Lokanarkavu and Kalarippayattu
Forty-one day Mandala Utsavam is
the annual festival at the Lokanarkavu Bhagavathy Temple. This is the only
temple where a peculiar folk dance called Poorakkali is
presented during festivals. The dance, performed during the festival resembles
the martial art Kalarippayattu. Even today, all Kalaripayattu
artists seek the blessings of the deity before their debut due to the
association of lokanarkavu temple with legendary hero thacholi othenan.
History of Durga temple
The Durga temple was
built by Aryans Brahmins who migrated
to this place some 1500 years ago. They were Brahmins who took up
trade as their main occupation. The Aryan successors of
these temple still are of prime importance in the temple. They gradually began
to accept some of the traditions of local Nairs and made
martial relationship with them. But on close examination their customs and
beliefs are evidently different from local Nair community. It is
believed that the goddess travelled with them to Lokanarkavu in the form of a
lady who followed the five hundred Aryans. The successors still see this goddess
as their mother and not as goddess. Often the name of Thacholi
Othenan is misquoted with the origin of temple. Othenan was
a great devotee,but never had any holding rights or anything to do with the
establishment of Durga temple.
It is evident from the fact that the goddess is Durga at Lokanarkavu and
not the Kali form.
The heroes of Vadakkan Pattukal(Ballads of North
Malabar വടക്കേ മലബാര് उत्तर मलबार வடக்கு மலபார்) had their
ancestral goddesses as Kali form and not Durga form. The same
applies to the local rulers who later claimed Lokanarkavu as their family
goddess. All the rulers of Kerala had Goddesses with Thamasa
pooja or shakteya pooja; ie poojas in which either man or
animal was sacrificed. It was a more local tradition and most family temples of Kerala kings and
locals had followed such tradition until it was modified. Later due to
Aryanisation of temples, modifications were made by replacing human sacrifice
with cutting plantain or performing poojas with tender coconut and cereals
meant to replace liquor and meat. Unlike this local tradition Lokanarkavu durga
temple do not have any such traditions and never had such practices as it was
established by Aryans itself.
It is said that most other goddess temples
in kerala are in Madhyama and rarely in Uthama state.
But this temple is said to be in Athyuthama state. The Aryans
though manifested as locals they strongly upheld their ethical roots through a
complex of differences from rest of the people. The race spirit was so high at
older times that it is said that they refused to pay taxes to the local kings
of Kerala,
as none of them was an Aryan.
But at the same time or say at a later period they began to ignore the cast
restrictions and even seemed to threaten the cast equations. But slowly they
became adjusted and more reclusive and settles around the temple areas and
withdrew from all other matters of Local people. Among the mandala
vilakku festival, the successors of these Aryan Brahmins migrants conduct the 16th vilakku,
that occurs on 16th day and is of prime importance. As we enter the temple we
must pray to the stage kept in memory of these Aryan Brahmin Ancestors who built the temple. The
stage is at right side to the main entrance and all devotees must seek their
permission and pray to them to see the goddess inside. This is to show that the
Lokanarkavu Durga holds these people to the highest esteem and she had followed
them wherever they went and their happiness is her prime importance. It is said
that the prayers done without praying to these ancestors goes much unheard. the
aryan successors are called Nagariks and they form a formidable cast
with just malayala brahmins above them in cast equations
