Kodungallur Bharani Pattu Lyrics Online
Unlike most Kerala temple songs (e.g., Sopanam), Bharani Pattu resists Sanskrit. It uses Dravidian roots, onomatopoeia (thakita thaka), and local insults. This is a conscious folk resistance to Brahminical ritual purity.
Many verses directly mock masculine authority. The Goddess in her fury is beyond the control of Shiva, Vishnu, or any male god. For example, a famous line (translated loosely) says:
“What use is your trident, O Shiva? What use is your discus, O Vishnu? The Mother herself has come, with fire in her hands.”
"Pattu" in Malayalam means "song." The Kodungallur Bharani Pattu is a collection of ritualistic folk songs sung by a specific community known as the Komaram (oracles) and Pattu singers during the Bharani festival (March-April).
Unlike the polished, metrical sankeertanas of Vaishnava traditions, these lyrics are coarse, loud, and often sexually explicit or violently graphic. They are traditionally sung in a specific raga-like folk melody called the Bharani Pancha.
The purpose of these songs is threefold:
If you are a researcher or a devotee looking to read or hear the authentic lyrics, here is a practical guide: kodungallur bharani pattu lyrics
Academic Books:
PDF Libraries: Search Google Scholar or Archive.org for “Bharani Pattu Malayalam PDF.” Some university thesis documents contain full lyrical transcriptions.
Cultural Troupes: The “Kodungallur Bharani Pattu” is now performed on secular stages by groups like Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi. Their printed event booklets often contain the lyrics.
“Kannimala katti, chempaka poo chutti,
Vayil kuzhiyil chora ketti nilkkunna Amme.
Ninakku theendiyo? Ninakku theendiyo?
Ninte madi thuni aar kazhukki?”
Translation:
“Mother who ties a virgin’s hair, strings champaka flowers,
And stands with blood clotted in the pit of her mouth.
Are you polluted? Are you polluted?
Who washes your stained cloth?”
This directly references the Goddess’s supposed menstrual impurity—an extreme taboo in Brahminical worship. By uttering the unutterable, the singer forces the Goddess to confront human reality. Unlike most Kerala temple songs (e
The Kodungallur Bharani pattu lyrics are more than words—they are vibrations of power. While you may find PDFs, YouTube videos, or academic transcriptions, remember that their true life exists only in the echo of the Chenda at the Kodungallur temple, in the sweat of the dancing Komaram, and in the midnight air of the Bharani festival.
If you wish to genuinely understand them, travel to Kodungallur during Meenam (March/April). Listen. Do not just read the lyrics—feel them.
Call to Action:
Have you heard the Kodungallur Bharani Pattu live? Share your experience below. If you are looking for a specific lyric line or a verse to learn for a cultural project, drop your request in the comments, and we will try to source it from verified folk archives.
Keywords integrated: Kodungallur Bharani Pattu lyrics, Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple, Bharani pattu meaning, Malayalam folk songs, Bhadrakali pattu.
Due to oral tradition, no single authoritative text exists. However:
| Source | Type | Access | |--------|------|--------| | Bharanippattu: Oru Patanam (Dr. M. N. Vijayan) | Academic book with transcribed lyrics | Kerala Sahitya Akademi | | Kodungallur Bharani Patukal (CD, 1985) | Field recording by K. Raghavan | Archives (hard to find) | | Potties of Kodungallur (oral transmission) | Live performance during Bharani | Temple grounds (early morning, day 1–7) | | Folklore Fellows’ Communications (No. 302) | Peer-reviewed article with translations | University libraries | “What use is your trident, O Shiva
Warning: Do not search for “Bharani Pattu lyrics” on mainstream lyric sites (e.g., LyricFind, Genius). They do not host this material. Only folkloric or academic sources contain authentic transcriptions.
While there is no single "official" lyric sheet, the Bharani Pattu follows a rhythmic pattern that drives the devotees into a frenzy.
A typical segment involves a call-and-response structure or a lead singer (often from the Kurup or Marar communities) belting out verses while the crowd joins in the chorus.
The imagery in the lyrics is vivid and violent. They speak of:
A common rhythmic refrain involves the beat of the para (a percussion instrument). The songs often describe the act of singing itself—celebrating the noise, the chaos, and the shedding of blood (symbolic or literal) as an offering.
A rough thematic translation of a sentiment often found in the lyrics: "Oh Mother, who wears the garland of skulls, Who severed the head of the wicked demon, Dance for us, roar for us, Accept our offering of blood and song."