A temple where legends abound

CLOSE TO the shore of the Arabian sea, on the banks of the dilapidated AVM canal, the Sri Bhagavathi Amman temple at Mandaikadu, near Nagercoil, still reminds one of the Kerala legacy and attracts a multitude of people, especially women, from various parts of Kerala, Kanyakumari and other neighbouring districts in Tamil Nadu.

Dating back to the seventh century B.C., the temple which is accessible by road, is regarded as a Sabarimala for women, and a pilgrimage to Mandaikadu is considered very auspicious. Dressed in black, the women along with their children and rarely accompanied by the male members of their family, make a pilgrimage to the temple annually and worship the Goddess.

Situated on the West Coast side near Colachel fishing town, the temple is one of the major shrines whose control is vested with the district Devaswom Board. The Goddess is in the form of an ant hill about 12 feet in height and with five heads. There are numerous fascinating legends on the origin of the temple and according to a tradition, three merchants from Quilon who were travelling by sea lost their way and found themselves on the shores of Mandaikadu and sought shelter in what they presumed to be a hut, for the night. An elderly woman, it is said, served them dinner and early next morning, they were pleasantly surprised to see a temple in the place of the hut and immediately realised it was actually the Goddess who had served them.

An earlier version says a cowherd who was collecting fodder noticed blood oozing from an anthill near the shore and immediately informed the elders in the village. The hill gradually grew in size and the ebullient villagers erected a temple around it and named the deity Mandaikadu Amman or Bhagavathi Amman. Many believe that the sick get cured if they worshipped the Goddess. Poojas are conducted every Tuesday and Friday.

The women offer wooden toys, salt, pepper and other things obtained from the first harvest, to the Goddess . The pooja is still performed in typical Kerala tradition despite the district becoming a part of Tamil Nadu.

The major attraction of the temple is the `Kodai', an annual event held in March. The `Valiyapadukkai vizha' and the `Odukku pooja' are the important events during the `Masi' festival which attract unprecedented crowds. The women devotees who offer worship during festive occasions take a dip in the sea. Due to heavy rush, some of them bathe in the decrepit AVM canal whose original course has been obstructed by encroachments and growth of weeds.

The stagnant water at several places especially behind the Mandaikadu Amman temple have become small puddles and prove to be health hazards.

It is time the Devaswom Board officials in coordination with the district authorities, initiated a move to desilt and reopen the canal in the interest of the pilgrims.

J. V. SIVA PRASANNA KUMAR

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