Hai guys…here is an interesting aithihya about vaishaka mahotsav

   Vaishaka mahotsav is also known as kottiyoor festival. Which takes place at kottiyoor in Kannur district, involves two temples; situated on the opposite banks of River Bavali-Akkare Kottiyoor and Ikkare Kottiyoor. This festival is celebrated for twenty-eight days and it will be during the months of May and June.  Here, the Neyyattam ritual on the first day and the Thirukalasattu ritual on the concluding day are attended by hundreds of devotees. 

   In Akkare kottiyoor temple, the diety is believed to be a Swayambhoo lingam (self-created idol of Lord Shiva). Which is seated on a ground, formed by small heap of stones called Manithara. The Akkare kottiyoor  temple only open at the time of festival days.

   Venue of Vaishaka mahotsav is Akkare kottiyoor, the temple which situated in the heart of a dense forest. The temple is famous for its absence of a formal structure. This festival is unique, it is Divine and the rituals is closely linked to Mother Nature, which is entirely different from other festivals in Kerala. Elaneer vayappu is an important ritual held during the festival. Devotees offering tender coconuts  before Swayambhoo Shiva linga , which will be followed by the ritual of “Elaneerattam"on the next day.

   Kottiyoor temple is also known as ‘Dakshinakashi’ is considered to be the place where the Daksha Yaga was performed. The main diety is the ‘Swayambhu ’Shiva linga in Manithara on the lake. Goddess Parvati is also worshiped on the ‘Ammanakalli’ on another floor of the same lake itself.  Women have access to kottiyoor only from the next morning after the midnight treasure hunt on June 2 until June 22nd ,the day arrival of Makam .It is customary to call this temple Kshayath Trayathe. The temple protects us from decay and destruction. Therefore, a visit to the kottiyoor temple should be a  sacrament. The kottiyoor festival is celebrated with the offering of fresh water, milk and ghee to the devotees.  Devotees  take home the Auda flower,  an artificial flower prepared from bamboo and made only during the festival season after visiting the temple. 

  The name “koodiyoor" literally means  ‘legend ’and later the name ‘kottiyoor ’. In the history of Kerala literature, the great poet Ullur described Kottiyoorappan ,the family diety of Kottayam Kings . In William  Logan's “Malabar Manual”, it is recorded that Idacheni Kunkan , the Chief General  of King Pazhassi ,and his army reached  kottiyoor and captured the English outpost.

    Hope you all enjoy reading the athihya about Vaishaka mahotsav.  

   Thank you…