Fanjingshan in china

Name : The mountain's name "Fanjing" is an abbreviation of Fantian Jingtu (梵天净土), or "Brahma's Pure Land". Fantian is the Chinese name for the Buddhist heavenly king Brahmā, and Jingtu is Chinese for "pure land", the focus of Pure Land Buddhism.

Location :

Fanjingshan is located in Tongren, Guizhou Province in southeastern China. It is the highest peak of the Wuling Mountains. The elevation of its terrain ranges from 480 to 2,570 meters (1,570–8,430 ft) above sea level.

How to Reach :

Fanjingshan, you’ll have to take a bus from Tongren (a city in Guizhou province of China). The bus takes around two hours to reach the base camp from where travellers need to go on a challenging 8,888-step ascent, which will take around five hours to reach the summit. Those who don’t want to take the stairs, there’s a cable car to transport visitors to the top.

Description :

Fanjingshan is considered a sacred mountain of Chinese Buddhism, ranking just below the Four Sacred Mountains of Buddhism. It is considered the bodhimaṇḍa (or daochang)—a spot in which one reached enlightenment—of the Maitreya Buddha. The influence of Buddhism reached Fanjingshan by the Tang dynasty at the latest, especially after Hou Hongren (侯弘仁) constructed the Zangke Road (牂牁道) in 639 AD, which facilitated transport in the mountainous region, and local gazettes record the construction of several temples in the area. More temples were built during the ensuing Song and Yuan dynasties.

Buddhism greatly prospered during the Ming and Qing dynasties, when the cult of Tianguan Maitreya (天冠弥勒) became dominant in Fanjingshan. The Bozhou rebellion in the late 16th century caused great damages to Fanjingshan's temples. After suppressing the rebellion, the Wanli Emperor ordered the monk Miaoxuan (妙玄) to rebuild the Golden Peak and the Cheng'en Temple (承恩寺). Many other temples were constructed in the area, ushering in the golden era for Buddhism in Fanjingshan. Most temples during the Ming and Qing dynasties belonged to the Pure Land and the Linji sects of Buddhism.

In the turmoil that toppled the Qing dynasty, many temples were destroyed by marauding armies and bandits, and few monks remained in the Republic of China era.[2] After further destructions during the Cultural Revolution, Buddhism has enjoyed a renaissance since the 1980s. Many old temples have been rebuilt and new ones constructed, including the Cheng'en Temple, Huguo Chan Temple (护国禅寺), Great Golden Buddha Temple (大金佛寺), and Longquan Temple (龙泉寺).

In 2010, the Fanjingshan Buddhist Cultural Park was opened, with a Golden Hall that houses a 5-metre-tall (16 ft) statue of the Maitreya Buddha made with 250 kg (550 lb) of gold and thousands of gems. It is said to be the largest gold Maitreya statue in the world. 

Attractions :

Old Golden Summit

The Old Golden Summit is 2,493 meters above sea level. When observed from a distance, it looks like the kind of rice steamer used by farmers.

Around the Old Golden Summit there are lots of strange and magnificent views, such as the Book Scrolls, the Mushroom Stone, the Eagle Rock and others. Besides the fantastic views from the summit, many temples are located there.

Mushroom Stone

This special mushroom-shaped rock sits on the summit, and is now an icon of Fanjing Mountain. It is 9.4 meters tall, and about 1 billion years old. Many artists have created work based on the Mushroom Stone.

New Golden Summit

The New Golden Summit is 2,336 meters in altitude. If you are lucky enough, you will see the peak surrounded by carnation-colored mists which symbolize the blessing of Buddha.

The top of the summit is on the other side of a gorge and connected by an arched stone bridge. Two temples are on separate crags of the summit: Shakyamuni Temple and Mile Temple.

Buddhist Temples

Buddha figure in Fanjing MountainBuddha figure in Fanjing Mountain

The name "Fanjing" means "Pure Buddhist Land". In its heyday, the mountain was home to 4 emperor temples and 48 active temples, though only a few of these remain today. Some of the largest temples are near the summit of the mountain, and the scenery around is very spectacular.

Huguo Temple: This is one of the four Emperor Temples on Fanjing Mountain, covering an area of 3,000 square meters. Today, six wooden buildings from Huguo still exist. The temple is endowed with beautiful natural scenery, embracing the clouds in the morning and bathing in rain in the evening.

Cheng’en Temple: This is between the New and Old Golden Summits. Its gate still stands intact in front of the main hall, after many years. There are four halls on either side of the temple. Only ruins of the walls can be seen today, however.

Zhenguo Temple: This was originally built during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), but collapsed around 1949. Only ruins of the walls still exist on the site, though the main hall, side hall, rooms accommodating monks, and kitchen are all faintly discernible.

Websites :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanjingshan

https://www.mybestplace.com/en/article/mount-fanjingshan-and-the-two-temples-at-the-gates-of-heaven

https://www.chinahighlights.com/tongren/attraction/fanjing-mountain.htm

Doi Thepnimit temple

Name : Doi Thepnimit temple

Location :

Doi Thepnimit is a monastic residence with a fantastic panoramic view over Patong beach. You can see its iconic white pagoda from the beach, if you know in which direction to look, of course, it’s pretty tiny. To access Doi Thepnimit is a bit tricky since the new road to reach it is precisely at the top of the notoriously dangerous Patong Hill. If you are familiar with Patong you will know right away how to spot that small road: it’s next to the Chinese temple where everyone honks three times for good luck! The way to the Chedi is now nicely paved on a couple of kilometres, and there is ample parking next to the temple.

Description :

Doi Thepnimit is a small but so beautifully decorated temple, and with such a view, it’s worth stopping on your way in or out Patong beach. The Doi Thepnimit temple is a "Samnak Song" (สำนักสงฆ์) which is more like a monastery or meditation center. These places may not have all features of a larger Wat. Doi Thepnimit has really just one large Chedi with a great view and on a lower level are buildings that look like accommodation and dining areas for Monks or people coming to study or meditate.

The Chedi (a Buddhist stupa) is ornate with colourful seven-heads Naga (a mythical serpent-like creature) and many other mythological characters. All the sculptures and carvings are exceptionally well executed, and it is a pleasure to admire the craftsmanship. Note that the pagoda area is not always opened, but you can still walk around it. The shape of the chedi is Pra Tat Pra Nom style, from the northeast part of Thailand. This Temple is impressive and very bright and colourful as it's so new! The entrance (below) is guarded by 2 Yaks (mythical giants, often seen at temples) and also by 2 Naga (7 headed mythical snakes) - Buddhist stories tell of the king of the Naga sheltering Buddha from a storm by covering him with his 7 heads, so you see the Naga in pretty much all Buddhist temples too.
Just remember to dress and behave appropriately as this is a religious place and you will frequently see monks and nuns meditating or sweeping the surrounding of the temples.

There is another temple called Wat Thepnimit located between Phuket Town and Chalong. Just make sure you mark the right one when using Google map

 Websites :

 https://www.jamiesphuketblog.com/2018/09/doi-thepnimit-temple-near-patong.html

St. Mary's GunadalaMatha Shrine Vijayawada

Name :  St. Mary's  Gunadala Matha Shrine 

Location :

Gundala Matha Shrine, or Mary Matha Shrine, known popularly as St Mary’s Church, is constructed on a hilly region Gunadala in Krishna district near Vijayawada. An iron cross, erected atop the hill, stands as a rare distinction of the shrine.

Shrine History :

Mother Mary is said to have appeared on this hill as on 11th Feb.1858.

Description :

One of the most popular churches and pilgrim places for Christians in Andhra Pradesh, A shrine for the Christians situated in Gunadala, a hilly region of district Krishna at Vijayawada is the Mary Matha Shrine or Gunadala Matha Shrine and its more popular name, St Mary's Church. It has the rare distinction of having an iron cross set up on the hill top. 

It houses a museum having a collection of ancient holy relics and precious gifts of the followers. The shrine is filled on Sundays and other important festivals and occasions. The annual feast for Our Lady of Lourdes is celebrated with devotion and gaiety.its a famous pilgrimage place where people take the help of Mother Mary's prayers and lakhs of people come from all over places to worship, every February 9,10&11 more than 5 lakh people come to visit at the hill top.there are only steps way to go up the hill,and on the top there is a huge Jesus crucified statue

Annual Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes attracts many devotees and is celebrated with much enthusiasm and devotion. After getting their heads tonsured and breaking coconuts at the shrine, the devotees lined up to the grotto on the hillock to light candles.

The other side of extended gunadala hills haves historically important mogalrajapuram caves and a large statue of lord Shiva a top.

Gunadala Matha Festival

Gunadala Matha Festival was successful , more than 10 Lakh devotees attend this festival every year. Of those 10 Lakhs only 60% were Catholics means 4 lakh remaining people are mixed people from different religions ( Hindus, Muslims) and of course Protestants.

Ever year the Festival startes with Holy mass on 9th Feb at 6.30 AM and around 8.30 AM Adoration Started and will end on 11th Feb late night.

Many Religious ( Sisters , Priests, Deacons, Brothers, Seminary & Convent students) , General devotees from Vijayawada and other parts of AP also took part in this Adoration along with Jesus Youth of Vijayawada Diocese.

Contact : +91 9948695979, 0866-2450244

Websites :  http://www.gunadalamathashrine.com/

Chetti Thambiran Temple & Konganar Siddhar Samadhi (Karur - Tamil Nadu)

 

Name : Chetti Thambiran Temple & Konganar Siddhar Samadhi (Karur - Tamil Nadu)

Location :

From Trichy: 73km via Kangeyam. Break journey via Kangeyam via Vellakovil.
From Tiruppur: 40km via Kangeyam. Break journey via Kangeyam.
From Dharapuram: 19km towards Kangeyam. Frequent buses are available.
From Kangeyam: 14km towards Dharapuram. Frequent buses are available.
Nearest Bus Stop: Uthiyur aka Pon Uthiyur

Legend :

When the great Ramayana war happened between Rama and Ravana in Ceylon, Rama’s brother Lakshmanan was attacked by an arrow sent by Ravana which made him almost dead. So to cure him, Jambavan asked Hanuman to get a Sanjeevani herb from the Himalayan range in between the peaks of Rishabam and Kailasa. And Hanuman followed suit. But in the specified location in the hill between the 2 peaks he couldn’t find the herb. So frustrated he felt like breaking the hill into pieces. But he suddenly came up with the idea of lifting the whole hill and taking it to Jambavan and he did it. When he flew across the whole length of India from Himalayas to Ceylon a few pieces of the hill fell in several places along the length. One of it was in Uthiyur, where the sage Konganar Sithar meditated in a small cave at the top of the hill. Once Hanuman reached, Jambavan took the Sanjeevani herb from the hill and gave its juice to the whole battalion and saved everyone's lives.

Description :

It was a pretty small village with a hillock at one side. Not just a hillock, there were atleast 3-4. There was a little temple after a flight of 100 steps from the ground, which is the base temple ‘Uthanda Velayudhasamy Thirukoil’ with a huge water-well as well and the little path with few rocky steps beside the temple lead us to the base of a hillock and the steps ended there as well. There were few more little mandapams in a dilapidated condition.

 

This hill, till date, is considered to have all those medicinal plants including Sanjeevani. Though the program didn’t give any details about the medicinal plants in this it gave a decent coverage about the place on a whole with interviews from several locals. Though the program said that the place is near Kangeyam, I had no clue where in Kangeyam is this place. After searching the net for pretty long time, I found some details about this place. It was spelt Uthiyoor by some other site and atleast I got the info that its midway to Dharapuram from Kangeyam. We started off and were there at Uthiyur shortly.

There were few sculptures here and there, and also some hero-stones. But I couldn’t make out the era it could have been from. Must be Chola period with regards to its location, but which Chola king or which century, I had no clue.

From that point there was no proper path as well. The little temple like structure at the peak of one of the hillocks is destination. There is a little muddy pathway that is rocky at most of the places. Also there are several smaller pathways that lead to the hillock. The route is rocky and the hill is pretty vertical. Many places the muddy pathway will be missing. Filled with several plants that formed a decently thick forest-like area, several among these huge number of plants must be medicinal which would include the Sanjivani as well.

A route will be divided into 2 and there is a little board that shows an arrow to a route that reads “Route to Chetti Thambiran Temple”. A little more trek and will lead to the Chetti Thambiran Temple. This is a small temple formed by the space in between 2 rocks. The sounds heard here were freaky at times, thanks to the several rocks and boulders and heavy winds that blow through them. A little more climb from there will take us to the hill top and there was a little temple of Lord Ganesh.( Uchi Pillayar Temple)

 To reach Kongana sithar cave, we have to climb another hill with boulders atop (as you see in the picture below).

 

  To go there we have to use the other pathway where we were directed to Chetti Thambiran Temple. The other path leads to the peak of the hill to go to the Konganar Caves. Care had to be taken not to go to the edges of the boulders there. A fall from there could definitely prove fatal. Here again there is a little room created by the space between 2 boulders. It was here that Sage Konganar Sithar meditated and lost his physical self. Sithar’s are yogists who are in the high meditative state and lose their physical state and attain divinity.

There is a pathway to enter this cave from the rear as well. It could be entered from the rear side through a small tunnel like opening and crawled down into the cave. Else in a simpler way you could enter it from the huge front opening.

Food: There are a few local messes here. Nearest place for good restaurants and hotel is Kangeyam.

Contact number of Konganar cave Priest : +91 99425 32193

Websites : https://travel.bhushavali.com/2010/05/uthiyur-hills-aka-pon-uthiyur-konganar.html

Sulayman -Too Mountain, Kyrgyzstan

Name : The Sulayman Mountain (Kyrgyz: Сулайман-Тоо, also known as Sulaiman-Too, Sulayman Rock, or Sulayman Throne) 

Location :

The Sulayman Mountain is the only World Heritage Site  located entirely in the country of Kyrgyzstan. It is located in the city of Osh and was once a major place of Muslim and pre-Muslim pilgrimage. The rock rises abruptly from the surrounding plains of the Fergana Valley and is a popular place among locals and visitors, with a splendid view.

Legend :

Legends claim that that the Macedonian warrior king Alexander the Great visited the city on his way to India, and that King Solomon visited and slept on top of the hill that still bears his name, Taht-i-Suleiman (Suleiman Mountain or Solomon’s Throne). This most enduring tale says that when Solomon reached the outcropping of high rock in the center of modern day Osh, shouted ‘khosh’ (‘that’s enough’).

How did this mountain change from being simply a spiritual natural landscape into a focus of intense worship?:

To understand it, you need to step back and look at the big picture. The city of Osh is right in the middle of the network of paths that today we call the Silk Road. To the north, to the east, and to the south are huge mountains – and travellers who made the arduous journey over these peaks would need somewhere to stop for a while to rest and feed their animals.

Snowy mountains on the way to Kyrgyzstan

However, Osh was not normally the first city that travellers would have arrived at after coming down from the mountains. That was Uzgen, about 50 kilometres away. Even though Uzgen was the first stop; Even though Uzgen had a river, offering a perfect water supply; And even though Uzgen was already an established trading city, travellers started to choose Osh because they thought they could pray and worship at the mountain of Sulaiman-Too and that would bring them better luck for their onward journeys. 

Although there are mosques on the mountain these days, they are relatively new – from just a few centuries ago. For most of the travellers who were stopping here at the zenith of the Silk Road period, it was a more spiritual type of worship, not tied to a particular religion.

So what you would’ve found – and what you still find today – are different spot across Sulaiman-Too dedicated to different things that people would come to wish for.

There’s an opening in the rock that women who wanted to conceive a child would climb through.

There’s another rock that people would slide down if they wanted to cure back pain.

There’s another spot to help headaches, and another for longer life, and so on.

At the Chak-Chak cave you can insert your hand, pull out some rocks and make a wish.

The people came because they believed… not because of any evidence but because people believe what they want to believe, right?

Women making prayers at sulayman too rock formation

Holy men recite passages from the Koran in exchange for about US$0.50 cents in som. Inside another cave, water droplets drip from the roof, and it is said that these are the tears of Suleyman (Solomon). Legend has it that if you roll clown the inclined slab of limestone at the summit you will be cured of all bodily ills or at least confer considerable health benefits. Just behind the shrine is this smooth sloping slab of rock, called Bel Bosh Tosh, where the popular custom is to slide down foot-first on the part of the body that ails you. There is usually a queue of local families lining up to do just this. As you wind your way up the hill there are many smaller caves, crevices, and side trails that are said to cure specific elbow, arm, or leg, or head ailments. If you put your affected part of the body into grooves worn smooth by similarly sick people, locals believe that the different cracks in the mountain are designed to heal different illnesses.

 

Description :

 

This mountain is thought by some researchers and historians to be the famous landmark of antiquity known as the “Stone Tower”, which Claudius Ptolemy wrote about in his famous work Geography. It marked the midpoint on the ancient Silk Road, the overland trade route taken by caravans between Europe and Asia.

Sulayman (Solomon) is a prophet in the Qur'an, and the mountain contains a shrine that supposedly marks his grave. Women who ascend to the shrine on top and crawl though an opening across the holy rock will, according to legend, give birth to healthy children. The trees and bushes on the mountain are draped with numerous "prayer flags", small pieces of cloth that are tied to them.

According to the UNESCO, the mountain is "the most complete example of a sacred mountain  anywhere in Central Asia, worshipped over several millennia". The site is still a popular place for local Muslims, with stairs leading up to the highest peak where there stands a small mosque originally built by Babur in 1510. What is more certain than founding legends, according to historians is that the founder of the Afghan Moghul Dynasty and descendant of Tamerlane, Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur (aka Bobur the Lion 1483-1530), who was born nearby just across the Uzbekistan border in Andijan, came to Osh to visit Solomon’s Throne before venturing on to India. In 1496, Babur, passed through modern day Kyrgyzstan on his way to conquer India and commissioned the small mosque on top of Solomon’s mountain, Suleyman Too. Even today this mosque is still referred to as Babur’s House.

 

Much of the mosque was reconstructed in the late 20th century.

Visiting Sulayman too Mountain :

When you visit Sulaiman-Too today, it is not too hard to imagine how it was on the mountain for all those hundreds of years that travellers would come and ask for some good luck.

You can still go into a lot of the caves. You can still see some petroglyphs on the walls. You can even still slide down the rock that is supposed to cure back pain.

Slide down Rock that cured Back pain for travellers for decades

The rock also contains the National Historical and Archaeological Museum Complex Sulayman that was built during the Soviet era, showing archaeological findings from the area and its history. 

Museum inside the cave structure

Websites:

https://www.timetravelturtle.com/sulaiman-too-sacred-mountain-osh-kyrgyzstan/

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulayman_Mountain

Malikappurathamma Temple, Sabarimala

Name : Malikappurathamma Temple

Location : Malikappurathamma Devi temple alias Malikapuram Temple is situated on a small hill just 100 meters away from Sabarimala right side of Sabarimala main Temple.

Legends :

1. The Maalikappuram Temple, is dedicated to Malikappurathamma, the Devi who was dedicated to Ayyappa and wished to marry him. One of the stories about Malikappurathamma is related with the Kalari School, Cheerappanchira .The Pandalam Raja admitted Ayyappa in this school to study Martial arts (Kalari) from the Guru, Kalari Panicker. Leela, his daughter fell in love with the Prince. But being a Brahmachari, Ayyappa couldn’t accept her passion. But he gave her a word that, he will marry her certainly, if there is no Kanni Ayyappas at Sabarimala.

2.  It is said that the Malikappurathamma is Madhura Meenakshi, the Kula Paradevatha of Pandalam Royal Family which has conections with Pandya Dynasty.

3.  The legend of Malikapurathamma is closely connected to that of Lord Ayyappa. The incarnation of Lord Ayyappa was for the destruction of “Mahishi”, sister of Mahishasura. The Upanishads declare that it is Dharma that sustains the world. Like how Shiva’s son Ganapathy is worshipped as Vignahartha, Shiva’s son Dharmasastha is the ruler and protector of the world. When the Trinity – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva – took up human form to establish dharma in the world, there emerged from them a Shakti or force which they named Dattatreya. Simultaneously the consorts of the Trinity – Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati – together took birth as the daughter of sage Galava. The sage named her Leela and in due course gave her in marriage to Dattatreya. The couple fulfilled their grahasthasrama for a long time. Later when Dattatreya tried to convince Leela that the purpose of human birth is ‘Self realisation’ she was not ready to accept the same. She challenged him by saying that she being his Patta-mahishi does not accept it. Dattatreya got angry and cursed her to become a Mahishi (She Buffalo) in asuras family. Leela was also enraged and she too cursed her husband to become a Mahisha .

In course of time Leela was born as Mahishi, the daughter of Karambaasura , she had a grouse against Devas for their role in her cousin Mahisasura’s death. Mahishi undertook severe penance and propitiated Lord Brahma and obtained a boon from him that an incarnation born to Hari and Hara can only kill her. Blessed by the boon Mahishi deposed Indra and oppressed the Devas. They turned to the Trinity for redress. Dattatreya was made to take the form of a Buffalo named Sundara Mahisha. Thus Leela’s curse on Dattatreya took effect. Lord Vishnu asked Sundara Mahisha to lure Mahishi and take her down to earth. When Sundara Mahisha went to Deva Loka to fetch Mahishi, she was so enamoured that she forgot herself and all about the revenge, she blindly left her throne and followed Mahisha to earth. To kill Mahishi, Shri Dharmasastha the son of Shiva (Hara) and Mohini (Hari) took an avatar as Manikantan, the foster son of King Rajasekharan of Pandalam kingdom in Kerala. When the Devas prayed to him for achieving the aim of his avatara, Manikantan blessed them and fought Mahishi. Having been blessed with several boons she gave a tough fight to Manikantan who at last caught hold of her horns and killed her. Mahishi fell dead on the banks of the river Alasa (Azhutha) in Kerala. The Devas praised Shree Dharmasastha as Mahishi was killed by him. Lord Shiva came down to the world to witness the destruction of the evil. The place where the body of Mahishi fell is known as Kallidumkunnu and according to some legends the place where Lord Shiva tethered his bull when he came to witness the destruction of Mahishi is now known as Kalaketti.

As the Lord danced on the fallen body of Mahishi, Leela emerged, redeemed from her curse and prayed that she be taken as his consort. The Lord declined her request since he was a bramhachari for the purpose of Dharma Sasan, but agreed that she being the avatar of Saraswati, Laxmi and Parvathi combined would be worshipped at a special shrine. From then onwards she was known as Malikapurthuamma.

After fulfilling the purpose of his avatar, Lord Manikantan agreed to the wishes of King Rajasekharan of Pandalam and agreed to remain at Holly Sabrimala for the purpose of Dharma sasan in the world. Thus two adjacent temples were made by the King at Sabarimala, one for Shree Dharmasastha and the other for Malikapurthuamma.

Description : 

Maalikapurathamma is the goddess who is worshipped in a subsidiary shrine at Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple. Maalikapurathamma Temple is visited after having darshan of Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple.Malikappurathamma is also called Manchambika and Mancha mathavu (Mancha matha). The value of Bhakthi is reflected in owns own faith and hope. Malikappurathamma teaches this lesson to every devotee who wishes to go to see Lord Ayyappa. After visiting her shrine the devotee should  get awareness of the ultimate fact “ It’s You” (Tatwamasi) ( self realisation )

The temple complex houses the shrines of the Devi and Kaduthaswamy and also the the shrines of the snake god, Nagaraja and goddess, Nagayakshi. On the way to the temple, there is a temple tank called as Bhasma Kulam where the devotees can take a holy bath in memory of the tapaswini Sabari, who had committed her mortal life by entering the fire. After this incident the hill was named Sabarimala.

Offerings : Of the two coconuts in the "Pin Kettu" of the Irumudi kettu, One is broken at the Pampa River and another coconut is to offer to the Malikapurathamma.The turmeric powder in the Irumudi kettu is also offered to the Malikapurathamma. Here coconuts are offered only after rolling them on the ground. Other main offerings to Goddess Malikapurathu Amma are Saffron powder (Kumkumam podi), Manjal podi (Turmeric powder), Plantain (Kadali Pazham), Jhagri (Sharkara), red silk and Honey. The other main rituals at Maalikappuram temple are Pattudayada, Pottu, Chandu, Kanmashi, Vala and Bhagavati Seva.

Festivals :
Malikappuram Ezhunnelathu (Malikappuram Procession)
Beginning with Makara Vilakku festival, Malikapurathamma leaves her shrine on three successive nights to inspect if the time has come for Ayyappan to fulfill his promise. A procession from the Malikapurathamma temple goes to Sharamkutti, where the first-time pilgrims leave an arrow to announce their presence. Every year, a crestfallen Malikapurathamma returns to continue her eternal wait. The idol of the Devi will be carried on the back of a caparisoned elephant with traditional music including pandy melam. The same procession will return to Malikappuram in a silent manner which symbolizes the grief of Devi who sees thousands of arrows at Saramkuthy.

Websites :
http://www.vaikhari.org/malikappurathamma.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maalikapurathamma