Pattazhy is a beautiful temple village situated
in Pathanapuram Taluk of Kollam District in Kerala. The land of Pattazhy
comprising two panchayat areas (Pattazhy and Pattazhy vadakekara)
was given as a gift to Pattazhy Devi by the King of Travancore for
the help and shelter given during the fierce battle against the king of
Kayamkulam. The place is highly gifted with its natural beauty. The
green hills and valleys, the river Kallada and sky high rocks are
an added attraction. Pattazhy also got a place in the Guinness Book
of world records for the 'Longest bamboo'. Pattazhy Devi Kshetra Samrakshana
Samithi registered in 1971 has been working successfully aiming at
the cultural, social and spiritual development of the people and also
for the preservation of the historic temple and its traditions. Pattazhy
is a blessed place having the peace and tranquility of Devi' s divine
presence. The atmosphere is pleasant with the abundance of flora and
fauna with a heavenly texture filled with chirping of birds and musical
symphony of river Kallada, giving a celestial experience.
The first syllable of the word Pattazhy (Patt) means soft and it represents
the compassion and affection of Devi to her beloved devotees. The
second part Aazhy means ocean which represents the depth of Devi's
grace. The name Pattazhy was also derived from the word Bhattarika
which means a virtuous and pious woman.
About the origin of this merciful and graceful Mannady
Devi, certain legends are prevailing. According to one version this
Bhagavathy is a ‘SELF APPEARED’ goddess to redress grievances
of the pious believers. According to one of the legends, an old lady in order to cutgrass from the premises of the temple, sharpened her sickle ( arival ) by rubbing it against a stone. Suddenly blood started oozing out of the stone. Hearing her loud cry the residents of the locality rushed to the place and were also witness to this unique incident.
One among them suggested that, the flow may be terminated by beating
the sand with power at the stone from which blood was oozing. By doing so, the flow of blood stopped. The sand was the material used
for stopping the flow and beating was the mode of method used for
it. Hence a new word originated by using sand – beat. Later
this place has been given the meaning derived from the two words,
sand-beat- in Malayalam Mannady. It became a Desam of the earstwhile
Travancore.
The temple is under THIRUVITHAMKOOR DEVASWAM BOARD.
BALAGOPALAM is the main deity. The main festival is ‘Janmashtami
Rohini’. Milk porridge (Palaphishekham) the wholy basil plant
garland (Thulasimala) thirumaduram (A mixture of honey, sugar and
banana) flowers etc are the main offerings. History records that
temple celebrations were organized by the REVATHY THIRUNAL THAMPURAN of
Kottarakkara Dynasty in 997 AD.
The Temple advisory board conducts‘Kulashekhara’ nellor
matha padasala (Religious School). The sat seva samithy is also making
an awareness of cultural direction in the students. The kulashekharanelloor
Devi temple, which has the presence of ‘Jagathamba’ and
owned by kottarakkara east N.S.S branch is, situated near by. The
festivals of ‘navaka puja’ and ‘ponkala’of
this temple famous. The Kottarakkara Mahaganapati temple is under
the kulashekharanelloor group of Travancore Devaswam Board.
Kulashekaranallur Sree Krishna Swami
Temple
TRIKKANNAMANGAL SREE KRISHNA SWAMI TEMPLE
The idol of Mahavishnu is erected facing westword
and ‘Garuda’ facing it from the opposite. The kulashyva
brahmins settled here following the tussle between the Elayidath dynasty
and Ettyapuram Lords. At present it is under the Thiruvithamkoor Devasom
Board taken from the Kadalaymana Thampurans who owned a number of
temples.
The NagaRaja idol of this temple is famous. The Ayilya puja in
the month of ‘Kanni’ attracts thousands of devotees.
All the usual cerimonial rites are also offered at the doors of
temples of Mahaganapathi, Mahadevar, Manikandaswami, Mada swami.
The festival of this temple is celebrated on the ‘Utram’
in the month pf ‘Medam’. The peculiar practice of offering
food of the deity is also famous. The other special offerings are
payasam, Unniyappam and Noorum Palum. The first fruit is also offered.
Thrikkannamangal Sree Krishna Swami
Temple
THE MUTHUMARI AMMANKOVIL
Mutharamman Devasthanam Trust is looking after the temple. ‘Bhadrha Kali’ is dwelling here in the form of
Durga. The history of then temple is associated with ancient Viswakarma
families of Mannadi, Varoor, Krishnan Achary and Pettayil veedu of
Kottarakkara.
As per the order of kottarakkara Thampuran some Viswakarmajers
from Petta, Tamil Nadu came here for the construction work of
places and temples, under the supervision of Thiruvithamkoor Rajas.
The Petta family was in charges of Padinjattimkara Temple pillar
works and the decoration works of Temples, places, crowns, robs
and ornaments were entrusted with the Mannadi Pattoor family. The
temple was constructed at the side of the dense grove; ‘Kavu’
owned by ‘Mutharu’ family as a result of a dream vision.
Payasam, lighting lamps are the main offerings. Temples of sree
Mahaganapathi, Mohave Subramanian Swami, Made swami, Yoogeshwaran,
marutha etc are also errected here. ‘Amman Charitha vilpattu’
is the main item of programme in the festival. A group of artists
from Nagarcovil perform this programme.
The Thiru Utsava Kettukazhchakal of Kottarakkara Mahaganapathi
Temple Stars from this Muthumariyamman Kovil.
Muthumari Amman Kovil Temple
CHIRAKADAVU DEVI TEMPLE
The Goddess Kodungalloor Amma’s presence in
the form of bhadra is present here. The Devi gives all her blessings in eight ways. The place is surrounded lay dense groves
and large pond. The place has an environmental importance and
is more enlightened and blessed with presence of Devi. It is believed
that the offerings of traditional lamps and pearl rimmed umbrellas
would bring more auspicious blessings to the devotees.
The deities of Mahaganapathi, Brahma rakshas, Yakshiyamma, yogeshwaran,
Marutha, Bhoothathan etc are also consecrated here.
Kumbha Bharani. Navarathri, idol Consecration anniversary etc
are properly celebrated.
Chirakadavu Devi Temple
Paandivayal Bhagavathi Temple
NEELESHWARA SREE DHARMA SASTHA-MAHADEVAN TEMPLE
In this sacred temple one would be blessed both
by Sree Parameshwaran and Sree Aiyyappan. Early the place was named as Neelakadeshwaram ‘Neelakanda’
the Mahadevan who had swallowed the first out come ’Kalakuda’
deadly poison that came out during the churning of the ‘sea
of Milk’. Later the name was changed it Neeleshwaram. Thiru
utsava and Mandala Chirappu are the main festivals. The ‘aazhi
puja’ worship of the fire pit is also conducted.
Neeleswaram Sree Dharmashasta Mahadevar
Temple
KALARVATTATHU KIRATHA MOORTHI TEMPLE
Sree Parameshwara blessed Arjuna with
‘Pashupatham’ a missile of shine disguised as a barbarian. The idol is believed to comply with this supposition. Once this place was a
dense grove supposed to be the dwelling of ‘Made swami’.
But through an astrological enquiry it was revealed that a proper
temples for the Kirath moorthy is to be erected here and daily offerings and relates are to be served.
Kalarvattathu Kirathamurthi Temple
NEDUVATHUR PATTU PURACKAL SREE DHARMASATHA TEMPLE
The main deity in this temple is sree Dharma Shasta.
There are other deities Devi, Yekshiyamma, Brahmarakshassu, Madaswami,
Bhoothathan, Nagaraja, Naga yekshi etc. The festival of this temple
is celebrated on the day of ‘Uthram’ in the month of ‘Meenam‘.
