In the place of sanctum sanctorum stands an open platform embracing the elements. There is no idol and you see a couple of maces, the favourite weapon of the presiding deity. But the Kaurava king is not addressed as god or lord by devotees at Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada Duryodhana Temple. For them he is ‘appooppan’ (grandfather) and the main offering is kalasam (toddy), the very reason a devotee offered 101 bottles of foreign liquor a few days ago. While the temple, said to be the only Duryodhana temple in south India, is quite famous, strewn across the northern border of Kollam are several lesser-known shrines dedicated to other Kauravas, including Dussasana and Dussala. None of them follows any tantric tradition and no mantras are recited in Sanskrit. The priests simply invoke the deities in Malayalam and seek blessings for the devotees.
“The temple remains open 24x7 and devotees cutting across caste and religion are welcome. We follow the Dravidian custom and don’t believe in ‘rahu’ or ‘gulika kaal’ that are usually considered inauspicious,” says Krishnan, the oorali (priest) of the Duryodhana temple. Myths abound about the origin of temples and the one commonly shared revolves around the story of Pandavas’ ‘agyatvas’ (incognito exile). Legend has it that the Kauravas came to these parts in search of Pandavas to make them repeat the cycle of exile.
