KOLLAM: A temple for Sakuni! The Mayamkottu Malancharuvu Malanada Temple at Pavithreswaram near Kottarakkara, dedicated to Sakuni, is perhaps the only one of its kind in the country. An artistic granite throne inside this ancient temple, is considered as the sacred seat of Sakuni. The legend of the temple goes like this. During the Mahabharatha battle, Sakuni travelled across the country along with his nephews, the Kauravas. When they reached the place where the temple is situated, the Kauravas divided their weapons among them. Since then, the place came to be known as ‘Pakutheswaram’, which later became Pavithreswaram. Sakuni returned to this place after the battle and attained ‘moksha’ with the blessings of Lord Siva and became Lord Sakuni. The upa-devathas (sub-deities) of the temple include Bhuvaneswari Devi, Kiratha Moorthi and Nagaraja.
Not far away from Pavithreswaram is the Duryodhana temple at Poruvazhi. There are many more things connecting the area with Mahabharatha. The temple is also unique for the absence of rituals and tantric poojas. Tender coconuts, toddy, arrack, cocks, sheeps, silk etc are among the offerings to the deity.
‘Ooralis’ and ‘piniyalis’ constitute the two sects of functionaries of the Devaswom, both belonging to the Kurava community. The festival of the temple, popularly known as Malakkuda Maholsavam falls on the 28th of the Makaram month in the Malayalam calendar. Thullal by ‘ooralis’ carrying ‘malakkuda’ is the main attraction of the festival. The punaprathishta rituals of the temple, which began on Thursday will conclude on Saturday.