Revathi Pattathanam tomorrow

The Mahadeva Temple at Tali here will host the historic Revathy Pattathanam, the annual intellectual debate for Vedic scholars patronized by Kozhikode Zamorin, on Sunday.

Revathi Pattathana Committee secretary PK Krishnanunni Raja told newsmen here on Friday that the scholar adjudged as the best in the debate would be honored by the Kozhikode Zamorin with a Panakkizhi (purse). Reputed religious scholars from all parts of Kerala would participate in the event.

Prior to the start of the ritual, Vedic Murajapa pooja, Udayasthamana Pooja for Lord Mahadeva and Lord Sree Krishna and Navakam for Narasimhamurthy would be held at the Tali Mahadeva Temple.

This would be followed by a traditional procession to the ritual venue.and cultural programmes, the Raja said. The procession would be inaugurated by Kerala Devaswom Minister Kadannappally Ramachandran, he said.

Kozhikode Zamorin PK Sreemanavedan Raja would present Revathi Pattathanam Krishageethi and temple artist awards instituted by the committee to writer KV Baby and K Narayanan Nair, respectively at a function in the evening, he added. The awards carry Rs 5,001 each, citation and plaque. Cultural programmes, including Kathakali, would also be staged as part of the programme.

Pattathanam is a scholarly festival aimed at the socio-cultural enrichment of the society and is a symbol of the aristocracy’s subjection to divinity. It was only recently the festival was taken from the precincts of Zamorin royalty to the Tali Mahadeva Temple.

The word Pattam means title, but has its root in the Tamil word Bhu which means a scholar or poet. In the earlier times, scholars used to be invited from various parts of the State for vying among themselves to test their knowledge and skills. At the end, the title would be awarded (danam, thanam) to the best among them.

The week-long festival had been held traditionally held on the Revathy day of the month of Tulam of the Malayalam calendar.