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Glimpses of gowreesapattom
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The Siva temple at Gowreesapattom attracts married women and young girls in large numbers.
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Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar
OLD PATTOM was a fairly extensive area that included many of the places lying to the north, south, east and west of modern Pattom. When the renown of a Siva temple (with an idol of Goddess Parvati) at Vadakke Pattom or northern Pattom grew, that place came to be known as Gowreesapattom.
The temple with its circular sri kovil or sanctum sanctorum is situated atop a small hill, once surrounded on three sides by paddy fields and now by residential colonies. This temple came into prominence during the time of the ruler of erstwhile Travancore, Sree Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma (1885-1924). When Mele Variath Madhava Varrier, court astrologer, predicted that the year 1896-97 was going to be very critical in the life of the king, steps were taken to counter the malevolence of the stars. Regular prayers and rituals were conducted at various Siva temples, including Srikanteswaram and Gowreesapattom. Extensive renovations were also carried out in both these temples.
The administration of the Gowreesapattom temple was subsequently handed over to the Travancore Devaswom Department, which was re-constituted as the Devaswom Board after Independence.
The Gowreesapattom temple attracts large numbers of devotees, particularly married women and young girls of marriageable age, who believe that their prayers to the deities of the temple - Lord Siva and his consort Gowri - will not go unanswered. While young maidens seek the blessings of the gods for suitable matches, married women pray for matrimonial harmony and longevity of their spouses.
The idol of Gowri (Goddess Parvati) installed diametrically behind the main idol or Siva Linga, on the western part of the sri kovil, belonged to Kizhethil Veedu, an old aristocratic Nair family of Gowreesapattom.
Another old Nair tharavad of repute was Madathu Vilakom. The wife of Mele Variath Madhava Varrier was a member of this family. It was their daughter, Kamalamma, who later became the mother of the veteran cine actor and director, Madhu. Today, Madhu's sister, Sethulakshmi, Congress activist and Corporation councillor, lives at Gowreesapattom.
It was into yet another noble family of Gowreesapattom - Vaaru Vilakom - that the poet, Gowreesapattom Sankaran Nair, was born. His poetry was noted for its gentle irony and anti-romantic tone. Today, even though Sankaran Nair's muse is silent, he is engrossed in spiritual and philosophical pursuits.
There are numerous famous as well as the not so famous who have made Gowreesapattom their home. Dr. N. Subramanya Aiyer, civil surgeon, can be regarded as one of the earliest to have settled there. He was attached to the court of Sree Moolam Thirunal. From Peshkar, Dr. Aiyer was elevated to the post of Dewan Peshkar and later as Acting Dewan. The area comprising Veerabadra Gardens at Gowreesapattom was once in the possession of Dr. Aiyer.
Dr. Subramanya Aiyer is also remembered as a pioneer planter of the State. His estate, `Kantimathi', in the modern district of Kanyakumari, is one of the earliest plantations of its kind in Kerala.
Prominent LDF leader and MLA Pirappancode Murali is also a resident of Gowreesapattom. Pirappancode is also a playwright, lyricist and editor of the periodical `Granthalokam'.
Other well-known personalities who reside here have also left their impress on the social, literary and cultural scenario of the State.
M. G. SASIBHOOSHAN & BINDU SASIBHOOSHAN
Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar
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