Context:

For the first time in history, the Kavutheendal ceremony of the Meena Bharani festival at Sri Kurumba Bhagavathy Temple, Kodungalloor, was observed with just one person.

About Sree Kurumba Bhagavathi temple:

• Sree Kurumba Bhagavathy Temple, popularly known as Kodungalloor Bhagavathy Temple, is one of the oldest temples in the State of Kerala.
• The ancient shrine is dedicated to the Goddess in her Bhadrakali form.
• The deity is known as Sree Kurumba and fondly called Kodungallur Amma or the mother of Kodungallur by her devotees.
  • The deity here represents the fierce form of the goddess who has eight arms with various attributes in each hand.
  • In one hand, she holds the head of a demon Daruka, another a bell, another a sword, next to an anklet, among others.
• The temple history dates back to the Chera period. It is believed to be erected by Cheran Chenguttuvan the famous Chera king.
• It is also one of the first temples in Kerala which removed the restrictions of caste and religion and permitted devotees belonging to lower strata of the caste hierarchy, access for 27 days when other temples barred their entry round the year.
• This was long before even the Temple Entry legislation became effective in Kerala.

Annual festivals

• The temple is famous for the annual festival that usually falls in the Malayalam month of Meenam (MarchApril) every year.
• Kaavutheendal (‘polluting’ the temple) and Bharanipaatu are the two significant rituals held as part of the MeenaBharani festival.

• Kavutheendal:

• The Kavutheendal (polluting the temple) ritual is considered the largest congregation of oracles in the world.
• It is a ritual based on the notions of purity/impurity inherent in Brahminical Hinduism.
• According to popular narratives, Sri KurumbaBhagavathy is identified with Kannagi of Silappathikaram and also with the Kali-Darika story, part of the Bhagavathy cult in Kerala.

• Bharani festival:

• The Bharani festival celebrates the birth of Bhadrakali (Hindu Goddess) who as per legend was born from the third eye of Lord Shiva and was the one who went to finish off the demon Darika.
• This is an extremely important festival, especially in Northern Kerala.