Kuttikattu Sree Bhadra Kali Devi Temple
Encyclopedia
Kuttikattu Sree Bhadra Kali Devi Temple is one of the Bhadrakali
Bhadrakali
Bhadrakāli , is one of the forms of the Great Goddess mentioned in the Devi Mahatmyam. In Sanskrit, the word Bhadra means "blessed", "auspicious", "fair", "beautiful", "good", "fortunate", "prosperous"....

temples in Cherthala
Cherthala
Cherthala is a town located in the district of Alappuzha, in the state of Kerala, India. It is located 30 km south of the city of Kochi and 22 km north of Alappuzha town, on the Kochi-Alappuzha streatch of both the National Highway 47 as well as the costal Rail-route.lt is 85 km from the...

, Alappuzha district
Alappuzha district
Alappuzha is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala in India. It was formed as Alleppey District on August 17, 1957. The name of the district was officially changed to Alappuzha in 1990. The district is a widely known tourist destination, and is well known for its coir factories. Most of...

, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

. The temple is located about 1 kilometer to the west of the Arthungal bypass of NH 47
NH 47
National Highway 47, commonly referred to as NH 47, is a long highway connecting the city of Salem to Kanyakumari town in southern India...

 at Cherthala.

Rituals at the temple

Kunguma Khalasam is conducted on the first Sunday of every month, as per Malayalam calendar
Malayalam calendar
Malayalam calendar is a solar and sidereal Hindu calendar used in Kerala, India. The origin of the calendar has been dated as 825 CE....

. This special Vazipadu (offering) is for people who wish to have children, wealth and prosperity, improve their health or other desires. Rahukala Naranga Vilakku (putting oil in half potion of lemon and lighting it ) is another major offering for settling marriage. It has been conducting on every Friday.

Prasadam Oottu (Temple feast).
Providing food for temple attendees on special days is regarded as quite benevolent. Prasadam Oottu is available on Prathishta (Consecration) days, Day of Kunguma Kalasam, Bhagavatha Sapthaham days and 10 day annual ceremony. These are sponsored by the Devaswom. Devotees too can contribute through remittance at the temple counter. Now there is a Prasadam )ottu on all Fridays.
Serpent-worship
The temple is a centre of pilgrimage for devotees of serpent gods (Naga devatha). The Sarpam Pattu (song of Nagas) is most pleasing of all poojas to the serpents. This holy ceremony has been conducted once every year, during the annual ceremony. Sarppam Pattu requires huge spending and manpower for many months. Separate poojas are offered to the nine Nagas namely, Nagaraja, Sarppa Yakshi, Naga Yakshi, Naga Chamundi, Angu Thala Mani Nagam, Kuzhi Nagam, Kari Nagam, Mani Nagam and Para Nagam during these days (different manifestations of Naga devathas).
Pulluvanpattu
On the eastern side of the temple, songs are recited to please the serpents. The Pulluvan song is accompanied by the sounds from the little Veena
Veena
Veena may refer to one of several Indian plucked instruments:With frets*Rudra veena, plucked string instrument used in Hindustani music*Saraswati veena, plucked string instrument used in Carnatic musicFretless...

s and the music of the Pulluva women playing on Kudam are a familiar sight at Kuttikkatu Temple. Pulluva is a community of the Hindu religion, and they follow this musical form as their vocation. It is believed that the songs, recited by the Pulluva praising the Nagaraja and his consorts, the sound of the musical instrument Pulluva Veena (an instrument of the violin family), and Kudam (an earthen pot connected with strings), have the divine power to appease and attract divine serpents and earn their blessings. Now people with expertise in handling these musical instruments are rare even among the Pulluva community.

  • Picture Gallery
  • Special Vazhipadu
  • Festivals
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