Lokanarkavu temple Festival, Vadakara, Kozhikode District

Lokanarkavu temple Festival, Vadakara, Kozhikode District

Lokanarkavu temple is located 5 kms from Vadakara, Kozhikode district. This temple is frequently alluded to in the northern ballads or the 'Vadakkanpattu' of Kerala. The three rock cut caves in the temple premises are artfully engraved with beautiful carvings and fascinating murals. The main temple, according to legend, is more than 1500 years old. The main deity here is Goddess Durga, with two adjacent shrines dedicated to the gods Vishnu and Siva. The annual festival of the temple is called Pooram. Getting there: Nearest railway station: Kozhikode, about 48 km from Vadakara Nearest airport: Karipur International Airport, Kozhikode about 23 km from Kozhikode town Lokanarkavu temple is situated at a distance of 5 Kms from Vatakara, a heritage township in the district of Calicut. The main deity here is Goddess Durga, with two adjacent shrines dedicated to the gods, Vishnu and Siva. The temple, 1500 years old, has great historical importance as Thacholi Othenan, the legendary martial hero of Kerala, used to worship here every day. As per the ballads, Othenan fought 64 duels and won them easily which was partly due to the blessings of Lokanarkavilamma. When standing in this soil, reddened with the spilled blood of warriors named Chekavas, one could easily get drifted into a trance as an ancient attenuating echo, filled with clanging of swords against shields that sets off sparks and screams, inevidently exhilarates the atmosphere. The pond of the temple also was a major spot described vividly in ballads as it acted as the backdrop when Othenan and Kungi planned their occassional trysts on its moss-ladden crumbled steps. "Mandala Utsavam", falls in the month of november - december, is the annual festival at the Lokanarkavu Bhagavathy Temple. This is the only temple where a peculiar folk dance called Thacholikkali is presented during festivals. The dance, performed during the festival resembles the martial art, Kalarippayattu. Even this day, all Kalaripayattu martyrs seek the blessings of the deity before their debut combat. This temple is closely associated with the heroes like Aaromal Chekavar, Aringodar, Thacholi chanthu etc. and heroines like Unniarcha, Thumbolarcha, Kungi etc. of Vadakkanpattu. The festival, locally called as Pooram, is celebrated during the month of March - April. A week-long festival begins with Kodiyettam (flag hoisting) and concludes with Aarattu. Durga Temple was built by Aryans who migrated to this place due to some unknown reason, some 500 years back.They were Brahmins who took up trade as their occupation. The aryan successors of these temple still are considered of prime importance in the temple.They gradually became known as Nairs of Lokanarkavu, and began to accept some of the traditions of local Nairs. 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 after disguising herself as a lady.The successors still personify this goddess as their benevolent mother. Often the name of Thacholi Othenan is misquoted with the origin of the temple as he was an ardent devotee of devi. The heroes of Vadakkanpattu worshipped Kali as their family goddess and not in Durga form. The same applies to the local rulers who later claimed Lokanarkavu as their family goddess. All the rulers of Kerala, before the invasion of Aryans,had delectatedtheir Godesses with "Adhama"(inferior) pooja or shaktheya pooja(poojas in which either man or animal was sacrificed). Later Aryans made modifications by replacing human/animal sacrifice with cutting of plantains or performing poojas with tender coconuts and cereals that replace liquor and meat. Unlike the local tradition, Lokanarkavu temple never had any such obscene practises as it was established by Aryans themselves. It is said that many of the godess temples of Kerala are having practices considered as "Madhyama"(Partly inferior and partly superior) type and rarely have them in "Uthama"(Superior) type. Lokanarkavu temple, where poojas are of "Atyuthama"(Highly Superior) type, categorically, will get into the list of a rare sodality. Three rock-cut caves can be seen in the vicinity of the temple. The marvellous murals and candid carvings here has been of greatest fascination to the visitors. In the "mandala vilakku" festival, the successors of Aryan migrants conduct the 16th "vilakku", which is on the 16th day and is of prime importance. As one enters the temple he must pray to a stage kept in memory of the Arya-Brahmin ancestors who built the temple. The stage is at the right side of the main entrance and one should seek their permission to worship the diety. This is to show that the Lokanarkavu Durga holds these people at the highest esteem and had followed them where ever they went and their happiness is what she enjoys. It is said that the prayers done without considering these ancestors goes unheard.

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