Anikkattilammakshethram

Anikkattilammakshethram is a Hindu Temple situated in Anicadu Village, 3.5 km from Mallappally in Pathanamthitta district in the southern part of Kerala, India. Here, Adiparasakthi Sivan and benign Parvathi are worshiped with equal significance in one Sreekovil, which is one of the rarest of its kind in Kerala. Agnimahakalan and Agniyekshi are symbolized in these idols, each measuring about 4 feet and installed side by side. The demon-shaped Lord Shiva (Kiratha) has bow and arrow in His arms and Parvati has sword in Her hand. The temple, situated by the bank of river Manimala, is estimated to have come into existence around 1600 years ago during the early days of Edapally dynasty. Apart from the Deities in the main Sreekovil, there are Lord Siva, Bhadra, Nagaraja, Rakshasas and Yekshiamma in the sub-abodes in the courtyard.

Anikkattilamma temple is the abode of the goddess, who is the supreme preserver and destroyer. She cares her devotees like a mother does her children. For the devotees, Anikkattilamma is supreme power, capable of delivering all the wishes of her devotees. Several women devotees testify the supreme power of this shrine, and tell you how Anikkattilamma has blessed them with progeny and wishes of bountiful life.

The Pongala Pooja is held on the day of Pooram during the month of Kumbham. The yearly festival (Utsavam) is celebrated for eight days during the month of Kumbham and concludes on the day of Pooram star. Anikkattilammayku pongala is the most reputed festival of this temple, which attracts devotees from all parts of kerela. Thousands of women devotees throng together on the day of Pongala with their offerings to the Goddess and to seek blessings. The festival commences on Rohini day of Malayalam month Makaram-Kumbham (February-March).

Pongala festival is an eight-day-long festival and on the 8th day of the festival is the famous Pongala. On that day, Thousands of women throng to the temple to offer pongala in earthen pots. Pongala is a rice porridge, which boils over. The rush of women is so intense that the Pongala ground spreads outside the temple premises and into the public roads. Women offer pongala in a radius of about 2 km, essentially turning the whole of pullukuthy and kavanalkadavu into the holy grounds for the women to offer Pongala. No number of words can do justice to frenzy of the day's festivities, which wholly belongs to women devotees.

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