Kerala temple galore with uniqueness

KANNUR: Accepting liquor and fish as offerings and providing solace to devotees through 'divine counselling', a nearby temple of Lord Muthappan, reverently worshipped across Kerala's north Malabar, has got another unique distinction of not revising its negligibly priced ticket rates for various poojas for several decades.

Devotees thronging the temple, known in local parlance as "Parassini Muthappan Madapura" at Parassinikadavu, symbolically offer toddy, alcohol, grilled dry fish and meat, the most favourite delicacies of Muthappan, considered the incarnation of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.

Unlike other temples, the devotees can 'interact' with the God here as they pour out their grievances in a free-wheeling 'chat' with the tastefully decorated "Muthappan Theyyam", an artist who assumes 'divinity' by representing the God. The theyyam responds with convincing solutions, which are believed by the devotees as sacred and that of the God.

Muthappan theyyam then parts with the liquor and elder male devotees take it as ���necter��� while the other offerings are set apart for dogs, considered the Lord���s pet animal, which eagerly wait outside the temple to pick up the dishes, P M Sugunan, a Madapura trustee member, said.

He said the temple, considered as ���dharmastala��� of north Kerala, also provides free food and accommodation to devotees. On an average, nearly 2,000 devotees visit the temple daily and many more during the festival season.

The temple, located on the banks of Valapattanam river, about 20 km from here, has one of the lowest rates in the country for poojas starting from just 25 paise. The maximum of Rs 13.25 is charged for ���thiruvappana��� while for marriage it is Rs 5.25 and rice feeding for kids is fixed at a mere 75 paise.