Adukkath Bhagavathy Temple that feeds Turtles; Today is World Turtle Day

KASARAGOD: The Adukkath Bhagavathy pond has more than five hundred turtles, the Kurma incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Bhagwati is their food provider. Aamayoottu (feeding turtles) is a prayer in the temple for curing skin diseases.

The 400-year-old Kundamkuzhy Sri Adukkath Bhagavathy temple in Kasaragod has had this custom for centuries. Melshanthi Muralikrishnan Namboothiri performs Anna Nivedya after Ucha Puja. Then the devotees will also perform Aamayoottu as a prayer. 20 kg white rice is used for this.

Aamayoottu of the devotees is performed from the steps of the mandapam and it will continue from 12 noon to 1 pm. 100 - 125 devotees come for the offering daily. The fee for an Aamayoottu is Rs.20 and only those who inform before 10.30 am will get a chance.

The temple is located in the middle of Molothu Kavu, three kilometers from Vallakkunnu bus stop on Bandadka road. Goddess Mahishasura Mardini is the deity. In the center of the turtle pond is the Kurma avatara idol of Lord Vishnu. Turtle temple is to the south of the Kavu.

Lord Vishnu who came to see the dance

It is believed that Lord Vishnu, who came in his Kurma avatar to watch the dance of the deity dancers in the Kavu, resides here in the form of Dhanvantari Murthy, as requested by Adukkath Bhagavathy. That is the reason why the locals do not harm the turtles. It is said that once a person ate a turtle from here and his family was destroyed due to the anger of the goddess. VK Janardhanan Banur is the chairman of the temple committee.

Perennial pond even in hot summer

The temple pond does not dry up even in hot summers, but turtles are not seen out of the water much during summers. A few will come to eat the offering. Some will go to the nearby forest to cool off. Eggs are laid in the Kavu. During the rainy season, the pond is full of turtles. They climb up to the cliff above and onto the road. The locals drops the turtles they see on the road at night into the pond.

'I went to the temple and offered food to the turtles after the disease was cured by prayer. Believers are coming even from far away".

- A Gangadharan, Temple Office Secretary