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Growing up, I’d swell with pride when my social studies teacher discussed life expectancy, infant mortality, number of females per thousand males, literacy rate - all indicators of socio-economic progress and how Kerala was far ahead of most states in the country. The phrase ‘Kerala Model’ refers to the high quality of life in the state and practices of the state resulting in its human, social & economic development. In his several speeches, the Nobel Prize winning Indian economist Amartya Sen himself has cited The ‘Kerala Model’ as something that the entire country must emulate.
I am not a student of economics, but a malayalee living outside Kerala fascinated by Kerala’s beauty, legends, temples, festivals, traditions & lifestyle. I stumbled upon the book ‘Aithihyamala’ by Kottarathil Sankunni which had an interesting story on the prosperity of the Kozhikode Angadi (The Marketplace of Kozhikode).
It is said that the Samoodri of Kozhikode was a pious and devout man and Lakshmi Devi herself (The Goddess of Wealth & Prosperity) pleased by his devotion, resided on his shoulder. Occasionally, to express her joy, the Goddess would dance on his shoulders resulting in extreme pain for the Samoodri.
The Samoodri, unaware of the Goddess residing on his shoulder, consulted many physicians & healers to relieve him of the pain, but all of them failed. One day, a young physician arrived at the Samoodri’s court and suggested that a wet towel be applied on the shoulder to alleviate the pain. This immediately relieved the pain and the young physician was rewarded well.
However, when Mangattachan, the wise and learned diwan of the Sammodri heard this, he realized that a grave mistake had been committed.
Mangattachan rushed to the Samoodri and narrated how Goddess Lakshmi came to be residing on his shoulder and applying the wet towel had forced the Goddess to leave, taking away with her all the prosperity, abundance and wealth of his kingdom. On hearing this, the Samoodri was devastated, but Mangattachan assured the Samoodri that he’d search for the Goddess and convince her to return.
The diwan went in search of Goddess Lakshmi and
eventually just around sunset found a divine and radiant looking woman walking through the streets of the marketplace of Kozhikode (Kozhikode Angadi). Mangattachan immediately felt the divine presence of Goddess Lakshmi there and respectfully approached the woman. He apologized on behalf of the Samoodri and requested the Goddess to stay back in the kingdom. However Goddess Lakshmi was unwilling to relent as she believed that her purpose there was achieved and it was time to leave.
When Mangattachan realized that his pleas to the Goddess had failed, he made one final attempt to get the Goddess to stay back. He requested the Goddess an opportunity to offer his prayers one final time before she leaves. Mangattachan went to a nearby temple to take a dip in the temple pond. Before leaving for the holy dip, he sought a promise from the Goddess that she would remain in the same place till his return. Goddess Lakshmi agreed to stay till he returned.
Mangattachan realized that the only way to get the Goddess to stay back and ensure the prosperity of the kingdom was to sacrifice his life. He immersed himself in the sacred temple pond, giving up his life. It is said that, even today, Goddess Lakshmi keeps her promise and continues to wait for Mangattachan to return to offer his prayer.
While the story refers to the prosperity of the Kozhikode Angadi, I believe that the divine presence of the Goddess continues to bless not just the marketplace in Kozhikode but the entire state with abundance, wealth & prosperity. To all the legends of Kerala - Mahabali to Mangattachan, who lived and then gave up their lives for the well being of their subjects, I can only say ‘Nanhi’, and do my bit by sharing these stories with the coming generations, so the legend continues!
Written By: Vijay Nair (Chenda Student, Kalavadhyam Sarjapur Branch)