CHENGANNUR - BHAGAWATI TEMPLE

This happened around 1811 AD, when the temple was under the administration of Travancore Maharaja. The person involved was a European by name Col.Munro, who was affiliating as the Resident Divan of Travancore. During his checking of this temple accounts, he laughed at the item of expenditure incurred on the Triputtu - the purificatory bath - the regular ritual conducted monthly. Deeming the monthly bleeding of the metal idol absurd, and a fraud deliberately perpetrated by the crafty priests he cut out the provision with his official pen. Being an alien, he did not understand the divine customs observed in temples and their significance. 

So he scoffed at the meaningless practice, but the Goddess chuckling to herself, as it were, decided to make the officer bite the dust. Providentially on the same day, the Mother menstruated. A regular occurrence, of course. According to Munro's ruling, the regular ceremonies - rituals were suspended. Visitors were disappointed and devout theists despaired. Priests cursed their fate under breath; for, it was the ruler's might. 

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