At the Ambalapuzha Srikrishnaswamy Temple, a ritual called Panthrandu Kalabham (12 kalabham) is performed during 1st to 12th of the Malayalam month of Makaram (December - January) every year.
After every 12 years, the ritual called Pallippana [8] (palli is divine and pana is song; Pallippana is divine song) is performed at the temple. After 12 Pallippana, a ritual called Vijayabali (Victory Sacrifice) is performed.
Ritual of Pallippana:
In Pallippana, major rituals are called Oattu and Muroattu. Oattu is performed by Velans during the day and Muroattu (Muroattu is Maru Oattu, that is, counter Oattu according to Dr. Ambalappuzha Gopakumar) is performed by Velathis during the night.
Velans participating in Oattu are classified as Kuuttatis and Puranatis. Kuuttatis perform the Oattu as per the directives of the ritual. Puranatis wear leaves of elanji, caps of pala and kuruttola (tender shoots of coconut tree), paint their faces and appear as buffoons. The Puranatis entertain the spectators, makes them laugh and divert their attention from the rituals being performed by Kuuttatis.
Legend of Pallippana:
There are many legends connected with the performance of Pallippana at Ambalappuzha Temple.
One of them is that the first Pallippana was performed by Siva. Due to workload, Vishnu became unconscious. To wake up and rejuvenate the Lord, Subrahmanya, the god of Astrology suggested that Pallippana should be performed. Velas are required to perform the ritual. The entire world was searched for Velas, but none could be found. Then Siva appeared as a Velan and Parvathi as a Velathi. They performed the ritual and Vishnu was revived.
It is believed that Puranatis are Siva's Bhutaganas. It is said that when Siva and Parvati performed the first Paliippana, the Bhutaganas acted as guards in the guise of Puranatis.
Songs:
The Saiva musical instruments, Para and Tuti are played when the songs are
sung.
All the songs begin with the praise of Siva such as
The Lord wearing the Moon / The Lord with the fiery eye/ The daughter of
the Mountain, her son, Nandikesa and Ayyan / Please come and protect us.
Performance of the Ritual:
To perform Pallippana, a special stage is constructed at Ambalappuzha. On the south east side of the temple tank, facing the stage, huts are constructed for the Velans who perform the rituals. Six huts are constructed at the front side. Cempakasseri, Koyikkal, Kunnankari, Eramunda, Nettasseri and Ambalappuzha are the six Kuuttati families entitled to perform the rituals. Behind these huts, other huts are made for Ganakan and Mannan. A special hut is made for Ambalappuzha Panikkan, who is an important functionary.
The head priest orders the Kuuttatis to start the Oattu. Uzhichal (caressing) is performed thrice during the day reciting Siva's names.
Performance of Muroattu:
The Velathis perform Muroattu. Muroattu begins as A Velan who knows the truth/ Performed the pana and / recited the murayorttu.
In Pallippana, Muroattu is more important.
During Muroattu, Maparatam Patttu is sung by the Velathis. The story is summarized as follows:
Bharata Malayi, a servant of Pandavas is worried that her husband, Bharata Malayan, has not returned since seven days. Losing her patience, she sets out along with her son, looking for Bharata Malayan. On the way, she sees him coming carrying a large bundle. Malayan tells Malayi that the bundle is full of gifts. Malayi questions him about the items in the bundle. Malayan replies that he performed Oattu at the place where his lords (Kauravas) and her lords (Pandavas) had assembled for hunting. The gifts were given to him by his lords for performing Oattu.
Malayi asks him whether any one died at the site of hunting. Malayan replies that five stags and two deers were killed.
From this reply, Malayi infers that the Malayan has shadow-pierced the five Pandavas along with Kunti and Panchali.
Malayi becomes furious and shouts at the Malayan. Malayan had pledged that he will not harm Malayi's lords and Malayi had pledged that she will not harm Malayan's lords! Malayan has broken this pledge.
Malayi insists on performing the counter abhicara. Malayan tries to dissuade her. He offers her the diamond necklace which he received as gift. Malayi throws the necklace away saying that he can give it to another Malayi! Her son tries to pacify her. This further infuriates the Malayi. Saying that the son is like his father, she kills the son immediately.
Malayi starts the counter abhicara. She covers a dead body with a freshly made cloth and recites Sanjivani and other mantras and invokes all the gods. The gods appear and asks her what she wants.
Malayi says: I want the kompu mani (Horn bell?), Para and Tuti which were used by the Lord Mahadeva (Siva) when he became a Malayan! (Malayi is referring to the legend of Siva performing the first Pallippana.)
The gods are pleased to give these things to Malayi.
Taking the Bell, Para and Tuti of Siva, the Malayi proceeds to daivam guru nadu where the Malayan has kept the Pandavas bound by abhicara. She performs muroattu and revives the pandavas.
Note the significant deviations of this Maparatam Pattu from Mavaratam Pattu:
In the Maparatam Pattu sung at Pallippana, along with the Pandavas, Kunti and Draupadi are also shadow pierced. In the Mavaratam Pattu Draupadi is spared.
Malayi invokes the devas and requests for the Bell, Para and Tuti of Mahadeva for performing the reverse abhicara. This shows that the ritual at Ambalappuzha is closely related to the legend of Siva and Parvati performing the first Pallippana. Recall that Kuratti of Kuratti Thottam is referred to as daughter of Parvati. Thus the Velathi who performed the first Pallippana and the Kuratti who revives the Pandavas in Mavaratam Pattu are closely associated with Parvati. The involvement of Siva is most interesting.
Now we know why Maparatam Pattu (with emphasis on Nizhalkkuttu Pattu) is sung at the Pallippana ritual at Ambalappuzha Krishna Temple. The song is sung at the temple to revive the unconscious Krishna! Krishna being revived by singing the Maparatam Pattu turns out to be an interesting twist. Contrast this with the attakatha where it is Krishna who revives Pandavas.