THE KUMBHMELA in far away Allahabad occurs once every 12 years and there is indeed a sea of humanity there. Right in our backyard, in Vairanikulam, near Aluva, when the Sri Parvathi Nada opens for 12 days from Thiruvathira day in the Malayalam month of Dhanu (this year it fell on December 20), the crowd is getting bigger and bigger. Last year more than ten lakhs of the devout visited the temple; this year, the temple remains open till December 31 and the number expected is around 12.5 lakhs. As in Sabarimala, there is an average annual increase of 25 per cent here too. The arrangements for worship are meticulously coordinated and crowd management is scientific.Why this crowd during these 12 days? The Thiruvairanikkulam Devi Temple is open for worship throughout the year. Only the Parvathy nada is kept closed, though poojas are done every day. As in every other aspect of our life, here too there are reasons enmeshed in faith, conventions and folklore.
The temples in Bhadrinath and in Sabarimala are open only at certain times due to inaccessibility. But in this temple, the Parvathy nada is kept closed for strictly religious reasons.Historical evidence shows the Pandirukulam progeny was born to an upper caste man. A descendant of this family, known as Agavoor Chathan, is identified with this temple and the rituals here. The Agavoor house was in Airanikulam. There is a family temple for Siva and Parvathy there; due to many reasons, the family shifted centuries ago to Srimoolanagaram. Legend has it that the Namboodiri head of the family used to offer prayers at the family temple. It is believed that Agavoor Chathan prepared a boat of granite and ferried him there every day. The boat can be seen in the river even today.
As the head of the family became old, he could not undertake this journey and prayed that the Lord and Goddess come nearer his home.A Sivalinga was found nearby shortly after, according to legends. Thus the temple came about. To commemorate this, the idol from the temple is taken out in procession once a year and is placed here for worship. Remains of an underground tunnel from the river to the sight where the Linga was found can still be seen.
The story of why the Parvathi nada is kept closed all through the year except these 12 days, goes like this:
The Sivalinga found was consecrated facing east along with Parvathy facing west and poojas done. To the surprise of the priests it was found that all food items needed for morning pooja were prepared and kept in the sanctum sanctorum by an invisible divine hand. Curiosity got the better of the priest, who stealthily watched the goings on. To his surprise he found that Sri Parvathy Herself was preparing the items and he swooned. The Goddess, in spite of her compassion, cursed him and said she would never be present in the temple any more. Hearing his fervent entreaties, the Goddess relented and agreed that She could be worshipped for 12 days from Thiruvathira in the month of Dhanu. On the other days of the year, though poojas are done, the door is kept closed. A speciality of this annual festival is that it is strictly religious and there is no pomp and show. Crowd control and management steps are already afoot weeks in advance, barricades are kept for devotees to have darshan without any trouble. Ferry service is provided by motor boats, parking for vehicles is provided. .
It is believed that worshipping Sri Parvathi during these 12 days is auspicious, especially for unmarried girls.
In the mandapom on the eastern side there are depictions in wood of the whole Ramayana, said to be done by Perunthachan himself. People believe that this temple is more than two centuries old. However, experts, on the basis of the work done on the roof and the inscriptions on the Dakshinamoorthy idol, away from the main temple, take the temple back to a much earlier period.
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