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Chapter 7
Attukal
Amma
and
Kannaki
of
and
dance
productions
based
on
Attukal
are
few
renowned
folklorists
and
temples
website
repeats
the
incorrect
of
Chilappathikaram
represented
through
writes
in
her
thought-provoking
essay,
Paattu.
This
narrates
the
legend
of
Asan;
the
only
accompaniment
is
small
(Randampuram
and
Moonnampuram,
Paattu
and
the
Story
of
song
that
heralds
the
Chilappathikaram
This
ritualistic
written
at
Vanjippattanam
(now
known
as
the
the
Chola
Pandya
capital,
capital,
moves
and
through
ends
at
(supposed
to
be
in
revenge
against
the
Pandyan
king
Pandian
discussed
the
issue
with
his
10
Pattini in
Sri
Lanka by
the
Sinhalese
3http://temple.dinamalar.comennew_en.phpid=479
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pattini.
11
was
the
first
Chilappathikaram.
Tamil
Another
film
Tamil
adapted
film
from
Poompuhar
Marina
Beach,
Chennai.
It
was
removed
in
((Please
use
12
13
feature
in
The
Hindu
says,
Kannaki,
14
the
deity
in
the
Mangaladevi
Temple
is
15
the
sub-temples
situated
on
the
rectangular
assumed
prathishtha,
at
that
the
Chenkuttuvan
Kodungallur
did
Kannaki
temple
premises
Cheralatan,
the
great
grandfather
of
16
the
paragon
of
chastity,
should
be
17
for
the
idol
should
be
fetched
from
the
Himalayas.
Sages who return from the Himalayas report that
the kings of the north, Kanakan and Vijayan, had
spoken of the Tamil kings disparagingly. Chenkuttuvan
vows to subjugate the kings and make them carry the
stone for the temple, as a punishment. When he is
about to start for the Himalayas after a public
declaration to this effect, some people reach there
carrying
oblations
from
the
Padmanabhaswamy
and
wearing
them
on
his
person,
chooses
the
stone
from
the
18
does
human
sacrifice
of
thousand
through
the
his
king
death.
is
only
The
goldsmith
avaricious,
who
not
19
personification
of
wickedness.
Kannaki,
who
is
20
in
the
2ndcentury.
Till
date,
the
place
in
Kodungallur
Temple
but
in
Sri
or
by
following
around
the
traditional
Kodungallur.
In
any
beliefs
case,
21
convincing
analysis
of
how
Brahmin
the
seventh
century,
Brahmins
did
not
have
22
seventh
advancement
century
of
witnessed
Brahmins.
the
Brahmin
gradual
villages
lands
soon
became
verdant
regions.
This
worship
successful
in
grew
considerably.
gaining
influence
Mezhathol
though
was
mimamsa
the
four
regions
of
Payyanur,
Panniyoor,
23
villages
spanning
from
Kottapuram
to
and
Nediyathalli.Apparently,
the
since
Cheran
Chenkuttavan
dedicated
reflecting
Buddhist faith.
the
intellectual
ways
of
the
24
of
Brahmins
picked
up
pace.
The
25
The
Brahminized
customs
were
not
in
the
Namboodiris
eventually
took
of
the
land.
History
has
it
that
when
Namboodiri-dominated trusts
and
26
Part III
Did
Kannaki
actually
exist?
Is
the
water-use
systems;
2)
King
27
text,
can
begin
to
answer
such
or
not
the
incidents
of
the
in
Kannakis
biography
as
and
actions,
their
entire
28
to
throw
animals
(Induchudan,
rededicated
to
1969,
Bhadrakali
and
filth
39).
It
and
into
the
was
then
lost
its
narrative
traditions
portraying
the
life
and
29
Sri
Kurumba
Kavu
as
the
very
shrine
and
are
celebrated
in
songs
and
ritual
quote.
Please
cite
the
reference
of
M.Gentes.A.J.T)
V.T. Induchudan10in his book, The Secret Chamber:
A Historical, Anthropological andPhilosophical Study
of the Kodungallur Temple(1969), presents the theory
that the true focus of the Bharani Festival is Kannaki
and that the worship of Kali is suspended. He
10Induchudan,V.T.,The Secret Chamber: A Historical, Anthropological and
Philosophical Study of the Kodungallur Temple, Trichur: Cochin Devaswom Board,
1969.
30
that
is
intended
to
protect
this
31
mouth
of
the
underground
passage,
says
Induchudan(Give reference-AJT)
The opening of the umbrella, the Kavutheendal,
and the beginning and the end of the frenzied run,
take place on the eastern portico, which is normally
not used, precisely because worship is directed at
Kannaki, the Goddess, whose remains rest inside the
east door, as Induchudan assumes.
It is to be noted here that Kannaki belongs to a
literary tradition, both oral and written. But in the
deeply rural imagination, such a name would not ring
any bells.
Dianne Jennet says: If you go into the countryside
and ask some of them, Why did Kannaki come here?
they might not even have heard of Kannaki.11
11Jenett, Dianne Elkins,Red Rice for Bhagavati Cooking for Kannaki An
Ethnographic Organic Inquiry of the Pongala Ritual at Attukal Temple, Kerala,
South India, (Doctoral Thesis, California Institute of Integral Studies,1999.
32
Part IV
The
Narrative
of
the
Thottam
Paattu
popular
lore
of
Attukal
notwithstanding,
in
existed
as
ballads
first
and
the
the
Thottam
Paattu
is
older
than
33
observation
provides
some
34
is
Goddess
Bhadrakali,
the
and
her
adoptive
father
whom
she
Keralas
temples.
But
the
Paattu
does
35
36
husband,
has
been
wrongfully
executed
by
the
37
(the
virgin
and
Balakan-the
youth,
38
Temple
at
Mangaladevi
where
Cheran
king?
These
contradictions
add
to
the
39
chilambus
and
vaal(sword)
in
Her
shrines
throughout Kerala.
Unravelling
the
Mystery:
Possible
Explanation
The Devi of Attukal is definitely not Kannaki. But
Kodungallur Bhagavathy is invoked and transported to
Attukal at the beginning of the Ten-day Festival,
worshipped throughout, and sent back at the end all
these through Thottam Paattu. One can assert that it is
not Kannaki, but Sri Kurumba Bhagavathy who is
ritually invoked and transported from Kodungallur. But
Kannaki has got enmeshed in the narrative almost
inextricably.
40
We
could
look
at
these
anomalies
and
emendation,
once
again
involving
41
the
right
to
use
tiled-roof
sanctum
narrative
some
interesting
parts
of
42
can safely
for
the
song.13.According
emergence
to
Dr
of
divine
heroic
Deepu
P.
Kurup,the
the
43
Chilappathikaram
in
terms
of
sub-plots,
work,
Bhadrakali
Pattu
is
only
44