| Alumpeth temple is an ancient kalari temple of Sri | | | | pilgrimage.Veerabhadra: Brother of Devi, born along |
| Bhadrakali (Devi), located at Vathikulam, a remote but | | | | with her from Siva at the time of Daksha's |
| beautiful village in Kerala state of South India. | | | | killing.Brahma Rakshas is considered as a part of Lord |
| Vathikulam village is accessable by road travelling 7 | | | | Vishnu.Yakshi : Friend and helper of Devi. Tender |
| kms towards east from Kayamkulam town. | | | | coconut is her favorite offering.Nagaraja and |
| Kayamkulam is a well known town on national | | | | Nagayakshi : King and queen of snakes worshiped in |
| highway 47 about 108 kms towards north of | | | | ancient Kerala.. Panoor Kavu, bush located 1 km. |
| Trivandrum and 110 kms towards south from Cochin. | | | | south west of the temple is also known for snake |
| Kayamkulam is well connected by railway also. | | | | worship .Yogiswaran: Ancient family chief and founder |
| Motive behind the incarnation of Sribhadrakali (Devi) | | | | of Alumpeth temple. His seat is Kadanath Kalari |
| is to save the gods from insult and despair, people | | | | located 600 m. south of main temple.Gandharwan |
| worship her in times of dejoice, neglect and | | | | (Musician of Heaven) also sits at Kadanath |
| impending emotional distress. Devi is also known to | | | | Kalari.FESTIVALSMajor festival in this temple is on |
| be a goddess on call at times when life is in risk and | | | | "Pathamudayom" (10th day of month Medom). Usually |
| existence is felt to be impossible. Since Alumpeth | | | | it comes on 23rd of April every year. Festival starts |
| temple is in the form of ancient Indian Kalari (school | | | | with special pooja for main and sub gods. In the |
| of literal and martial arts) people depend her when | | | | morning ladies offer "Pongal" to the goddess. Pongal |
| their progress in educational, cultural, scientific and | | | | is a custom in which ladies cook Pudding in temple |
| legal endeavours are thwarted by enemies or | | | | premises for fulfilment of their long cherished dreams. |
| negative situational factors. | | | | Kalasam, ezhunnallathu are conducted during day time. |
| PrayerSit in a comfortable position with closed eyes | | | | Night there will be traditional cultural programs like |
| and chant the manthra:"Ya devi sarwabhootheshu | | | | Kathakali, Music contest, Koothu, Theeyattu etc. |
| mathruroopena samsthitha | | | | Festival ends next day early morning with gurusi (holy |
| namasthasyai namasthasyai | | | | sacrifice) and fire works. Vijayadasami is another |
| namasthasyai namo nama:"several times and achieve | | | | festival in this temple.Devibhagavatham (epic text on |
| bliss.Irrespective of size or amount, devotees offer | | | | Sree Bhadrakali) is read. Children from nearby places |
| anything under the sun to Devi. Offerings range from | | | | are brought for vidyarambham (commencement of |
| a garland or flower to an elephant. Fridays and | | | | study). Spiritual cheif writes alphabets on children's |
| Tuesdays are very important for this prayer. For | | | | tongue with gold. |
| resolving long standing problems, one has to better | | | | During Sabarimala season (Vrichikam, Dhanu months) |
| follow Velliyazhcha Vritham (Friday Fasting Prayer). | | | | special Ayyappa Poojas are conducted. Ayyappa |
| The program starts on thursday after evening bath, | | | | devotees crowed here for Malayidil (commencements |
| taking no solid food other than fruits from thursday | | | | of 2 months penence for Ayyappa) and |
| evening to saturday morning. Intoxicants, | | | | kettumuruckal (fitting their bags for sabarimala |
| non-vegetarian food and sex should be avoided | | | | pilgrimage).Other Hindu festivals like Onam, Vishu, |
| during these hours, should bath twice a day and | | | | Deepavali, Sivarathri, Bharani, Ayilyam, Ekadasi are |
| chant the above manthra, this should be continued | | | | also celebrated. Star Rohini of every month is also |
| for any number of weeks until desired outcome is | | | | important here.OFFERINGS(A) Vazhipadu/offeringBrief |
| received. This prayer has high significance from | | | | list of major offerings are given. Rate mentioned is |
| naturopathic and yogic perspective also.Mythology | | | | for 1 year. Devotees can book the offerings by |
| Lord Siva married Sati, daughter of king Daksha and | | | | sending a cheque/Draft drawn in favour of |
| were living happily at kailas. Daksha conducted a yaga | | | | Secretary, Alumpeth Devikshethram, Vathikulam, |
| (grand ceremony and feast to gods) where Siva and | | | | payable at Kayamkalam. This may be accompanied |
| Sati were not invited. Despite of Siva's | | | | by a covering letter indicating the item of offering, |
| admonishment, Sati attended the yaga expecting her | | | | devotee's star/date of birth. The offering pooja will |
| parents would apologize and receive her. But she was | | | | be conducted on the same date of every month for |
| neglected and insulted in public. Sati felt desperate | | | | a period of 1 year (12 pooja's) and the prasadam |
| and ended her life jumping into the fire.Lord Siva | | | | (blessed remainings of pooja) will be send to the |
| turned furious and bang his hair on earth giving birth | | | | devotee over post.Ganapathy Homam: Special |
| to two frightening figures, Sri Bhadrakali(Devi) and | | | | offering to Ganapathy (Vinayak) for eleminating |
| Virabhadra. They destroyed the yaga and killed | | | | barriers and adverse factors in life (Rs. 1250/- / 40 $). |
| Daksha (Devibhagavatham 7th chapter). Hence Devi | | | | Mrithyunjaya Homam : Word meaning, win over |
| is believed to be a savior on call at times when ones | | | | death. It is a Siva Pooja conducted with the |
| esteem is injured.HistoryAlumpeth temple is the holy | | | | objective of saving life of person whose life is |
| seat of Sri Bhadrakali. Yogiswaran (ancient family | | | | threatened. Lord Siva is considered as daring even to |
| chief) of Mulamoottil family was a devotee of | | | | destroy god of death to save his devotes (Rs. 1500 |
| Panayannarkavu goddess who brought Devi through | | | | - / 50$).Sathru Samhara Pooja : Special offering to Sri |
| penence in 16th century to Alumpeth temple. | | | | Bhadrakali for total destruction of one's enemy (Rs. |
| Yogiswaran is the physical founder of this temple. | | | | 1500/- / 50 $).Noorum Palum: Specail offering to |
| Yogiswaran's predecessors where accountant | | | | Nagaraja and Nagayakshi for birth of children and |
| generals of kayamkulam dynasty and enjoyed | | | | healthy growth of next generation. (Rs. 1500/- / 50 |
| immence power, wealth and all virtues of feudalism. | | | | $). |
| This was a glorious period in the history of temple. In | | | | Ayyappa Pooja: Excludes the devotee from bad luck |
| 1924AD the grand family and wealth were divided | | | | due to the influence of Sani (Saturn). (RS. 1500/- / 50 |
| into 7 branches and the 7th branch is Alumpeth | | | | $).Payasam/Pudding for Veerabhadran (Rs. 200/- / 5 |
| temple. | | | | $).Payasam/Pudding for Brahmarakshasu (Rs. 200/- / |
| Eravankara Punchaman Madom Thirumeni is the | | | | 5 $).Tender Coconut and varapodi for yakshi (Rs. 200 |
| thanthri (spiritual chief) and this position runs | | | | - / 5$).Full day Pooja: for main and sub gods includes |
| hereditary in that family. Temple committee with the | | | | all the items 1 - 8 and unique pooja in devotees name |
| consent of thantri appoints poojari and other temple | | | | to Sri Bhadrakali (Rs. 10000/- / 250 |
| employees from time to time.Siva: Third of | | | | $).(B)ContributionsDevotees can also contribute to |
| thrimoorthi (Hindu Holy Trinity) responsible for | | | | development of the temple. Recently made such |
| samharam (destruct ion). At Alumpeth temple Siva | | | | contribution includes Mr. Pallickal Sunil's contribution of |
| sits near Devi. Purakuvilakku, Dhara and Mrithyunjaya | | | | a building. Another is an attractive protection wall to |
| pooja are important to Siva.Ayyappa: Son of Siva in | | | | the temple constructed in memory of Panoor |
| Vishnu. Ayyappa sits near Devi in t he temple. During | | | | Kizhakkathil Thankamma Kunjamma and Thottathil |
| sabarimala season, Ayyappa devotees crowed in the | | | | Raghavan Unnithan. |
| temple to start their sabarimala | | | | |