THEYYAM

It is as ritual dance form of Kerala, glorifying the mother Goddess. Themes revolve around the triumph of the Goddess over the Demon Daruka and other evil characters. Always performed by men, they also enact females roles wearing exotic make up and colorful costumes. Theyyam incorporates dance, mime and music and enshrines the rudiments of ancient tribal cultures which attached great importance of worship.
 

VELAKALI

 
It is a spectacular martial dance performed by men in some of the temples of Southern Kerala. The dancers, clad in the traditional clothes and colourful headgear of the medieval Nair soldiers, engage in vigorous movements and dexterous sword play, to the accompaniment of an orchestra.

KALAMEZHUTHU

The Kalam is a unique drawing and this ritualistic art is a common feature of temples as well as noble households. The artist uses the floor as his canvas. Kalamezhuthu Pattu is performed as a part of the rituals to worship and propitiate Gods like Kali, Ayyapan or Vettakkorumakan. The Kalams are erased at the end of the ritual to the accompaniment of musical instruments. The colored powder used for the Kalam are prepared from natural products only. It often takes more than two hours to finish drawing.

PADMANABHASWAMI TEMPLE

 
              Padmanabhaswamy temple (Malayalam: ശ്രീ പദ്മനാഭസ്വാമി ക്ഷേത്രം) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Thiruvananthapuram, India. The shrine is currently run by a trust headed by the royal family of Travancore.The temple is one of 108 Divya Desams (Holy Abodes of Vishnu) – principal centres of worship of the deity in Vaishnavism. The temple, constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil literature canon of the Tamil Alvar saints (6th–9th centuries CE), with structural additions to it made throughout the 16th century CE, when its ornate Gopuram was constructed.The Temple is a replica of the famous Sri Adikesavaperumal Temple at Thiruvattar.Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple gave its name to Kerala’s state capital Thiruvananthapuram. ‘Thiru’ ‘Anantha’ ‘Puram’ means Sacred Abode of Lord Anantha Padmanabha. This city is also known as Ananda Puram and Syanandura Puram meaning City of Bliss. Ananda refers to Sree Padmanabha Himself. Hindu scriptures refer to the Supreme Being as 'Sachidananda' (Absolute Truth, Absolute Consciousness and Absolute Bliss).
The Principal Deity, Padmanabhaswamy, is enshrined in the "Anantha-sayanam" posture (in the eternal sleep of Yoga-nidra on the serpent Anantha)^.The Maharajah of Travancore bears the title, "Sree Padmanabha-dasa’ (Servant of Lord Padmanabha).

Temple Timing:-4.15 am to 5.15 am,6.45 am - 7.15am, 8.30am-11.15am , 5pm-6.15pm,6.45pm-7.30pm.

MADHUR TEMPLE

MADHUR 8 KMs north east of Kasargod. Famous Srimad Anantheswara Vinayaka temple is situated here.
The rich architecture, imposing structure of the temple, with its turrests and gables and the copper plate roofing rises majestically against the beautiful land scape of hills paddy fields and gardens with the river Madhuvahini flowing leisurely in front of it.The Madhur Temple is a Siva temple with Srimad Anantheswara as its presiding deity. But importance is given to the deity Maha Ganapathi. The Sivalingam of the temple is said to have been found by a harijan woman, Madharu.The special festival of the temple is Moodappa Seva, which is covering the large figure of Maha Ganapathi with appam made of ghee and rice. The festival is conducted only periodically in view of the huge expenditure involved. It was celebrated in April 1962, after a lapse of about 160 years, and recently in April 1992.Namaskara Mandapam of the temple has been decorated with beautiful figures of puranic heroes in wood. A closer examination of the wood carvings would disclose the various episodes of the Ramayana, beginning with the Seethga Swayamvaram. The Mantapam in the interior of the temple building as well as the outside facade of the second and third storey of the main building are also profuse with attractive and exquisite wood carvings.

Sree Poornathreyeesa Temple

This temple is located at Thripunithura town. Sree Poornathreyeesan is the family deity of Cochin royal family. The glorious devine rests under the five hood of Ananthan.

While Arjuna was in Vaikundom, the adobe of Vishnu, an idol was presented to him. Vishnu wanted it to be installed on the earth. Arjuna put it in his quiver (Pooni in Malayalam). It was and idol of Maha Vishnu. After reaching on the earth, as desired by Sreekrishna, Arjuna gave the idol to a Brahmin. The brahmin was none other than the Brahnin described in the story of ‘Santhana Gopalam'. He installed the idol in a ‘thura' (a place where people gather) observing all ‘tantric' rituals. Hence the place is known as ‘Thripoonithura'. After the Brahmin's death, his ancestors (the Puliyoor family) have been performing all ‘Poojas' at this temple.

The scholars say that the word ‘threyee' means Veda and so the devine who knows the whole veda is known as ‘Pooranthreyeesan'. It is compulsory that the priest who perform poojas at this temple should have thorough knowledge of Vedas.

This temple has got a reference in the ‘Sukasandesa' and old poem in the form of a message. The reference of a ‘Fullayaru' and Vishnu temple in the poem are actually the ‘Pazhupuzha' and the thripoonithura Vishnu temple. In those days it was considered as a village temple and was the only temple for those who belong to the villages chowvara. Peruvanom, Irinjalakuda and Vedanadu.

It was a time when the Vaishnava movement was at its zenith in South India . As a result the Thulu Brahins were attracted to the temple and they tried their best for the progress of the Poornathreyeesa temple along with the local Nampoothiris. The Thulu Brahmins sought help and advice from the Nampoothiris as and when needed and in duel course took over the charge of the temple. The priests performed all temple rituals. Today the Vaishnava Brahmins from the Uduppi village in Mysore are the chief priests of the temple.

During the reign of Sakthan Thampuran the administration of the temple was taken over by him and when the Indian Union came into existence, the management was handed over tot eh Cochin Devasom Board.

In 1096 M.E. a huge fire consumed the temple buildings leaving the idol and the shrine unhurt. Later under the supervision of the architect Mr.Echara Warrier, the temple was renovated as we see it today.

There are three gate towers (Gopurams) of which the east and west are the most important. The southern gate tower is closed and there is no tower on the opposite side where there is located only a mess hall.

The idol of Poornathreyeesa, having four arms, in about 4” tall under the five hoods of Amanita. It is placed on a separate pedestal.

There is an ever-burning oil lamp at the shrine. It is believed that Arjuna had placed it after the placement of the idol. The favourite offering of the divine is lighting the oil lamps and it is known as ‘Olpenna'. There is no sub-deites at the temple except Sree Ganapathy.

There are four major festivals at the temple. They are thulam festival (October/November), Vrichikom festival( November/December), Moosari festival (August-Septemebr) and festival of ‘Nagappennu' (February/March). Among them Vrichikom festival is the most important one. On the day of ‘Chothi' (Star) flag is hoisted with ‘tantric' ceremonies and on the ‘Thiruvathira day' the festival ends with ‘arat' (divine bath). On each day of the festival the Lord accompanied by 15 elephants and ‘Panchari melam' goes round the temple. Variety entertainments add flavour to the festival. The people of Thrippunithura, forgetting their cast or creed participate in all these festivals and it can rightly be called a ‘Unity in diversity'.