The first Friday of every Malayalam month marks a spiritually significant day for the Temple. Devotees who observe rigorous fasting and penance reach the shrine on this day. The number of persons who gather themselves to have a visit of the Mother on this day are literally countless. Special spiritual functions are also conducted on this day. The small idol of the God which is usually placed inside the sanctum sanctorum beside the main idol is carried in procession and brought to the specially arranged place for prayer.
Devotee sings hymns and songs of Mother. Scholarly and informative talks are made about spiritual subjects, the chief priest and members of the Pattamana Illom will lead the functions. They will be accompanied by Vedic Brahmin of depth and devotion. As the function progresses the atmosphere is charged with a rare glow of spirituality and divinity.
A remarkable feat of the first Friday is the pledge that some devotees take against the habit of intoxication. Use of drugs and liquor have always been a cruel curse upon human beings. How many families loose the foundation and are upturned due to such bad habits, especially of male members. A reminder or pointer may save many such persons. Thousands of devotees which have found it difficult to liberate themselves from the octopi an clutches of alcohol reach the temple on the first Friday. They have come with an ardent decision to brush away their bad habits. They touch the divine sword of the Goddess. The chief priest recites the oath of abstention from liquors. They repeat the prayers. The Cardinal message of this prayers sums up that they will abstain themselves from the use of liquors and drugs and that they will utilize their lives for the well-being of their family and society.
Many families have been saved by this prayer. Number of women devotees rush to the temple on Friday to express their oceanic gratitude to the Goddess for having saved their husbands or sons and their family altogether from the dare devil of intoxication. And they see the supreme Mother Goddess with the radiance of a thousand suns spreading Her gentle smile upon them.
The pledge against intoxication in front of the Mother goddess is perhaps the one and the only form of its kind in the whole temples in India. It carries an added significance that the divine possibilities of religion are used for transforming human beings towards better citizenship. Wonderful results are recorded in the temple about having cured many persons. The Goddess surprisingly works when men and medicine fail.
During the first Friday the devotees receive a unique type of medicine water famously known an s “Oushadha Vellam”. Drinking of this water is proved to heal all types of ailments. A long queue of devotees is seen waiting to receive the medicated water. This water with a number of ayurvedic herbs and roots which have proved results of healing and softening the human body is taken inside the sanctum Santorum. Special Poojas and mantras are performed. The water gains superhuman powers through the blessings of the Goddess. The theories of science or medicine attain super human dimensions when a divine touch falls upon them. The divine medicated water that is supplied during the first Friday is a ocular proof of concept. How many are the pilgrims who have been saved from their problems and despairs through a faithful use of ‘Oushadha Vellam’! The prayer is in a prescribed form packed with meaningful words of spiritual depth. It echoes the aberration of materialism and the vital need to turn towards the Goddess. The prayer requests the Goddess to melt down all the grief, trials and tribulation from the life of the devotees. It also invokes the supreme Mother who works unknowingly behind all the impulses of this universe-that Mother who see the cause and effect behind whatever that happens in this universe.
Participation in these factions and visit to the Goddess are sure to bestow all prosperities like dutiful Children, supreme knowledge, rightful marriage, robust health, annihilation of cruel enemies and like.
From the first of Dhanu to the twelfth of malayalam month the devotees observe the “Panthrandu Noyambu”. This is proved to bless the pilgrims with infinite comforts.
When we make a statement about anything we have to supplement that this is so according to our existing knowledge till the moment of the statement. But there are things that transcend the frontier of logic and arguments. This is a sphere where the human brain has limitations. It is there that wonders takes place. It is there that the supreme power being this universe manipulates and mesmerize. This is what we finds in the famous temple of Chakkulathukavu. It is here that thousands assemble to have a sight of the Mother. It is here that we see the sight of submission and surrender. It is here that a gentle smile and a lotus feet radiates heavenly sunshine upon the flower of human life Yes the supreme abode of universal Goddess “The Chakkulathukavu Temple”.
Thrikkarthika that falls on the Malayalam month of Vrischika is an important day of the temple. This day became famous after a surprising incident that took place in 1851. A Friday of 1981. 3.30 am in the early morning. Some devotees had gathered to have the “Nirmalya Darsaam”. Everyone was amazed to see rings of perfumed smoke all around. Rare glow of light was seen in front of the temple. No body could discern what was happening. As the priest opened the temple, everyone was spell bound. All the lamps inside were alive with a unique touch of brilliance.
Mode Of Fasting On Friday
Celibacy is a must during the day of fasting. The devotee should unfailingly abstain himself from non vegetarian food, liquors and the like. They should have their bath in the morning as well as in the evening. Sick people can take exemption according to circumstances. Both male and female members irrespective of age can observe the fasting observing the fast. Those women who are regularly observing the fast on every Friday need not think of the fasting has broken due to menses periods. They need only remain pray fully and such Fridays should not be taken as a day of fasting for completion of any desired number of Fridays. Those persons who observe the fasting only for one or two Fridays of every month should observe the fasting exactly on those periodic Fridays on the succeeding month of regular order. Mental purity and unpolluted devotion should be developed. Births or deaths in the family should be deemed as breaking the fasting. In such cases fasting must be again begun from the beginning.
Upavasam
Food or drinks should not be used. Remain throughout the day with prayers of the Goddess.
