Spirit of Kerala is most evident in religious tolerance practised from time immemorial
Pooram — a symbol of religious cooperation
The Thrissur Pooram reflects the cultural traditions of the state and also the religious cooperation and harmony existing among different communities of the region. The splendour of Pooram is the result of the sweat and toil of a large number of Christians also. This has been warmly acknowledged by the devaswoms which conduct the annual temple festival.
Most of the skilled workers making the elephant accoutrement and caparisons are Christians. The devaswom officials of Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple and Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple, the major participants of Pooram, said the works done by persons belonging to different communities include gold plating the accoutrements like ‘nettipattam,’ ‘aalavattam’ and metal frills for decorative umbrellas used in Kudamattam . Mr M. Madhavan Kutty, president of Thiruvambadi Devaswom, told DC that all of them stand shoulder-to- shoulder with the organisers to make the festival a grand spectacle. And they meticulously execute their work which is admired by thousands who witness the Pooram, he added.
Mr K. Manoharan, president of Paramekkavu Devaswom, said that non-Hindus form the majority in offices and workshops doing the preparatory works. “Christian women do embroidery and other design works. Months before the festival, the devaswoms start making ‘Muthukkuda,’ the colourful umbrellas, with silk and satin and laced with white metal and sequins. For several decades, a Christian artisan has been involved in gold-plating of elephant accoutrements,” he added.
The clergy from the Thrissur Archdiocese visit the exhibition of elephant accoutrements and offer all assistance. Father Francis Alapatt, former vicar-general of the Thrissur Archdiocese, who is presently the director of Mary Immaculate Hospital in the coastal regions of Engadiyoor, has taken the initiative in inter-religious dialogues.
He told DC that as a boy he used to visit the devaswom offices along with his grandfather during Pooram. A decade ago the Jubilee Mission Hospital of the diocese provided free medical care to the victims of a fire accident during the sample fireworks. The Paramekkavu devaswom gifted a decorative umbrella for the services rendered by the hospital, he recalled.
Erumeli & Arthunkal
Kerala is perhaps the only place in the country where a Babar is deeply revered by a staunch Hindu. But here the quirks of language have made him Vavar. Legend has it that he was a fierce warrior who later became a great Ayyappa devotee, also the Lord’s comrade-in-arms in his fight against the cruel local chieftain Udayan. But for the Lord, Vavar Swami was more a dear friend. Lore has it that Vavar had a severe face that could silence the most violent beast but also a sense of humour that could disarm the hardest soul. Devotional songs describe how Vavar would carry young Ayyappa on his back and keep mumbling things that would have the Lord in splits.
So much is Vavar associated with Ayyappa that both their names are uttered in the same breath by devotees. The group that performs ‘Erumeli petta thullal’, a ritual dance at the start of the Sabarimala pilgrimage that evokes the war cries of Ayyappa’s warriors as they set out to vanquish Udayan, is first welcomed at Vavar Masjid, a splendid structure with domes, minarets and spires. It is after bowing before Vavar that the group enters the Sastha Temple bang opposite the mosque. Muslims frequent this temple. Since Muslims are against idol worship, the temple has a vacant niche for Vavar.
If the Sabarimala pilgrimage begins with a visit to the Vavar Masjid, it ends at the famous Arthunkal Church in Alappuzha district. It is before the larger-than-life statue of Veluthachan inside the Church that the staunchest of Ayyappa devotees end their 41-day penance by removing their sacred chain. It is said that it was Veluthachan, who might have got his name from the white robes he wore, had taken young Manikandan to a ‘kalari’ in Cherrapanchira, now Muhamma in Alappuzha. It is also said that Ayyappan got his first lessons in the Bible from Veluthachan. Now a millennium later, their mutual influence is manifested in the modes of worship. It is no coincidence that the 'bow and arrow' offering to St Sebastian in Arthunkal Church is similar to the arrows Ayyappa devotees pierce on 'Sharamkuththi' at Sabarimala.
Vallarpadam Basilica
The legend of Vallarpadam Basilica in Kochi is also steeped in legends showing a close proximity between the Hindu rulers and their Christian subjects. The old church destroyed in a flood in 1676 was resurrected with the personal initiative of Paliyath Raman Valiyachan, the prime minister of the erstwhile rulers of Cochin. The sanctuary lamp first lighted by him in 1676 has been burning day and night since then. Another legend is connected with the rescue of Meenakshi Amma and her son as their boat sank in the backwaters. The incident took place in May 1752 when the Nair woman and her toddler son were crossing the backwaters. As the boat came under heavy storm and rains, the woman prayed to Vallarpadathamma that they would become life-long servants if they were rescued. The two then adopted Christianity as their religion and started living on the premise of the church till the end of their lives.
Church of Koratty Muthy
Legends connected with temples, churches and mosques provide enough information about religious tolerance in Kerala. The Church of Koratty Muthy at Koratty near Thrissur, currently promoted as the second most important Marian pilgrim centre after Velankanni, offers a glimpse into such a tradition. P.K. Sivadas, author of ‘A Preface to Koratty Swaroopam Padanam,’ says the erstwhile rulers of Koratty Swaroopam gifted the land to the church during the 14th century in recognition of the valour of their commander Kochu Vareeth.
Engravings on the stone lamp in the church and the wall of the old church building have been quoted in this regard. The official website of the church also endorses the fact about the gifting of the land. According to the legend, Kochu Vareeth was killed in a battle between Koratty rulers and Kodasseri Kartha. Kartha refused permission to bury Kochu Vareeth in Ambazhakkad church coming under his control. So the rulers of Koratty Swaroopam gifted the land for setting up a new church at Koratty.
Champakkulam boat race
Before it is taken with pomp and gaiety to the Champakulam lake to mark the start of the oldest boat race, the Sree Krishna idol from the Kurichi Karinkulam Parthasarathy Temple is kept for a day in the prayer room of Mappilassery Tharavad, a traditional Christian family. Krishna spends the night near the crucifix. Devaswom officials, who arrive from Ambalappuzha to accept the idol the next day, are given a lavish treat by the Christian family. Then Krishna is parted from a bleeding Christ and taken in a procession of boats to Champakkulam. Along the way, the priests of Kallorkkad Church nearby stand on the banks and offer their blessings. This ‘nightly encounter of the Gods’ in a Christian Home was a practice that began during the 16th century by the secular native king of Chempakasseri, Devanarayanan. And when the boat race begins, a red triangular flag is hoisted by an Ezhava. As the flag flutters in the sun, a golden glint could be spotted at the tapering end of the flag; it is the sign of the cross.
Download the all new Deccan Chronicle app for Android and iOS to stay up-to-date with latest headlines and news stories in politics, entertainment, sports, technology, business and much more from India and around the world.
( Source : team dc )
Next Story
