Karakulam

Karakulam
village
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Thiruvananthapuram
Talukas	Nedumangad
Population  (2001)
• Total	26,639
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	695564
Vehicle registration	KL-

Karakulam is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India.

Road transport

It is located 15 km to the north-east of thiruvananthapuram city.On the way to thiruvananthapuram-thenkasi state highway. Bus service connected by kerala state road transport corporation (ksrtc).There are also bus connected by nedumangado to Trivandrum, eastfort, Attingal, Palode, Vithura, Kattakada, ponmudi, kanyakumari, thenkasi and major cities and towns in kerala.Volvo bus which connects Nedumangadu to Trivandrum- Kovalam frequently

Location

Karakulam is located approximately 5 mi. from the closest major city/seaport, Thiruvananthapuram. Karakulam adjoins the city area and can be reached easily from Thiruvananthapuram Central Bus Station. It lies on Thiruvananthapuram – Sengottai road.main way to the nearest town Nedumangadu. There are good transportation facilities from the city and state transport buses ply through this village frequently. The nearest railway station and airport are Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station (10 km) and Trivandrum International Airport (15 km).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Karakulam had a population of 26639 with 13149 males and 13490 females.

Infrastructure

Karakulam is located very close to Trivandrum city and has better road connectivity compared to other villages in the district. SH-2 which connects Trivandrum to Thirumangalam National Highway passes through this village. MC - Road cuts Karakulam village in kazhunadu, panthaplavu, maruthooru, chittazha wards and acts as the primary mode of connectivity to Trivandrum city.

Apart from MC-Road and SH-2 Karakulam is well connected with other neighboring villages via Mullassery Road, Karakulam – Kachani Road etc..

Religious Significance

Karakulam has great religious significance. There are many temples, churches and mosques throughout the village. Among these the most attractive are Vadakkedam (Enikkara) Shiva Temple, Thekkedam Vishnu Temple, Kunnoorshaala Sree Dharma Shasta Temple, Pathiyanadu Sree Bhadrakali Temple, Ayanikkadu Mudippura Temple, Moodisasthamkode Temple, Thirumanoor Sri Mahadeva Temple, Karakulam Muslim Jama'ath (mosque), St Joseph’s Church and St Augustine’s Church (Aruvikkara).

Pathiyanadu Sree Bhadrakali Temple

The Pathiyanadu Sree Bhadrakali Temple is one of the most Famous highly revered shrine temple in Kerala, Temple. The shrine is in Mullassery. It is 1.5 kilometres (0.93 miles) from Karakulam. It is 12.5 kilometres (7.8 miles) from Thiruvananthapuram. The temple is managed by Pathiyanadu sree Bhadrakali Kshetram Trust.

Deities : The temple enshrines Goddess Bhadrakali as the presiding Deity. The idol stands for Goddess Bhadrakali, the daughter of Lord Shiva. Goddess Kali is situated toward the north (vadakke nada). The idol is known in the local Malayalam language as Thirumudi. The idol of the Goddess in the Pathiyanadu temple is one of the largest among the idols of Kerala Kali temples. The idol is four and a half feet in height as well as width. Other deities worshipped at the Pathiyanadu Sree Bhadrakali Temple called Upadevatha's temples include Lord MahaGanapathy and Nagaraja. The temple also has a small sub-temple where another deity Madan Thampuran is enshrined.

Kali - Darika Myth :

Darika was a demon who received a boon from Brahma which granted that he would never be defeated by any man living in any of the fourteen worlds of Hindu mythology. This made Darika immensely powerful and arrogant. Armed with this boon, Darika went on to conquer the world, defeating even Indra, the king of the gods. As his atrocities became intolerable, the sage Narada requested Shiva to contain Darika. Shiva agreed, circumventing Brahma's boon by declaring that Darika would be killed by the goddess Kali. Shiva opened his third eye and produced Kali, whose purpose was to destroy Darika. Goddess being a woman and one not born among the humans. Goddess did so by beheading him. Goddess didn't stop with Darika and, unable to control her rage, began destroying the landscape and the very humans for whose sake she had destroyed Darika. The Gods could not defeat her, and she was finally calmed when Shiva lay on the ground in front of her, submitting.

Festival: Pathiyanadu Sree Bhadrakali Temple Festival held every year, usually between February and March. But the Dikkubali Mahotsavam held on every three years and Paranettu Mahotsavam held on every six years. These Festivals begins in Malayala month of Kumbham and the nakshatra, Bharani, So all these festivals called Kumbhabharani Mahotsavam.

Swayamvara Parvathy Pooja : This pooja is held on the Festival time i.e. on the third day of festival, On that day girls above 18 came here and participate in this pooja to remove their Dhoshas on their marriage, and get married soon and also get good groom. On that day Trikalayanam( marriage of goddess Bhadrakali, based on Chilapathikaram )takesplaces. There are thousands and thousands of people came here to see this pooja and participate Trikalayanam and to get goddess blessings.

Grahalekshmi Pooja: It is the pooja which is seen only in this temple in kerala. It is on the Festival days many people participate in this pooja to remove Durdevadas from their house and get Lekshmi Devi's blessings to their house.

Grahadhosha Nivarana Pooja: It is the pooja which is seen only in this temple in kerala. It is on the Festival days many people participate in this pooja to remove Dhosham like (black magic etc.) from their house.

Balithooval: It is the pooja hels on the fifth day of festival, it is performed by priest of the temple performs some trance like dances until he is unconscious. It is done to remove Dhosham like Drishti dhosham, Vilidhosham, Black Magict etc. It believed that on this pooja the presiding deity's bhoothaganams remove these dhosham from the people who participated in this pooja and also to the people who watching this pooja.

Sarppabali: It is performed by the Kshetra thantri, on Festival day. This pooja is conducted to remove Sarppadhoshas.

Kalamkaval: Kalamkaval is a famous customs practiced at the temple premises and nearby places during festival. It is believed that the Goddess Bhadrakali searches her enemy demon, Daaruka in all directions before putting him to death. Devotees commemorate this legend by seeing this unique Kalamkaval. Kalamkaval is the ritual in which chief priest, carries the idol on his head and performs some trance like dances until he is unconscious. During kalamkaval, chief priest wears anklet and thiruvabharam (traditional gold ornaments of goddess that includes kappu, vanki, odyanam, paalakka mala, pichi mottu mala, muthu mala etc.). All people believe that the priest gets strength to carry on the trance with the idol on his head, due to the blessings of the Devi enshrined in the temple.

Dikkubali:

It is believed that Pathiyanadu Sree Bhadrakali searches her enemy demon, Daaruka in all four directions before putting him to death.The four directions are East, South, West, North and also in each of these direction Kalamkaval and Gurusi takesplace.

Paranettu:

It is believed that a fight erupted between Devi and the demon Darikan in sky. The fight is enacted on a specially erected stage, about 100 feet high and is conducted at night known as Paranettu.

Nilathilporu:

Nilathilporu that marks the conclusion of the Kumbhabharani Paranettu festival at Pathiyanadu Sree Bhadrakali Temple. During the climactic moment of this ceremony, the demon Daarika (the man with the symbolic crown in the foreground) weeps and begs for mercy from the Goddess. Subsequently the Goddess beheads the demon.

Aaraattu:

The festival, ended with a grand procession knows as Aaraattu. During Aaraattu the Idol is cleaned using water collected from 101 pots. Aaraattu is conducted at Pathiyanadu Ambalakkadavu. Girls below ten years of age, along with chief priest performs the function.

Pongala:

Pongala at Pathiyanadu Sree Bhadrakali Temple is celebrated during the Festival of Malayalam month of Kumbham on the Punartham Nakshatram (Punarvasu Nakshatra). Pongala is the rice cooked with jaggery, ghee, coconut as well as other ingredients in the open in small pots by women to please the Goddess. In Pathiyanadu Sree Bhadrakali Temple Pongal Thousands and Thousands of Women from different places came and put pongala to makes their wishes true.

Pooja Timings: The Temple opens on every Tuesday (03:30pm –07:30pm), Friday (04:00pm–07:30pm), Sunday (07:30am–01:00pm). First day of all Malayalam months, temple will open at morning 5.30am and close at 12.00pm. And also Temple opens on all Hindu Festivals. On all first day of Malayalam Month, Annadhanam is there.