| Attukal Temple | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Thiruvananthapuram |
| Deity | Bhadrakali/Kannagi |
| Festivals | Attukal Pongala |
| Location | |
| Location | Attukal |
| State | Kerala |
| Country |  India |
  Attukal Temple (India) Show map of India Attukal Temple (Asia) Show map of Asia | |
| Coordinates | 8°28′11.5″N76°57′19.8″E / 8.469861°N 76.955500°E /8.469861; 76.955500[2] |
| Elevation | 32.93 m (108 ft) |
| Website | |
| Attukal Bhagavathy Temple | |
TheAttukal Bhagavathy Temple is aHindu shrine located atAttukal inKerala,India. It is situated near the heart of the city, two kilometres away from thePadmanabhaswamy Temple, East Fort, inThiruvananthapuram. The goddess of the temple is identified withBhadrakali, mounted over avetala. She is also identified withKannagi, the heroine ofIlango Adigal's epicCilappatikaram.
The temple is renowned for the annualAttukal Pongal festival, in which over three million women participate.[1] A festival that has figured in theGuinness Book of World Records for being the single largest gathering of women for a religious activity, the Attukal Pongala continues to draw millions of women with each passing year. Devotees believe that all of their wishes are fulfilled by the goddess, whose worship can allow them to attain salvation. The goddess is often venerated as all three goddesses of theTridevi:Saraswati,Lakshmi, andParvati.
One regional legend of the temple is based on the legend of Kannagi in theCilappatikaram. According to the epic, Kannagi who was married to Kovalan, the son of a wealthy merchant. After their wedding, Kovalan met a dancer named Madhavi and spent all his riches on her, neglecting his wife. When he became penniless, he returned to Kannagi. The only precious item left to be sold was Kannagi's pair of anklets. The couple went with it to the king ofMadurai to sell it. Coincidentally, an anklet had been stolen from the queen of Madurai, which resembled Kannagi's. When Kovalan tried to sell one of Kannagi's anklets to the king, he was mistaken for the thief, and was beheaded by the king's soldiers without a trial.
Kannagi was infuriated when she heard the news and rushed to the king with her other anklet. She broke one of the anklets, which contained rubies, while the queen's had contained pearls. She cursed the city of Madurai to burn, and it is said that due to her chastity, the curse was fulfilled. Kannagi is said to have attained salvation after the goddess of the city appeared before her.
According to regional legend, it is said that on her way toKodungallur, Kannagi passed Attukal. She assumed the form of a girl. An old man sat on the banks of a stream, when the girl went to him and asked him if he could help her cross it. Surprised, to find the young girl alone, he took her home. After some time, she disappeared. She appeared in his dream and asked him to build a temple on the spot he found three golden lines in his grove. The old man did so, which is regarded to be the location of the present Attukal temple.
A different legend identifies the goddess of Attukal as Bhadrakali, who emerged from the third eye of Shiva to slay theasura king Daruka.
Attukal Pongala is the main.[2] Attukal Pongala Mahotsavam is a 10 days festival which falls on February – March every year (Malayalam month of Kumbham).[3] The festival begins on the Karthika star with the traditional Kappukettu and Kudiyiruthu ceremony, the idol of Devi, is embellished with Kappu (Bangles).
The 9th day of the festival, 'Pooram day' is the major attraction, The Attukal Pongala day and the festival will conclude with the Kuruthitharpanam at 10th day makam star night.[5]
Millions of women gather every year in the month ofKumbham around this temple and preparePongala (rice cooked withjaggery,ghee,coconut as well as other ingredients) in the open in small pots to please the Goddess Kannaki.[6] Pongala (literally means to boil over) is a ritualistic offering of a sweet dish, consisting of rice porridge, sweet brown molasses, coconut gratings, nuts and raisins. It is done as an offering to the presiding deity of the temple – the Goddess – popularly known as Attukal Amma. Goddess Attukal devi is believed to fulfill their wishes and provide prosperity.[7]
The other festivals in this temple are:
