Mangattu Bhattathiri sets sail for Aranmula

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Anoop Narayana Bhattathiri, a member of the Mangattu Illam in Kumaranallur, sets sail for the Sree Parthasarathy temple at Aranmula on Sunday | Photo Credit: VISHNU PRATHAP

Keeping alive an age-old tradition, Anoop Narayana Bhattathiri of Mangattu Illam at Kumaranallur in Kottayam set sail for the Sree Parthasarathy Temple on the banks of the Pampa at Aranmula on Sunday. A Churulan boat carrying Mr. Bhattathiri and a team of oarsmen began the journey around 11.45 a.m. and is scheduled to reach Aranmula on the eve of Thiruvonam. The voyage is part of a centuries-old tradition associated with the Thiruvonathoni , which carries provisions for the Onasadya offered to the presiding deity at the Aranmula temple.

This is Mr. Bhattathiri’s third voyage in the role. The 40-year-old software engineer, who works in Chicago, arrived home recently to lead the traditional journey. The boat will traverse the Meenachil, Manimala and Pampa rivers, passing through Kidangara near Changanassery and Thiruvalla before reaching the Mahavishnu temple near Cherukol. The group will halt at Veliyanad on the first day and resume the journey on Wednesday morning. It is scheduled to reach Devaswom Sathrakkadavu at Aranmula the following day. On Uthradam morning, the group will leave for the Kattoor Mahavishnu Temple.

From there, accompanied by representatives of 18 families, Mr.. Bhattathiri will board the Thiruvonathoni carrying provisions for the Onasadya at the Aranmula temple. The Thiruvonathoni procession, accompanied by several other canoes, is scheduled to reach the temple early on Thiruvonam morning. The voyage also includes rituals at several places, including the Ayiroor temple, Vechoor Mana at Melukara near Kozhencherry and Nikshepamali, before the procession reaches the Madhukadavu Ghats near the Parthasarathy Temple by 6 a.m. on Thiruvonam.

The morning worship on Thiruvonam will begin only after the lamp brought from the Kattoor temple is used to light the perennial lamp at the Aranmula temple. Mr. Bhattathiri will remain at the temple until the Athazha Puja, the final ritual of the day. He will return to Kumaranalloor by road after the rituals conclude.

According to legend, the presiding deity of the Aranmula temple chose an elder of Kattoor Madhom in Pathanamthitta to host him every Onam, impressed by his devotion. Since then, the privilege of hosting the Onam feast for the deity has traditionally rested with the eldest Bhattathiri of Mangattu Illam.

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