Kilimarathukavu Temple
Kilimarthukava Temple, also known as Kilimarathukavu Siva Parvathy Temple and in Malayalam as കിളിമരത്തുകാവ് ക്ഷേത്രം, is located in Kadakkal, Kollam, Kerala, India. It is one of the most famous centuries old temple in South India. This temple is very special in its deities. One of the speciality is that it has two Lord Shiva deities one is the main Shiva and the other is Mahanadan. It is also well known for the biggest Cult image of 'Dharma Sastha' who is Lord Ayyappan. Lord Hanuman temple is located at the centre of temple pond.Non-Hindus are allowed in the temple. The temple routines are strictly followed.
History
Kilimarathukavu Temple is one of the ancient temples in southern Kerala which is thousands of years old one. It was believed that the old temple was destroyed in the past and only the idols was left behind. And in the 21st century the people surrounded by the temple thought of renovating it to give the temple a new face. As a result, the new temple construction was completed and the daily poojas restarted. Travancore devasom board has taken the control of the renovated temple with the help of temple advisory committee in the year 2011.Temple legend
During the Pandava's expulsion in forest, Arjuna traveled to ascetic for Lord Shiva to seek Pashupatastra. One day during the journey, he slept on a rock to take rest. As he woke up and continue his journey, a bird flew around him and chripped. Feeling boggle at the chirp of the bird, he meditated. He woke up in the existence of the bird and followed its path. The bird flies every day and one day, it reached a valley. The bird finally sat on a tree as high as the sky near to a clean stream and this drew Arjuna's attention towards it. Arjuna reached the place where the bird chirped. It was a big tree called "Kilimaram" the bird was sitting and chirping. The bird gazed at the face of Arjuna sitting on the branch of the tree. Arjuna had a feeling that bird said, this is the place where you can have your ascension. Bird suddenly plucked 3 leaves from the nearby "Koovalam" tree and put it there. Parthan felt like he was asked to do ascension for Lord Shiva. Arjuna commenced his ascension as said by the bird. Thus the place came to know as "Kilimarathil Kavu" and later to "Kilimarathukavu".Arjuna took bath in pond nearby and worshiped the Shiva Lingam stone found there. As time went on, Arjuna's ascension became severe. As requested by Lord Parvati, Lord Shiva came to Arjuna as a wild man and Parvathi as a wild woman. This time a monster sent by Duryodhana came to kill Arjuna. Monster in the figure of pig was attacked with arrow by Arjuna and Lord Shiva in wild man outlook. Arjuna and Lord Shiva started argument on hitting the pig. Arjuna beat the wild man with "Gandeevaam" . Parvati, wife of Lord Shiva stopped it and explained who actually the wild man is. Hearing this Arjuna did sashtanka namaskar and Lord Shiva gifted him Pashupatastra and gave blessings. All goddess including Ganapathy, Murugan, Sastha, Anjaneyan requested to meet the look of wild man who is Lord Shiva. Finally everyone came to see the wild man and Lord Shiva told " Aujuna, the place where we are now is very sacred and whoever came here for prayer should be blessed." Lord Shiva disappeared after saying this and a Shivalingam appeared itself on the same place. Even today two Shivalingam are worshiped.Lord Shiva
It is rare that one temple is having two Shiva deities. In the main sreekovil one Lord Shiva deity and Sree Parvathy deity is there. It is said that the Shiva here is "Ardhanarishvaran". And another deity of Lord Shiva here is "Mahanadan". Sivarathri is the main festival for Lord Shiva. On the same day after athazha pooja Lord Shiva is received outside the main sreekovil and is placed in a specially designed mandapam outside the sreekovil. On the same day devotees donate "para" for Lord Shiva which is a ritual the temple.
Sree Parvathy Devi
Sree Parvathy Devi is on the same sreekovil near to Lord Shiva. "Kunkumam" pooja is special for Parvathy Devi. Navarathri is the main festival for Sree Parvathy Devi. As a part of Navarathri, Devi will be dressed up on different forms of Devi on each day and on vijayadhasami it is Lord Sree Saraswathi Devi. On the same day is Vidhyarambhan when hundreds of kids will start their first writing lessons which will be led by Temple Thandhri " Sree Kokkalathu Madathil Madhavar Shambhu".
Lord Murugan
As in Kailasam near to Lord Shiva and Sree Parvathy Devi is the place for Lord Murugan. The main festival is Skandha Shashti and Shashti on every month. All devotees gets facility to fast during the same days. On normal Shasti days which is on every month devotees will get prasadam from temple by 10 am. On Skandha Shashti devotees will get prasadam from 7 am onwards. The speciality in the temple is that every quantity prepared as prasadam will be taken for pooja. Kumarasukthapushpaneali is the main pooja done for Lord Murugan. Another pooja for Lord Murugan is Vettila donation. Devotees can donate one Betel leaf, one arecanut, one lemon and one coin on every Tuesdays. This can be donated on one to one hundred and eight weeks continuously.
Lord Shastha
May be it is the largest Shastha deity in India is in temple. It was proved in devaprashnam that it was largest deity of Lord Shastha and during temple construction the old deity was found as the supporting evidence for the proof. It is believed that for sanidhosham devotees can pray to Lord Shastha. Neeranjanam is the pooja done to Lord Shastha on every Saturdays with one coconut, ellukizhi and oil. Mandala vilakku is the main festival for Lord Shastha starting from vrischikam 1 to makaram 1.
Lord Hanuman
Lord Hanuman or Anjaneya is the rarest deity in southern kerala. The temple is situated in the middle of temple pond.
Lord Ganapathy
Lord Ganapathi is near to Lord Shiva and Parvathy. Ganapathi homam and ashtadravya mahaganapathihomam are the pooja for Lord Ganapathy. Unniyappam is the prasadam for Lord Ganapathy.
Nagas
Nagathara is also another deity, Lord of snakes. Ayilya pooja is the main pooja for nagas which is held on every ayilam.
Main Festivals
Maha Shivaratri on kumbham Malayalam calendar.Navaratri on kanni Malayalam calendar.
Skandha Shashti on thulam Malayalam calendar.
Mandalapooja Makaravilakku on vrischikam Malayalam calendar.
Hanuman Jayanti on medam Malayalam calendar.
Daily poojas & offerings
Mathru Pooja on Mothers Day
Birth giving mother and birthplace are godly. India is a country in which everyone treat their country as their Motherland and every mother represents the motherland.Sree Sankaracharya Adi Shankara said nobody in this universe can explain the pain each mother experienced while giving birth to her child. Each and every mother carrying her child in her womb would take lots of pain and struggles. From the day after giving birth to her child every mother will take care of her child by countless efforts which is beyond any returns.
Sankaracharya sacrificed everything in his life in order to lead a monastic life. Whatever spiritual heights he reached, in front of his mother he used to be her obedient child. That was the significance he had given to his mother. God could not be everywhere and therefore he created Mothers. This was Sankaracharya's version about mothers.
Every mother has love and affection towards her child. Mother's blessings are beyond everything in this world.
Nowadays, we conveniently forget in giving sufficient care for our parents. Mothers cared their children selflessly but in return, children shut down the door and dump them in old age homes. Our culture where parents were considered the final authority in families are being left in old age homes.
In order to create the feeling the one's own mother should be revered and looked upon as God. There should be some kind of Mother Child relationship. To induce this, on Mother’s Day the children should take pooja along with their mother and worship them sitting at their feet. It is a healthy custom across all caste and religion in our society that God is worshiped through many forms and names. Among different ways of worship the first place is given to one's own mother, then father, then teacher and then a guest who comes home. Thus we teach "Mathru devo bhava, Pithru devo bhava, Acharaya devo bhava and Athithi devo bhava".
In order to sow the seeds of parental respect towards every child's mother, "Mathru pooja" is a way to induce love and respect to their mother. Mathru pooja is based on the concept of paying our respects to our mother whom our culture sees as a representation of Devi. "Yaa Devi sarvabhootheshu Mathru roopena samsthitha Namasthasyai, Namasthasyai, Namasthasyai Namo Namah."
Mother's Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family, as well as motherhood, mother - child relationship and the impact of mother in society. It is being celebrated on various days around the world commonly in the month of March and May. As per United Nations Organization and many other countries it is celebrated on second sunday in the month of May every year. On Mother’s Day United Nations celebrate moms who impact their lives and work tirelessly to change the world. The United Nations Foundation knows how important mothers are in promoting prosperity, success and growth in communities around the world. They support United Nations every day in its effort to provide mothers the resources they need to lead healthy and happy life.
With all Nations temple is also celebrating Mother's Day on every 2nd sunday of May every year at Kilimarathukavu Temple. On this auspicious occasion the temple advisory committee and Satya sai seva organization put hands together for "Mathru Pooja" on the same day with hundreds of Mothers and children.The program is scheduled for one hour in which Mothers will be seated on chair and children on the floor. Children will do pooja to their Mother who is a representation of Devi, with milk, rose water and water by chanting mantras. And before the Pooja gets over Mothers will keep hands on child's head and bless them. At last Mothers will give sweet to their child and the Pooja gets over. As this being held on a sacred temple, every child will keep the ethics and in turn make mother child relationship ends forever. Hope in Kaliyuga, Mathrupooja is an eyeopener!