1 The Panthalloor Bhagavathy Temple, located in Kadampodu Pandikkadu, Malappuram district, Kerala, is a sacred shrine dedicated to Goddess Durga. This temple venerates Durga, a powerful deity symbolizing protection, strength, and motherhood. Belonged to Samoodri tribe.
2 THERE IS NO PANDALUR OR PANTHALOOR IN THANJAVUR; HEARSAY REPORTING IS INCORRECT IN PUBLIC. Bharatanatyam is one of the oldest surviving classical dance forms of India. From the heavens to temples, from temples to courts and from the courts to sabhas, Bharatanatyam has evolved differently at each stage. From being known as the ‘Sadir’, ‘Chinna Melam’ and then Bharatanatyam, the artform has been practiced and perceived through different spectrums each time. The concept of Paᾶni is a recent development and plays a role in analyzing the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of different performances. These series of articles (written from the perspective of personified pAᾶni for purely fun reading) seek to untangle the ambiguous web of Paᾶni and answer the rhetoric questions related to the subject of its past, present and relevance. the Pandanallur Paᾶni… Tanjavur flourished as the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu during the rule of the Cholas and Marathas. Several artforms prospered under their benevolent patronization. Primary among them was Bharatanatyam. The celebrated quartet of Tanjavur lived during the magnanimous rule of the Marathas. The bountiful patronization they received from the kings, allowed them to spread their wings further and create a better artistic world in and around the city of Tanjavur. They created several knowledgeable artists and Nattuvanars within their genealogy who continued their tradition and popularized their teachings and compositions. As time passed, some of them continued to live and teach in the cultural capital, while some settled down at different places around Tanjavur and continued the legacy. It was from one such family lineage that I, the Pandanallur Paᾶni, was created and nurtured. My genius master was born as the grandson of Ponnaiah (of the Tanjore Quartet fame) in the small town of Pandanallur. Guru Pandanallur Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai had his initial training under Kumaraswamy Nattuvanar, and then furthered his training under Mahadeva Nattuvanar. Having a strong base in the Tanjavur Paᾶni, he strived to add more colours and build an evocative framework from his learnings. Thus, I was born as an offshoot of the Tanjavur Paᾶni. Guru Pandanallur Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai Pandanallur Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai skillfully sculpted me highlighting my defining characteristics that enchanted and attracted all audiences. He masterfully weaved together the delicacies of Aramandi, grace, neat linear Nritta and subtlety in Abhinaya which became the trademarks of my existence. An illustrious Nattuvanar, he created several dancers through whom I could exhibit my special characteristics. He was among the few Nattuvanars to train non-hereditary dancers and impart them the knowledge of Bharatanatyam during his times. My golden years sparkled under his guidance and I would brightly express myself through his disciples including the likes of Smt. Mrinalini Sarabhai, Sri Ram Gopal, Sri U S Krishna Rao, Smt. U K Chandrabhaga Devi and Smt. Pandanallur Jayalakshmi. The flag of this legacy was then carried forward by Shri Chokkalingam Pillai and Shri Subbaraya Pillai. They created several dancers through whom I continue to showcase my characteristics with pride all around the world…… Professor US Krishna Rao and UK Chandrabhaga Devi Professor U S Krishna Rao and Smt. U K Chandrabhaga Devi are two stalwarts who trained under legendary Guru Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai. After their learning process, they settled in Bengaluru and imparted training to several dancers through whom I happily flowed showcasing my uniqueness thus, capturing the eyes and hearts of several rasikas. Professor U S Krishna Rao and U K Chandrabhaga Devi became my prime torch bearers who helped me thrive in the city of Bengaluru. Great performers and scholars themselves, they carved several dancers with whom I share an everlasting relationship. One such dancer, choreographer and teacher is Guru Smt. Radha Sridhar. A very senior dancer, she was an ardent disciple of the dancing couple and passionately followed and carried forward their teachings. Reminiscing about her learning days, she talks about how my different qualities was taught to her. “My Gurus always insisted on Aramandi. They would make me sit with my back perfectly straight and go down half my height and stay in that position till I had learnt it. The Theermana Adavu in our style was performed quite differently. The hand positioning and the leg movements would be opposite and complimentary to each other. Pandanallur Paᾶni is known for its subtlety in Abhinaya. No expression would be dramatized and we would convey everything in a crisp manner with the focus being on the subtlety of expression. Another important aspect of Pandanallur aᾶni is the Kulukku Nadai. The beautiful lilting walk formed a very important part of our presentations.” The elegant danseuse- Guru Alarmel Valli Oh! This reminds me of an incident oft quoted by Smt. Alarmel Valli. She was quite young when Master, Shri Subbaraya Pillai, took her to the house of one of his disciples. She was asked to observe and walk behind the senior dancer and learn the method of performing the Kulukku Nadai… The Veranda of the house was our stage for this. I would gracefully lilt up and down through the dancer while her long hair swayed gently to the left and right rhythmically. And young Valli walking behind the dancer, would try to imitate and emulate the same. It was during these long practice sessions that my bond with Valli became stronger and soon our combination created magical wonders. She further developed and molded my Kulukku Nadai to look as beautiful as the walk of a swan. An elegant and enthralling performer, her dance stands as the touchstone for all my qualities! Bhavayami Raghuram Bhavya Sugunaa Ramam….. Graceful danseuse- young Padma Murali A 10-year-old disciple of Guru Pandanallur Palaniswamy Pillai was skillfully expressing and presenting this piece confidently in the prestigious Krishna Gana Sabha. Young Padma Murali was presenting this as the main piece as I flowed through her neat movements. My subtlety sparkled in her eyes as she enacted the different scenarios of Ramayana in the piece. My affinity for lines and graceful movements reflected in her dance and enthralled the audiences. She had carved a niche for herself from that very moment and I started to enjoy a wonderful relationship with her. Our combination would entice audiences each time and it grew to better heights through her students. Guru Smt. Padma Murali “During my initial years of learning, I had never known about Paᾶni or the specialities of Pandanallur Paaᾶni. Yet, there were few aspects that my Guru Shri Pandanallur Palaniswamy Pillai would insist on doing right and later I realized that they were the specialities of the Pandanallur Paᾶni that I have been trained in. Master would emphasize on a perfect Aramandi, and insisted that we kept our backs straight always. The movements and Adavus that we perform are more grounded in nature. We do not use many leaps and jumps and work on presenting firm and floor-oriented movements. Pandanallur Paᾶni is known for its neat movements which have an equal combination of stiffness and grace. I remember Master telling us that the sound of our feet stamping the ground should not be above the sound emitted from the bells or the Gejje! With simple and fast Korves coupled with short and crisp Jathis, the rhythmic aspects also exuded its complexities in a very subtle manner.” 3 There is a place called PANDALUR NEAR GUDALUR OOTY. Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx K Rajaram IRS 31125 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx PANTHALLUR SIVA BHAGAVATH TEMPLE KUNNAMKULAM -TRICHUR DISTRICT AND PANTHALLUR BHAGAVATHI TEMPLE MALAPPURAM DISTRICT- KERALA TEMPLES Dear friends, Yesterday I watched a video about the grand pooram at Panthallor SIVA BHAGAVATHI TEMPLE in Trichur District Kerala in you-tube and thought of writing about the temple. On searching information about the temple, I found there is another Panthallor Bhagavathi temple in Malappuram District Kerala. Information about both the temples are *compiled* and provided in this posting. There is also a Panthallur temple in the Tanjore District of Tamilnadu. Yesterday I posted about Kuzhithura Bhagavathiamman temple, in Nagerkovil District Kerala. *What prompted me to write about it was *after watching a few current episodes in the tele-serial Prema pooja centering on the temple. The serial is broad cast in Soorya TV at 9.30 PM. Hope a divine reading. *Gopalakrishnan 30-1-2025.* *PANTHALLUR TEMPLE- KUNNAMKULAM* *TRICHUR DISTRICT* Introduction Among the ancient temples of Kerala, Siva Bhagavathi Temple at Panthallur stands out as an important Shiva temple. Esteemed for its antiquity, the temple is believed to be more than 5000 years old, suggesting its foundation in an era that aligns with some of the earliest periods. Constructed on a grand scale, the temple's architecture reflects the grandeur and intricate design characteristic of the great temples of Kerala. Its dimensions and structural elegance are a testament to the advanced artistic skills of the time. *Unlike all the Shiva temples, here the Lord Nandi is seen right inside the inner sanctum*, which makes the temple very significant. This revered temple serves as an important place of worship for the devotees of Vallapuzha Panchayat and nearby areas. Its historical and cultural significance, coupled with its spiritual atmosphere, continues to draw pilgrims and visitors. LEGEND *Legend has it that a Yogi built a panthal (a thatched roof) and performed penance* at this site. Upon achieving enlightenment, he installed a Shiva linga and began worshipping it. Later, under the leadership of eminent members from Eranthotimana, Eledat Mana, and Palakkad Illam, a Shiva temple was constructed, and regular worship and rituals commenced. The presiding deity, Lord Mahadeva, is a Swayambhu (self-manifested) idol, believed to be in the form of Shiva performing tapas. It is said that rituals and festivals were held with great pomp during the olden times. Later, as the temple's income diminished, the Uralans (trustees) could no longer manage the temple's affairs, leading to the cessation of worship services and the eventual closure of the temple. *With the help of local people, a committee was formed, and under the leadership of Shri EM Srikumaran Namboothiri, the temple was rebuilt. The pooja rituals, which started about 50 years ago, have since been carried out without interruption.* HISTORY Under the Malabar Devaswom Board, the management of the temple involves *three hereditary trustees and two Uralans, totaling five individuals*. The affairs of the temple are overseen by a Trust Board comprising members and a Temple Welfare Committee. Tantric rituals are conducted under the guidance of Tantri Brahmashree Sreedharam Chumarat Manakal Diwakaran Namboothiripad. SUB DEITIES Very close to the Lord Mahadeva sanctum, one can see the shrine of Lord Ganesha on the right, as if Lord Ganesha is sitting on Lord Mahadeva's lap (Okkathu Ganapathy Sankalpam). Special offerings are made to Lord Ganesha, and Ganapati Homam is performed in the temple every morning. It is also customary here to offer a small lemon garland to Lord Ganesha with prayers to help accomplish one's endeavors. *Ottappam, a sweet and thin pancake, is offered to the Lord every first Friday of the Malayalam month. Many devotees perform this offering to remove obstacles*. Additionally, breaking coconuts is done for Lord Ganesha. Legend has it that Ganesha will turn into Kshipra Prasadhi (one who is easy to appease) if you offer a Karuka Mala (garland made out of green Karuka grass) along with a ghee lamp. It is believed that there used to be an illam called Palakkad Illam on the western side of the temple, and the deities *Sree Bhadrakali and Lord Shasta*, who were worshipped by the Namboothiris in their illam, are now being worshipped in the same western corner of the temple. In ancient times, only Lord Shasta was worshipped. However, when some difficulties arose in the temple, a devaprashnam (astrological consultation) revealed that the presence of Bhadrakali, who was not being worshipped, was causing the troubles. In 2010, Bhadrakali was consecrated and worshipped, as it was determined that proper worship of Bhadrakali would bring prosperity and goodness. *Since Bhadrakali should be worshipped next to Shasta, the pujati karmas (pooja rituals) are performed with Bhadrakali on the right side of Shasta.* Once every three years, on the day of the consecration (pratishta day), a sacred Guruti Pooja is performed under the guidance of the temple Tantri, especially at the foot of the banyan tree on the western side of the temple. *Sree Durga is worshipped as Bhagavathi in the temple.* Among the sub-deities, a special pooja is performed for Bhadrakali every Tuesday with katinapayasam (sweet payasam). Similarly, a dedicated and special pooja is performed for Lord Shasta on every third Saturday, and for Sree Durga on every third Friday. *The Nagas are given milk every Ayilyam day* (astrologically when the Moon enters Ayilyam or Ashlesha star). Many devotees continue to perform this Naga Pooja as a remedy to ward off the ill effects of snakes. Festivals Punartam (Punarvasu in Sanskrit) Nakshatra in Edava Masam (Malayalam month, astrologically when the sun enters the Taurus zodiac sign) is observed as the holy consecration or Pratishtha Day. On this occasion, the most sacred Shreemad Bhagavata Saptaha Yajna has been conducted uninterrupted for 28 years. Additionally, Akhandanamayajna, Shivratri Mahotsavam, and Ashtamirohini are also well-performed. The shrine also observes Thrikarthika festival. Pooram festival The famous pooram festival in the temple is held in Makaram month. Panthallur pooram is famous for melam, procession, caparisoned elephants, muthukuda, traditional performing art forms of Kerala and fireworks. Benefit of visiting the temple It is believed that those who visit this temple, pray to Lord Mahadeva, and partake in offerings will find relief from sorrow, gain wealth, and experience improved health. The shrine observes all the important temple rituals include chooronnu and annadanam etc. Contact Information Panthallur Temple Chowwannur part, Kerala 680517, India Thrissur, Kerala, 680517 Phone:04885 210 838 *PANTHALLOOR BHAGAVATHY TEMPLE MALAPPURAM* Introduction The Panthalloor Bhagavathy Temple, located in Kadampodu Pandikkadu, Malappuram district, Kerala, is a sacred shrine dedicated to Goddess Durga. This temple venerates Durga, a powerful deity symbolizing protection, strength, and motherhood. Besides the principal deity, the temple also houses several Upa Devatas including *Sri Krishna, Shankaranarayana, Vettaikaran, and Ganapathi.* This temple is a significant spiritual center, attracting devotees who seek blessings from the main deity and the Upa Devatas for various aspects of life. Festivals The Temple has a number of festivals. The important ones are : Prathishta Dinam Prathishta Dinam, celebrated in the Edavam month under the Punartham star at Panthalloor Bhagavathy Temple, marks the consecration anniversary of the temple's deities. This auspicious day involves special rituals, *including elaborate pujas, homams, and cultural programs to honor Goddess Durga and the Upa Devatas.* Devotees gather in large numbers to participate in the festivities, seeking blessings for prosperity, protection, and well-being. Bhagavatha Sapthaha Yajnyam The Bhagavatha Sapthaha Yajnyam at Panthalloor Bhagavathy Temple is a significant religious event dedicated to the recitation and discussion of the *Bhagavata Purana over seven days*. This yajnyam involves learned scholars and priests narrating the divine stories and teachings of Lord Krishna and other deities, aiming to foster spiritual growth and devotion among the participants. Devotees gather to listen to the sacred scriptures, partake in various rituals, and receive the blessings of the goddess, enriching their spiritual and cultural experience. Contact Address: Panthalloor Bhagavathy Temple, Kadampodu, Pandikkadu, Malappuram, Kerala. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZoqUd8pbuy_jiZKBU5tHvcr9bsQE%3D_eQScOO0izuhhheBw%40mail.gmail.com.
