Revival of Maghamaka Mahotsava
Kerala, the place between the Western Ghats and Arabian sea has a long history. The place now called Malappuram district in Kerala was once the centre of Vedic learning and practices. The land was home to many Gods and their temples. Many festivals were celebrated on this sacred land, many of which were lost during periods of upheavals.
Maghamaka Mahotsava is the oldest river festival of Kerala that is held on the banks of Bharatapuzha river of Kerala. which is celebrated on the auspicious month of Makam. The festival is closely intertwined with the history of Kerala and its Vedic roots. For centuries the right for conduct of the festival rested with the Kings who ruled Kerala.
However the festival abruptly stopped in year 1766 AD due to the invasion of Hyder Ali and later Tipu Sultan.
Oral History Research Foundation and UgraNarasimha Charitable Trust restarted the festival in year 2019 in an attempt to revive the lost traditions and culture. The festival to be conducted on banks of Bharatapuzha river in Thirunavaya- Thavanur villages in Malappuram, Kerala in year 2020 is a continuation of these efforts.
Maghamaka Mahotsava 2020
On 2020 Jan 10, 11, 12, under the guidance of the famous Devi Upasaka, Tantric Acharya and eminent Srividya sadhaka, Shri Ramesh Nataraj Iyer (GRD Iyers Gurucool, Canada), more than 100 ritwiks from Canada, USA, Singapore and from the different states in India are conducting Dwi Shata Chandi Yagam and Maha Rudra Homam at Tavanoor, the Trimurti sangam, where religious austerities were performed by Parashurama.
In continuation of the above celebrations, at sunrise on Jan 13, respectable Swamiji, Brahmashri Chidanandapuri, will lead Nila Puja, Nila Arati, Nila Snanam, Sanyasi Sangamam and Yati Puja at Navamukunda temple premises.
ShataChandi MahaYajna: ShataChandi Mahayajna will be conducted on 10,11 Jan 2020 as per Sri Vidya traditions on the same village where sage Parasurama is believed to have organised the Yajna eons back.
Rudra Mahayajna: Rudra Mahayajna will be conducted on 12 Jan 2020. The devotees will have the opportunity to do Abhisheka of Shivling consecrated at the Yagabhumi.
History of Maghamaka Mahotsava
The Puranas, which are Smritis, are witness to the fact that Maghamaka Mahotsava has been conceptualized by Parashurama. Moreover, the writings during the Sangha period like Divyaprabandham certify this fact. The writings of European writers like Hamilton, Jonathan Duncan etc, the accounts of Mamankam provided by the Kozhikode Samoothiri Raja to the then King of Britain in 1810 etc have been the basis for the rejuvenation of Bharatapuzha’s Maghamaka festivities.
Parashurama requested Brahma to conduct a yaga for the safety and prosperity of Kerala. Acting on this request, a yaga was decided to be conducted at Anamudi, TamilNadu. At the time of Yaga, there was a quarrel regarding the position of yajamanapatni between Saraswati devi and Gayatri devi. They cursed each other to flow as a river which takes up the sins of men accumulated over eons. As a result, the yaga was halted. The yaga was later conducted at Tapasannur, or Tavannur, the place where great sages stayed, performed penance and experimented their knowledge.
At Tavannur, at the request of Parashurama, the yaga was conducted for 28 days. The Trimurtis- Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, other gods and many sages were present at the yaga. Due to the eminence of the yaga, Ganga and other holy rivers streamed forth in the Bharatapuzha. It is believed that from then on, every year, during the month of Magha, on all the 28 days, along with Ganga, Gayatri and Saraswati are present as a result of the curse. Based on this, from centuries, devotees used to come from even far off places to take dip in Nila river and rid themselves off their sins.
The first Cheraman Perumal was anointed from Tali in Tirunavaya village of Kerala. One of the 108 Talis consecrated by Parashurama is the Tirunavaya Tali. There was a Shiva temple at this place (The ruins can be found at this site presently). After electing the Perumal, the Bharatapuzha festival was now being conducted in an organized manner. It is from then that the right to conduct Mamankam took form. After the last Perumal, it was Valluvakonathiri who conducted the Maghamaka utsavam for about a century.
After that, during one such Mamanka festival time, the Valluvakonathiri was murdered by a group led by Tirumanassery and thus paved the way to enable the right to conduct Maghamakam by Kozhikode Samoothiri. It was from then that bloodshed started during the holy festivities of Bharatapuzha. We know about mamankam only from the times of chekavars(warriors). The history or tradition of Mamankam before this period is unknown to the new generation. In the times of yore, the Maghamakam was conducted every year, later every three years and then every 12 years.
From the Cheraman Perumals to the Samoothiris, everyone came to Nila to take bath and conduct the festivities. According to the latest findings, the last Maghamaka Utsava was conducted in AD 1766. The festival got abruptly stopped due to the invasion of Hyder Ali and later Tipu Sultan.
The objective of Maghamaka Mahotsava
The objective of Maghamaka Mahotsava is to revive the ancient traditions and rituals of the region and also bring prosperity to the ancient Vedic villages of Thavanur and Thirunavaya of Kerala. The first Vedic Pathshala is situated in Thavanur village and it is now lying closed without any Vedic studies.
We believe that the revival of the ancient river festival of Kerala and the accompanying Yajnas will bring prosperity to the villages and also to everyone who is part of same.
UPDATES:
Maghamaka Mahotsava conducted with all its rituals and prayers
The MahaRudraYajna and DwiShataChandi Yajna was conducted with Shri Ramesh Natarajan ji and his wife Smt Gayatri Natarajan ji of GRD Iyer Gurucool as Acharyas. More than 100 Ritwiks from across world and Bharat joined the Yajna. The Yajnas were conducted on three days from 10-12 Jan 2020.
During the Yajna , people from across the districts visited Yajnabhumi and they were given a chance to be part of the Yajna and also do Abhisheka of Shivling that was consecrated at the Yajnabhumi.
We believe the Yajna will cause the revival of Dharma as well as general well being of every living being in the ancient land of the Vedas.
On 13 Jan 2020, the Sanyasis and Sadhus conducted Nila aarti and Nila Puja (worship of Bharatapuzha river). Also since the waters during this auspicious time was considered as having presence of all the rivers, many Sadhus also took a ceremonial dip in the river.
Sanyasis who assembled during the event was addressed to by Swami Chidananda Puri ji of Advaitashram.
The festival which was stopped in 1766AD due to invasion of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan thus stands revived and we hope it will get bigger with time and regain its ancient status. We have also requested all organisations and individuals to come together in the conduct of the festival which is part of our ancient culture and civilization.