Thiruvathira Festival is celebrated in Kerala on the Thiruvathira day, the full moon day of the month of the Dhanu month (December-January) in the Malayalam calendar. 





       Even though the Thiruvathira is celebrated by most of the Hindu communities it is essentially an event for Nair women. They get up at about 4 am and take a bath on seven days commencing from the asterism Aswathi(Aries). While taking a bath they sing certain songs mostly relating to the God of Love, accompanied by rhythmic sound produced by splashing water with their fists. In conclusion they stand in a circle in the water hand in hand singing songs.
          An observance called Thiruvathira Noyambu(fast) is kept by the women folk on this auspicious day, with the prayer to get good husbands. They discard rice meals and consume only preparations of chama (panicum milicceum, or wheat), plantains, fruits and tender coconut. They also chew betel and redden their lips.


 Among Namboodiris, Ambalavasis (temple-servants) and high class Nairs, there is a convention that each woman should chew 108 betels on that day. The first Thiruvathira coming after the marriage of a girl is known as Puthen Thiruvathira or Poothiruvathira and it is celebrated on a grand scale. 
      
  From prehistoric times, Malayalee women enjoyed an enviable position in society, and she was practically the mistress of her house. The elevated position she occupied had distinguished her from her neighbours and influenced to a considerable extent the social structure, customs and religious practices of the people. The culmination of this phenomenon is clearly visible in setting apart one of the three great festivals of Kerala viz. Thiruvathira, exclusively for womenfolk, for which a parallel can hardly be found in any section of the Indian Society. 


        Oonjalattom, swinging on an oonjal (swing) is an item of amusement on this occasion. At night the women keep vigil for Siva and perform Thiruvathira kali or Kaikottikali. They stand in a circle around a lighted brass lamp, and dance each step at the rhythm of the songs they sing, clapping their hands. The songs sometimes consist of Kathakali songs including the works of Irayimman Thampi.



        
       Among Namboodiris and Amblavasis (temple servants) and Bairs who have close association with Namboodiris, there is custom called Pathirappoochoodal, meaning wearing of flowers at midnight. At the midnight of Thiruvathira, an image of Siva is placed at the central courtyard and flowers, plantains and jaggery are offered to the deity. They then perform Kaikottikali round the deity. Flowers are taken from the offering and worn by them.


There are many stories regarding the origin of this festival.


1.It is said to be the day on which lord Shiva agreed to become the husband of goddess Parvati, as a reward for her severe penance.


2. Another version is that Thiruvathira festival is celebrated in commemoration of the death of Kamadeva, the mythological god of love.


3. Yet another version is that Thiruvathira is the birth day of Lord Shiva.


Story 1 & 2 : 
Shiva was married to Sati, daughter of King Daksha (Son of Brahma). Daksha disapproved of his daughter marrying Shiva and having to live a life of ascetism (a lifestyle characterized by the aim of pursuing religious and spiritual goals.),  but she disobeyed him and did so anyway, finding in Shiva a doting and loving husband. Daksha disliked Shiva intensely, calling him a dirty, roaming ascetic and reviling the great yogi's cohort of goblins and ghouls.

From then on, he distanced himself from his daughter and his son-in-law, Shiva. Feeling insulted by his insolent son-in-law he conducts a yagna ( ritual of making offerings of ghee, flowers, etc into a sacrificial fire amid chanting of mantras ), one to which he invited all and sundry, family and allies, gods and rishis, courtiers and subjects. Consciously excluding Sati from the list. Sati in all her naivety  disregards Shivas apprehensions and  and assuming that the daughter of the king was welcome no matter what, attends the the yagna, where her father refuses to acknowledge her. Sati nonetheless maintains her composure. Indeed, even her father's refusal to invite Shiva, her husband and thus a traditionally honored member of any Hindu family, was to some extent borne. 

 However, on seeing the shameless insult to her husband in his absence, and the repeated slights King Daksha and railed at Shiva, Sati immolates herself in the sacrificial fire out of embarrassment at being the daughter of an unholy man. She thinks of herself as being unworthy of Shivas' affections because of her arrogant father and resolves to attain Shiva as a husband again after being re-born the daughter of a devout man. 

She is then reborn as Uma, daughter of Himavan. And begins performing penance to obtain Shiva as her husband. 

Shiva had retreated to a life of meditation. Still in mourning, he is unaware of Umas' devotional and so Indira calls upon Kamadeva ( indian god of Love, cupid?) to make Shiva fall in love. 


Kama recreates an untimely spring, turning the forest into a veritable garden with the song of birds and bloom.


He strings his bow made of sugarcane with a flower (arrow) and shoots Shiva squarely in the chest. Instantly Shiva feels desire awaken but being a yogi is able to contain himself. Enraged by this act of Kama he opens his third eye ( middle of the forehead, above unibrow) and turns him to dust.


He then lays eyes on Uma (aka parvati ) and immediately recognises her as the reincarnation of his departed wife. 


Meanwhile Kamas' wife, Rati rushes to him and pleads injustice that Kama has been punished for carrying out the bidding of Lord Vishnu. She fell at his feet. With tears in her eyes, she said, "Lord, is it fair that my husband should be dead? . His sin was nothing more than pride. You have found yourself a wife, and will be very happy. What will become of me? I have lost my husband, dearer to me than life itself. Kill me also, so that I may join him in death!"



By now, Shiva's anger had subsided. He lifted up Rati and said, "Do not be afraid, Your husband is not really dead. I have merely burnt his corporeal body, of which he was inordinately proud. From this day on, he shall live only as a disembodied spirit. Only you shall be able to perceive his physical form. To everyone else, he shall be invisible."
From that day on, Manmatha does not have a physical form. Gods as well as mortals can never perceive him. He does his work unobserved, aided by his unerring, flower tipped arrows of love.

 Story 3

 Akavoor Manaparambu (the land of Akavur Mana) lies in the Airanikulam village. Brahmins of the Mana were regarded as rulers there. Years later, a conflict erupted in the family and a section of them moved to Vellarapilly village. But the Brahmins often visited Lord Mahadeva(Shiva) , then known as Airanikulathappan and Sree Parvathi. It is during this period that Akavoor Chathan came to the Mana(House) as a dependent.

 Seeing one of the Brahmins desiring to visit the Mahadeva Temple, Akvoor Chathan made a boat of granite and used it to transport the Brahmin to the temple. Years went by and the Brahmin grew old. One day, after his prayers at the temple, he cried to Mahadeva: "Oh my Lord! I have grown too old to come and see you. What shall I do now?" and he started his way back home. He lifted his Olakuda (an umbrella made of palm leaf), and found it heavier than it really was, and he told Akavoor Chathan about this experience. Tavelling on the boat, Brahmin had the call of nature. Akavoor Chathan immediately moved the boat to a nearby land. Then he took his umbrella and to his surprise it seemed very light now.  After reaching the Manakkal land, the Brahmin got out of it and Akavoor Chathan overturned the boat and it rested in the mud. Even today one see a granite stone there lying upside down. It came to be known as Chathan Stone.

Where the Thiruvairanikkulam Temple is situated, earlier used to be a forest. Once, a Pulaya woman (women of low caste) happened to use the granite stone to sharpen her sickle. All on a sudden, blood started flowing out of the stone and this Pulaya woman lost her mental balance and ran amok. It is said that she ran nearly three kilometers in a frenzy. All the land through which she ran was handed over to the temple authorities by the respective owners.

When Akavoor Chathan narrated the incident to the Brahmin,  it was deemed that it was Airanikulathappan who had appeared in the form of a stone.When the Brahmin put the  umbrella down, Lord Mahadeva who was sitting on the top of it, stepped down and  traveled underground to reach first the well and then made for the place where he  appeared as Swayambhoo (self born).  It is believed that if the holiness of the well  is defiled, Mahadeva too is defiled by such an act. To the south of the temple well,  one can see a cave that is believed to be the way by which Mahadeva appeared.  The Arattu is also done on the shore of the river where Mahadeva stepped down from the boat.  The area is called Varanattu Madam. During the temple festival the poojas are first  performed here. The main Irakki pooja is offered only at the temple and in this place.  Nowhere else is this pooja offered.

As Lord Mahadeva came from Airanikkulathappan, this temple came to be known as Thiruvairanikkulathappan.  Once it was known that both the gods were one and the same, the temple was built and  the deity was installed.The deity installation was done by Punalloor Brahmin.   As per this legend, Akavoor Manakkal Brahmin and Akavoor Chathan are considered to be  behind the temple formation. Legend Seeing one       Formerly it was believed that Goddess Parvathi used to prepare food for                        Lord Mahadeva in the Thidappilli (temple kitchen) when no one was permitted to be in the kitchen. However, once one of the Brahmins belonging to the Uranmakkar (people who have a right on the temple) set out to find out the secret. Seeing the Goddess in her full attire, he shouted out: "Devi Amma, Devi Jagadambika". Goddess Parvathi saw him and grew angry with him. She said, "As you have deviated from your usual ways of carrying out the rituals, I am leaving". The Brahmin could not stand it. He cried out and implored the Goddess for mercy. The Goddess said, "From now on, I will make my presence felt only from the twelve days beginning from the Thiruvathira nakshathram in the month of Dhanu, Lord Mahadeva's birthday. And the devotees who see me one of these days will be blessed". It is on this legendary epistle, that the Sreekovil of Goddess Parvathi remains closed. Unlike in other temples the deity is not given Jalabhishekam (a form of pooja in which water is poured over the Idol). Only turmeric powder is used instead. The Temple This is one of the ancient temples of Kerala situated in Alwaye taluk of Emakulam district. The main deities of this temple are Lord Siva facing east and Sri Parvati facing west in the same Sreekovil. There are also shrines for Maha Ganapathy, Sathidevi, Bhadrakali, Dharma Sastha and Mahavishnu adding to the Divinity of this Sacred temple.  Here, at the Thiruvairanikkulam Mahadevar Temple, the idol of  Sivan is placed facing east and that of Sree Parvathy facing west.  The sree kovil of parvathy opens only for 12 days in a year from Dhanu Thiruvathira.   The puja is performed at the Divine 'Nada' on the 'Thiruvathira day' in the month of 'Dhanu', and for 12 days hence. It is supposed to be the (birthday)Divine day (star) of Lord Siva. In the month of Dhanu( Dec-Jan) the temple (Nada) doors of Sri Parvati will be open for worship. Devotees believe that a visit to the temple during this time and the holy Darshan will grant them all their wishes.  It is believed that unmarried girls and boys will be blessed and will get good marriage proposals. Devi's Darshan is believed to bless devotees with a long married life  and  children. The procession of the main deity Sree Mahadevan of the festival, Ezhunnallathu, takes place only at night.  People from different parts of the country, especially women visit the temple during this time. Thiruvairanikulam temple is also known as the Sabarimala of women.  Thiruvathira Recipes                (http://jugalbandi.info/2008/01/thiruvathira-puzhukku/) The main one is Thiruvathira Puzhukku, also called “ettangadi puzhukku“. ‘Ettangadi chuduka’ is an important ritualistic act of women. On this day, eight different tubers are roasted in the fire. Through this ritual, it is believed that Kamadeva’s body represented by the tubers is regained. This delicious preparation known as Thiruvathirappuzhukku, a special dish prepared by these tubers forms the main item for lunch. THIRUVATHIRA PUZHUKKU 4 cups of cubed root vegetables (we used taro and cassava. see note above) 1 medium size green plantain peeled and cut into cubes (about 2 cups) ½ cup of red cowpeas soaked overnight (whole moong works too) 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder Salt to taste 1/4 teaspoon cayenne powder 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds 1 ½ cups of freshly grated coconut (we used 3/4 cup) 2 to 3 fresh hot green chili peppers 2 tablespoons of coconut oil A few curry leaves 1. Combine all the cut vegetables in a pot and add enough water to cover. Add salt, turmeric and red pepper powder and cook over medium heat till the vegetables become fork tender. Drain water if you want a dry curry, use it if you want it wet. 2. Cook the red beans separately until they are soft and combine with the cooked vegetables. 3. Grind the coconut, cumin and green chilies to a coarse thick paste and add to the pot and stir gently. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat and simmer for five minutes over medium low heat. 4. Pour coconut oil over the cooked vegetables and stir gently. Garnish with fresh curry leaves. Serve hot with cooked cracked wheat or brown rice Thiruvathira Songs These are songs to which the traditional dance of Kaikotikali is performed. The dance is performed in a circular pattern accompanied by clapping by dancers standing around a lighted brass lamp(nilavilakku) Kaikottikali Songs  1. Lokadhipakantha  2.Kaithozham Krishna  3. Parthante Vakkukal  4. Panchabanan  5. Sundarimar  6. Vijanebhatha How to get there:  Thiruvairanikkulam Mahadevan Temple, vellarappally, 5 kilometers from kalady-aluva route. Alight at marampally, 9 kilometers on Aluva perumpavoor route and by crossing the periyar by Boat is another easiest route.