Safe delivery a matter of faith

ALAPPUZHA: Faith may succeed where science fails.The people of Vallattu at Cheruvaranam near Muhamma in the district do not depend on nursing homes for the care of expectant mothers and safe deliveries.They rely on the goddess of a local temple for that purpose.And the goddess ‘Chakkiamma and Her Daughter,’ also known as Soodika Maathakkal, have never failed them.The number of devotees who come to the temple to seek the blessings of the goddess has been on the rise.“For the past many years, devotees including Hindus, Christians and Muslims from across the state have been visiting the temple to offer prayers and conduct special poojas known as ‘padayara’ to fulfil their wishes.“All of them have had safe pregnancies and healthy children’’ says Rajappan, 65.Bhavani Amma,72, recollects that there has been no case of deaths of the mother or child during confinement in the village for a long time.“My daughters and daughter- in-law performed ‘padayara’ in the temple when they were pregnant.All of them had safe deliveries.No one in this place has ever had a miscarriage or pregnancy problem,” she asserts.‘Chakki Amma and her daughter’ were the members of Vallattu family and they had taken care of pregnant women.The people believed that both had divine powers.‘’As instructed by an astrologer, our forefathers constructed the temple for them,’’ Bhavani Amma says.Many women in the area testify to the blessings of the goddess.Leena, 31, says: ‘’When I was pregnant, doctors told me that the delivery would be a complicated one. However, my mother and me went to this temple and offered prayers. I had a safe delivery,’’she says.This temple is opened only on the first day of every Malayalam month.