Parappadam Temple

The most famous temple in Kottayam town's Veloor Kara is Parappadam. It is a Major Temple. An elder (karanavar) of Thumbayil — a well-known Nair ancestral house in Veloor — used to make a devoted pilgrimage every year to the Kodungallur Bharani festival. Eventually, age and rheumatic ailments made this journey impossible for him. One evening, as the old man stood weeping before the shrine at Kodungallur in prayer, a velichappad (oracle) came into a trance and spoke thus: "My son, do not grieve. You will find an idol of mine near your own home. Simply consecrate it and worship it — that will satisfy me." Some days later, walking through his own paddy field, overgrown with creeper vines, the Thumbayil elder happened to find an idol of the Goddess. When Karappuzha Kaniyar was consulted to divine its nature, it was confirmed to be an idol of the Kodungallur Amma. With the help of the Thekkumkur king and his army commander, the Munjanad Panicker, among others, the Thumbayil elder built a temple at the very spot where the idol was found and consecrated it there. Over time, "Vayarappadam" (creeper-vine field) became "Parappadam." The temple holds an eight-day festival, with the ceremonial bath (aaraattu) falling on Meena Bharani. That day also features the Kumbhakuda ritual. Even today, the number of kudams (ceremonial pots) offered rarely falls below five hundred. In earlier times, it was customary for every Nair household in Veloor to bring a kudam for Meena Bharani. Even non-Hindus once held deep faith in Parappadathamma. It is also said that, at that time, drinking toddy on Meena Bharani was not considered improper.

"O Bhadra, who shines forth at Parappadam, sole sovereign of the world, protect always these hands folded at your holy feet..." — such hymns were once sung every evening in every Hindu household in the area, as the ritual lamp was lit. There was not a single Hindu home then that did not chant these verses at dusk. Today, what one hears instead are film songs. Another Devi temple in Veloor itself is Eruthikkal, about one and a half furlongs east of Thiruvathukkal junction. Besides Bhagavathy, this temple also houses consecrations of Goshalakrishnan, Yakshi, and Rakshas. It is said that the Kumaranalloor Bhagavathy was once accompanied from Madurai by the Seven Mothers (Saptamatrikas) — two of whom were settled at Kumaranalloor, two at Kudamaloor (Karikulangara and Padinjattil Madam), one at Kummanam (Ilamkavu), one at Karappuzha (Ambalakkadavu), and one at Chengalam (Chengalathukavu). The hereditary trusteeship (ooranma) of Eruthikkal belonged to the Mazhuvancheri Namboothiri family. When this illam died out, ownership of the temple passed to four Brahmin families of Karappuzha — Orayakkattu, Perumana, Madam, and Mekkadu. In earlier times, Eruthikkal held its own festival, with a ceremonial bath at Vishu among other rites. Today, it stands as a neglected temple.

The priest (shanthi) who once served here was an elderly Brahmin who had only one son. Certain locals developed a fierce grudge against this son and set out to kill him. Some mischief-makers told the old Brahmin: "Your son has already been killed by his enemies — flee and save yourself!" On hearing this, the old man took up the temple's sacred Saligrama stones and other sacred objects and leapt into the temple well to the northeast. Just as he was about to jump, Munjanad Panicker came running up, breathless, and cried: "Thirumeni, the boy has not been killed — his enemies were only lying!" But by then the Brahmin had already jumped into the well. Lying there, he uttered this curse: "May the Nairs of Veloor Kara perish! Whether the Munjanadan perishes or not, let it be so!" Munjanad Panicker and others pulled the priest out of the well, but by then he had already died. A shrine to Brahmarakshas was later established at the site of the well. People today believe that this ended the curse. The belief that offering vows to this Brahmarakshas brings the fulfillment of one's wishes has, in recent times, grown even stronger.