Story Sri Rama and Tataka Ramayana

The story of Sri Rama and Tataka is found in the Hindu epic Ramayana. Tataka’s father Suketu was a Yaksha king who performed Tapas to please Lord Brahma so as to obtain an offspring. Suketu desired a son, but Brahma blessed him with a daughter, beautiful and strong in physique. She was Tataka who married Sunda. She had two sons Maricha and Subahu and a daughter, Kaikasi.

Tataka and Sunda planned to marry off Kaikasi to the Rishi Visravas in order to obtain a progeny that would be all-powerful. Visravas, although already married, fell in love with Kaikasi and married her. Their son was Ravana, the mighty King of Lanka. Once, Rishi Agastya cursed Tataka’s father Suketu to death. Tataka decided to wreak vengeance on the sage. She had the help of her son, Subahu.  This enraged Agastya and he cursed Tataka to lose her beautiful physique, and transform into a demonic creature with a cruel and cannibalistic nature. The curse transformed Tataka into a man-eater with an ugly and fierce figure. After the curse of Agastya, Tataka started living in a place near the habitations of Malaja and Karusha in a forest near the river Ganga, opposite to the confluence of the river Sarayu. The area came to be known as the forest of Tataka. She terrorized the people, devouring anyone who dared to set foot in that forest.

Tataka and Subahu harassed many Rishis by destroying their Yagas with rains of flesh and blood. Maharshi Visvamitra was the most affected victim of Tataka's harassment. At last, Visvamitra approached Dasaratha, the King of Kosala, for help. The King obliged by sending two of his four sons, young Rama and Lakshmana, to the forest, entrusting them to protect both Visvamitra and his sacrifice.

Visvamitra and the two princes Sree Ram and Lakshmana came to Tataka’s forest and the sage ordered Lord Rama to kill the demoness to free the area from her terror. Rama was hesitant to kill her as she was a woman. He chopped off her hands so that she could not attack anyone further. Using her demonic powers, she changed her form, disappeared and continued her attack. Visvamitra advised Lord Ram that though a woman, Tataka was terrorising the region and as a prince, it was Sri Rama’s duty to protect the people by killing the terrorists who plagued his people. Rama was thus convinced of killing Tataka. He pierced her heart with his arrows.

Kundalini Shakti Bhakti Mantra Lyrics

Kundalini Shakti Bhakti Mantra is commonly used to call upon Adi Parashakti or the Divine Mother. The mantra literally means to merge in the Maha Shakti, which is enough to take away your misfortune.

Adi Shakti, Adi Shakti, Adi Shakti, Namo Namo!
Sarab Shakti, Sarab Shakti, Sarab Shakti, Namo Namo!
Prithum Bhagvati, Prithum Bhagvati, Prithum Bhagvati, Namo Namo!
Kundalini Mata Shakti, Mata Shakti, Namo Namo!

English Translation

Primal Shakti, I bow to Thee!
All-Encompassing Shakti, I bow to Thee!
That through which Divine Creates, I bow to Thee!
Creative Power of the Kundalini, Mother of all Mother Power, To Thee I Bow!

Vennimala Sree Rama Lakshmana Temple Kottayam

Vennimala Sree Rama Lakshmana Perumal Temple is a 1000+ year old temple located at Puthuppalli village panchayath, around 15 km from Kottayam in Kerala. The presiding deity is Lakshmana Perumal along with his elder brother Sree Ram. Vennimala temple is located on a hill top, almost 1500 feet high from the sea level. The temple is believed to have been built by Cheraman Perumal Bhaskara Ravi Varma according to the direction of Kapila Maharshi (Sage Kapila). This ancient temple was a Mahakshetra with 5 poojas and 3 sreebalis daily.

Vennimala Lakshmana Temple faces west and features two bronze dhwajastambhas (flagmasts) in the front yard. The temple complex also has shrines of Lord Ganapati, Lord Krishna, Lord Nagaraja and Yakshi.

Puranic Significance

Purunas has it that Sree Rama and Lakshmana visited this place searching for Sita during their exile period of 14 years. During that time numerous sages who were meditating in the caves of Vennimala requested Sri Ram to help them in eradicating the trouble caused by demons. So Rama asked Lakshmana to kill the demons who were a threat and nuisance to the sages. Lakshmana won the battle with demons. After this event the place came to be known as Vijayadri or the ‘hill of victory’ which later got changed to Vennimala.

Festivals 

The temple celebrates annual festival during the Malayalam month of Makaram – Kumbham. Ramayanam story will be enacted during the festival. Vennimala Koothu, performed by Pothiyil Chakyars, is another major festival attraction. Karkidaka Vavu Bali in the month of July – August is another major festival here and thousands of Hindus visit the temple to perform Pithru Tharpanam or Vavubali, an offering to the ancestors.

Cheruvallikavu Devi Temple, Alampally Sreekrishnaswamy Temple, and Chennampally Gandharvasamy Temple are popular religious sites located nearby.

Location 

Sree Rama Lakshmana Temple in Vennimala is situated in Putuppally and can be reached by bus in Kottayam – Putupally - Payyappadi route. The temple can be easily accessed from Kottayam or Kumarakom. The temple can be reached through K.K. Road from Kottayam via Manarkad and turn right at the 8th mile. A board of Vennimala Temple shows the way.