Mullakkal Temple
Mullakkal Temple, Alleppey
Mullakkal Temple is a Hindu temple in the south Indian city of Alappuzha, Kerala. The temple is also known as Mullakkal Rajarajeswari Temple, and Mullakkal Bhagwati Temple. The temple is accessible for devotes from all castes and religions.
Positioned on one of the main streets of Alleppey, "Mullakkal theruvu", Mullakkal Rajarajeswari Temple is structured in old Kerala architectural style. Being surrounded by well-maintained wall and a beautiful pond inside, the premises has plenty of trees and jasmine plants. There are several stories related to the origin of the temple and its foundation. The idol placed on the shrine is of Durgamba with four arms, popularly known as "Mullakkal Devi" aka "Mullakkal Amma". The temple is run by Travancore Devaswom Board.
The structure of the temple
The shrine of the temple is called "Sanctum sanctorum" and it is an open roof shrine. At the entrance point of the temple, around 20 feet area is kept under roofing. According to convention and old custom this roofed place is used for keeping large elephants that bring the "thidambu" of the goddess on special occasions. There are other deities in the temple; they are Hanuman Swami, Lord Ganesha, Subramanya Swami, Nagaraja, Navagraha, Sree Krishna, and Lord Ayyappa. There is banyan tree inside the premises where the lingam of Lord Shiva is also placed for darshana.History and stories of the temple
The temple is estimated as almost 500 years old. Plenty of stories are found allied to the origin of the temple. According to one story the idol of Mullakkal Devi" was brought here by a group of exiled soldiers from Thekkumkur territory. Primarily they placed the idol in a jasmine garden. Later a temple was constructed in the jasmine garden by the patronage of King Devanarayana of Chembagasery.There is another story popularly known related to the foundation of the temple. It is believed that during the conquest of Kerala by Tippu Sultan of Mysore, a group of Namboodiri Brahmins escaped from Malabar realm taking the auspicious idol of Mata Annapurneswari; the group spotted the Jesmine garden as the place to make the shrine and accordingly acted. Later on the temple was established.
Prior to 1961, the idol placed on the main shrine was of Mata Annapurneswari, who was seen ladle in one hand and pot on the other. As her temple was placed in a Jasmine Garden she was given the name Mullakkal Bhagawthy. The idol of Maa was found in the standing pose facing West direction in the temple.
In 1961 some incredible events took place. Believers have reported that a mentally unbalanced person entered the sanctum sanctorum and all on a sudden embraced the idol. Afterward it was observed that some cracks had settled on the idol’s body. An astrologer predicted that the Goddess had instructed to create a fresh idol to be placed on the shrine instead of the old one.
Accordingly, on 16 July 1962 a 4-feet tall Rajarajeswari idol was placed on the shrine replacing the old and damaged one. Later on the idol of Lord Krishna and serpent gods were included and placed on different shrines.
Custom of worshipping
Usually some specific sweet dishes and South Indian special foods are offered to Goddess as Naivedyam. According to mythology, the first day when Annapurneswari idol was worshipped the prasad was vada using complete urud gram with its black skin and the ingredients were collected from a neighboring Brahmin family. Following that convention the same prasad is prepared today and the ingredients are collected from some patron’s place. This special prasad is offered at night for puja.Festivals celebrated in the temple
Different festivals are celebrated in the Mullakkal Rajarajeswari Temple. The biggest festival celebrated here is Mullakkal Chirappu and it is celebrated for 41-day duration. The festival is commenced at beginning of the first of Malayalam Month Vrishchikam and it ends on the eleventh of Malayalam month of Dhanu.The last 11 days of this festival are called Chirappu festival.The last two days of this Festival are counted as the most special and sacred one where nine elephants with colourful processions participate in the festive chore and thousands of devotees come to witness this auspicious occasion.
Mullakkal Chirappu is celebrated in the temple with great grandeur and with best religious austerity. Besides regular puja, the best cultural programs, which are Kerala’s own heritage, are celebrated as the integral part of celebration. However, apart from cultural programs also ‘Annadanam’ is a part of this spectacular event as the final day feast offers foods to at least 3000-4000 devotees. They invite famous musicians and artists to perform at the temple premises at night. The firework display on this day at the end of the festive ceremony is usually very elaborate and attractive to watch.
The first Sunday of December is celebrated as women’s festival. On this day all rituals and worships are done by women only. Ladies came from different areas and they lit lamps in the temple.
Navarathri festival is also celebrated with great grandeur in the Mullakkal Bhagawthy temple. On Maha Navami day at least 150-200 baby girls are given new cloths and they are worshipped as divine Kumaris. "Theyattu" is celebrated on that night. During this function a huge portrait of the Goddess is made on the floor with different colored powder. Ace dancers dance on this color Rongolee and slowly this portrait gets removed from the floor. On Maha Navami Children place their text books on the main Shrine for Pooja; during this time special poojas are performed.
"Bommai Kalu Festival" is an integral part of temple’s festive celebrations when all elderly women from Hindu society set there ‘Bommas’ on ‘Oottupura’; These women offer their sincere prayers by reading loudly Bhagavatham, the main holy scripture of Hindus and offer their prayers.
"Thaipooyakavadi" is another significant festival celebrated in this temple once in a year. During this festival about 15 Kavadisn take part in the parade and traditional dance session in majestic manner.