The most important and Holy ‘Prathal’ is the main offering to the Vaikkathappan. Prathal is the most Holy Anna Dana among all other Danas. The first leaf is placed in the Manya Sthana before distribution. To give Prathal as an offering and eating of the Prathal is very auspicious and makes the receiver holy. All who observe any fast have to eat the rice of this Prathal. Then their Vritha will be fruitful and all sins remitted as per Bhargava* Purana.
After the Prathal there is a custom to give Ananda Prasada to the devotees. The Melsanthy brings some Bhasma on a plate and gives it to the people after Prathal. It is called the Ananda Prasada.
Once while cooking the items for the Prathal a poisonous snake fell in the cooking vessel and died. Because of the poison those who ate the Prathal fell unconscious. It is said that then a Brahmin smeared in Bhasma instructed them to take the dry Bhasma from inside the Sreekovil and give it to the unconscious people, assuring them that the poison will be removed, He disappeared. When the people were given the dry Bhasma all the people got cured and rose as if awaken from sleep. It was believed that the Brahmin was really Vaikkathappan. As the Brahmin Bhojan is rare nowadays the Ananda Prasada is also rare.
The Sahasra Kalasa is performing Abhisheka with 1001 pots of water and other holy items. It is continuously done for 10 days with 101 pots of Abhisheka every day. It is done in the Mandapa. After marking Padma, a golden pot is placed in the middle for Brahma Kalasa and eight pots are placed around it within the Sankalpa of seven seas and Karana Jala around them on eight parts, each part is pilled with Panchagavya, butter milk, milk, ghee, honey, Navarathna Jala (water with Navarathna), water with Kusa the grass and water with Astaganda. All of these are used every day. When Sahasra Kalasa is performed there will be feasts every day for ten days. On the eleventh day Rudra Pooja is performed. The next day Udayasthamana Pooja is performed in Udayanapuram Temple.
The Abhishekas of one day of Sahasra Kalasa is called Dravya Kalasa. Kalasa Pooja is done on the Mandapa like Sahasra Kalasa.
One thousand and eight Kalasas filled with different materials are used for this Abhisheka. It is completed in one day.
At the Sreekovil or at the Navakapura. On Brahma Kalasa and a large copper vessel is filled with fresh water and jaladrony pooja is one. Then ten poojas are continuously performed. For each Pooja one hundred and eight Jala Kumbhas are used for this Abhisheka. It is the ‘Aayirakudam’ of Vaikkathappan.
Vilwapatras are offered to Lord Vaikkathappan as a special offering which is so dear to Him. He grants gladly what the devotee asks.
It is also a special offering in this Holy Temple reminding us about the importance of Vaikom Bhasma
Some devotees offer Vilakku as an offering in this Temple. They donate oil for the lamps lit in the Sannidhya.
Unniyappams are offered to the Sthamba Ganesh for the removal of Vighnas or obstacles. It has started recently.
One hundred and one measures of milk after jaladrony pooja is poured in Dhara Kidaram made of silver and this Abhisheka is done on the Sivalinga.
A lamp with three hundred and sixty five wicks in the shape of a pipal tree is lighted using ghee or oil. It is becoming popular among the devotees nowadays. This lamp is lighted at the Sreekovil yard. It is the belief that the desires would be fulfilled by this offering.
Just like the Ksheera Dhara, pure water is used instead of milk and the Abhisheka is done continuously with the recital of Manthras.
