Spiritual Tourism XXXII - Heavens on Earth
The Chakkulath Kavu Devi Temple
The Prikriti of Sankhya and the Maya of Vedanta became the Shakti or Devi of Tantra. She is the beginingless Universal Mind, which brought the Universe into existence ( kayanaumeya sudhiaiva Maya Yada Jagath Sarvam idam prasooyathe ) and hence called the Mother of the Universe, Jagath Amba !
In the Epic poem, Ramayana, She is Seetha, the idol of Indian Motherhood.
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The day when the Moon tenants the constellation of the Pleiades or Karthika, is widely celebrated here as Pongala or Thri Karthika, in the Holy Month of Vrischika. It falls on Dec 15th in 2013. This temple is in Alleppey District and is about 3000 years old. It is known as the Sabari Mala for women, like the Attukal Temple. The Tantric Image is that of Vana Durga, the Deity sporting in the forest. Naree Puja is another form of Worship. Naree means the feminine aspect of the Masculine- Feminine Godhead or Ardha Nareeswara. Jung said that Man is bisexual and this is the meaning behind the concept of Ardha Nareeshwara !
Legend
Once, women devotees thronged the Temple. The Chief Priest ordered all women to go out. An elderly female said " I will see the Deity here " but she was also told to go out. So she went outside. The Lamp fell and all sorts of negative events manifested. The Priest was melancholic and he requested the Velichapad, an Oracle Man, to help him. Then he heard the Inner Voice " I am one of the persons in the crowd. So do Naree Puja, because I am in all women" ! So he had to do NP to all women then !
Om Nama Sivaya
Chandra Kala Dhara Sahridaya
Sandra Kala Poornodaya
Laya Nilaya !
O Thou who art blissful
In the Bliss of Thy Own Self !
Hail Thee, Embodiment of all Arts
O wearer of the Crescent !
Thy triune eyes
Are Past, Present and Future !
And Nature, Prakrithi
Danced along with Thee !