parts scattered in all directions, her uterus fell in this place which is why the Parvati of this temple menstruates. A chief priest noticed this change in the idol of parvati and informed it to the concerned people. He noticed it when he was offering fresh flowers for her worship.

The fact that that this strain was caused by menstruation, was confirmed by the elderly ladies of the village, the priests made the decision to move the idol to some other temple during her menstrual cycle every month and continue puja for three days in that temple. Days passed and the menstruation became a recurring feature.

Festival That Celebrates Bhagavathy's Menstruation

Hence the festival that celebrates Parvathis menstruation is called "Thriputharrattu", it concludes with 'aarattu', or cleansing of the idol.

Whenever the blood is sighted every month, that piece of stained clothing is kept asie and sanctum is closed. A second idol is placed in another room known as Triputhu room to continue the worship,

When the matriarch confirms it as menstrual blood, the temple authorities close the sanctum of the goddess. This is when a second idol is opened to devotees in another room, known as the "Thriputhu room", for worship.

On the third day, the women of pattaru community perform the dance form of kerala called Thiruvathira, and seek blessings for eternal married happiness. On the final day, the idol of parvati is carried on an elephant to the pamba river. Puja and chanting go on at the same time. The deity is brought back in a procession and then is made to circle thet temple thrice after which she is placed next to Shiva inside the sanctum sanctorum. The udayada or the stained garment is burnt totally.

This is the story of the Goddess Parvathi who menstruates in a miraculous way which remains a mystery for everyone even today.

Disclaimer: The information is based on assumptions and information available on the internet and the accuracy or reliability is not guaranteed. Boldsky does not confirm any inputs or information related to the article and our only purpose is to deliver information. Kindly consult the concerned expert before practising or implementing any information and assumption