Opening and closing of the temple :

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The Sreekovil opens at 4.30 am very day for Ushadakala Pooja. The Sreekovil closes after the Uchikala Pooja at 10.00am. Again it opens at 5.00 pm, and after Athazha Pooja, closes by 7.30pm. During Pradosham days (Evening of the 13th phase of the moon, 90 minutes before and after Sun set. It is considered auspicious for worshipping Shiva in all Saivite temples - when thousands congregate for worship) the nada (Sreekovil) opens by 5.00pm for special poojas. The temple celebrates 8 day festival during the month of Kumbha, Thiruvathira Nakshatram. The festival also includes Arattu (kind of holy bath given to the festival images of the deities, when they are immersed in water on the final day of the annual

festival). Important information regarding temple opening (Devi Parvati's Sreekovil) As the first step, the Brahmins of 3 Manas come together and appoint a Samudayi. This goes through a process. The Uranmakkar takes a Thooshanila (new leaf) and keep it on the Mandapam. On the top of it, an edangayi (a measuring equipment) and Thakoalkuttam (the keys) are kept and prostrates by touching it. Soon the Samudayi also does the same. This indicates that the Manas are granting the Samuodayam rice and money to carry out all the procedures of the temple strictly and in accordance with the principles. When the Samudayam

prostrates in front of the Mandapam where the Thooshanila, edangayi and Thankoalkuttam is kept, it would mean that he has accepted all the conditions and is fully responsible. When the time comes for the opening of Sreekovil, the Brahmins of the 3 Manas, the samudayam, and the Pushpini (the story of Pushpini is explained in a detailed manner) stands before the Sreekovil. Pushpini will have Akshatham, Pookila, Deepam (oil-lamp) kept in a Thalam (plate). Soon, when the Goddess Parvati is fully dressed up in her satire, and is ready to see the public, the Pushpini asks the Samudayi "Samudayi Thirumeni (guardian of the temple), has the 3 Manas come?" She asks this 3 times. Samudayi says "yes" 3 times. Then Pushpini asks "Can I allow the Sreekovil to be opened?" She asks this 3 times. Samudayi says "yes" 3 times. Now Pushpini says to the Thantri "Thantri, you may open the Sreekovil". And to the delight of the thousands of devotees, Devi Jagathambika with all the ornamental satires and with the gleaming oil lamps becomes visible to the vast gatherings around. My dear readers, devotees, friends, to this point I leave it to your imagination and visual prodigy to assume the millions chanting the most powerful mantra "Amma", in one quite proportion. From today, to the next 12 days Devi Bhagavati comes alive in the minds and hearts of the people and bless them, to give millions of deities, a reason to exist, a reason to live. Soon after this, Devi Parvati is accompanied to the Pattupurackal (Music room). Devi is made to sit on the Peedam (a small wooden square bench), and after Neivedyam, the Pushpini sings songs praising the goddess, for that whole night. Early morning, goddess is accompanied back to

Sreekovil. After the Neivedyam pooja, Devi is accompanied to the Pattupurackal. At night, goddess is taken back to Sreekovil. This is carried on for the next 12 days. Closure of Sreekovil : After the 12 days, before the closure of the Sreekovil, there is a process. Before the Lord Mahadeva's Atthayapooja, the Brahmins of 3 Manas, their wives, Pushpini and Samudayam stands before the Sreekovil. After the Thantri is ready, Pushpini asks the Samudayi "Has everyone seen the goddess?" The Samudayi says "yes". Now the Pushpini asks "Can I allow the Sreekovil to be closed?". She asks this 3 times. The Samudayi says "yes" 3 times. Immediately the Pushpini says to the Thantri "Close the Sreekovil". The moment Thantri closes the

Sreekovil, everyone including the Pushpini moves away. From this day, this Sreekovil opens only the next year, during the Thiruvathira Nakshatram. To the merit, it can be said that no temple in kerala have such a good and eloquent ceremony. Even during the festival the same process is carried out. But instead of the Pushpini, it would be Marar (the person who invokes the deity with drums when the Sreekovil is closed). There is another important event in the temple. Before the opening of Sreekovil, of Devi Parvati, the ornaments and the jewellery to be worn by the goddess is carried from the Akavoor Mana in a huge procession. The people from all parts of the State, the devotees and the members of the Manas accompany this. It is been said that all those woman who take Thalam ( Women stand on either side

of the procession catching plate, and shower flowers as the procession arrives) would be blessed by goddess to have Mangalya Bhagyam (Marriage). An Incident that occurred to Pushpini: Pushpini is a female who is associated with the opening of temple. There is a particular family for that. It is the Pushpini who allows the opening of the Sreekovil. The Sreekovil can be opened only in the presence of the Pushpini. So her presence is inevitable. Legend has it that Pushpini was a great friend of goddess Parvati and Parvati had ordered that, the Sreekovil can be permitted to be opened only by Pushpini. This process is continuing till date. But 15 years back, a problem had come up. One of the Pushpini who had grown old, was

unable to attend the function. The young Pushpini, who was married and settled seemed to be reluctant to attend the function. Even after repeated requests she would not agree to come. The temple authorities, tired, rented another lady as Pushpini and carried out the work. 5 years back, the Pushpini who was reluctant to come faced an acute problem. Her husband was facing a severe disease, and even doctors abandoned him. He was dying. During this time, one night, Pushpini saw a dream. A young lady came to her side and said "You abandoned me, is it not? It is not for your good. If you take care of me, I will make you happy." Pushpini knew that the message was from none other than the goodess. She apologised to Devi Parvati and started learning all the karma of pooja. She also participated in the temple opening and closing process. Soon she found her husband recovering and they came back to

prosperity. To those devotees, they have numerous incidents to elaborate when it comes to Lord Mahadeva and Devi Parvati. All of the devotees say that the Lord Mahadeva and Devi Parvati had indeed blessed them from the vicious hands of poverty, removed the hindrances in marriage, blessed them with family welfare and continuing prosperity. Women who have not been able to get married even after 40 years, could get a partner after they became a devotee. The large number of devotees who flock in every year is one instance of this. Many tourists, including foreigners, archeologists, and other people from across the globe visit the temple to see the epic of Ramayana being inscribed beautifully in a tree inside the

Balikal Pura, within the temple. The temple indeed provides for the rich heritage of gods own country, Kerala. Mahadeva Namashiva!Parvati Devi Namah!

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