Monday, June 13, 2011

Thiruvairanikkulam Sree Mahadeva Temple

About Thiruvairanikulam Sree Mahadeva Temple

Thiruvairanikkulam 
Sree Parvathi Devi's Nadathurappu Mahothsavam.
            Thiruvairanikulam is also known as the Sabarimala of women.
Route Map / Location of Thiruvairanikulam Temple
Thiruvairanikulam History
There is a certain relation between the history of Akavoor Mana and the temple formation. Akavoor Manaparambu (the land of Akavur Mana) lies in the Airanikulam village. Brahmins of the Mana were regarded as rules during that period. Years later, a conflict erupted in the family and a section of them moved to Vellarapilly village. But the Brahmins often visited Lord Mahadeva, then known as Airanikulathappan and Sree Parvathi. It is during this period that Akavoor Chathan came to the Mana as a dependent.

Seeing one of the Brahmins desiring to visit the Mahadeva Temple, Akvoor Chathan made a boat of granite and used it to transport the Brahmin to the temple. Years went by and the Brahmin grew old. One day, after his prayers at the temple, he cried to Mahadeva: "Oh my Lord! I have grown too old to come and see you. What shall I do now?" Soon he started his way back home. He lifted his Olakuda (an umbrella made of palm leaf), and found it heavier than it really was, and he told Akavoor Chathan about this experience. But Akavoor did not speak a word. Tavelling on the boat, Brahmin had the call of nature. Akavoor Chathan immediately moved the boat to a nearby land. Then he took his umbrella and to his surprise it seemed very light now. Still Akavoor Asked the Brahmin not to worry about it. After reaching the Manakkal land, the Brahmin got out of it and Akavoor Chathan overturned the boat and it rested in the mud. Even today one see a granite stone there lying upside down. It came to be known as Chathan Stone.

The place mentioned above is where the Thiruvairanikkulam Temple is situated. Earlier it used to be a forest, Pulaya women (women of low caste) used to go there to cleanse the forest. Once, one of the women happened to use the granite stone to sharpen her sickle. All on a sudden, blood started flowing out of the stone and this Pulaya woman lost her mental balance and ran amok. It is said that she ran nearly three kilometers in a frenzy. All the land through which she ran was handed over to the temple authorities by the respective owners. The area is called Varanattu Madam. During the temple festival the poojas are first performed here. The main Irakki pooja is offered only at the temple and in this place. Nowhere else is this pooja offered. This indicates the concern Lord Mahadeva has for Varanattu Madam


Soon Akavoor Chathan narrated the incident to the Brahmin. It was indeed Airanikulathappan who had appeared in the form of a stone. And as Lord Mahadeva came from Airanikkulathappan, this temple came to be known as Thiruvairanikkulathappan. Once it was known that both the gods were one and the same, the temple was built and the deity was installed.



The deity installation was done by Punalloor Brahmin. But the two families never used to visit the other family temple. As per this legend, Akavoor Manakkal Brahmin and Akavoor Chathan are considered to be behind the temple formation.


When the Brahmin put the umbrella down, Lord Mahadeva who was sitting on the top of it, stepped down and traveled underground to reach first the well and then made for the place where he appeared as Swayambhoo (self born). This is the main reason why we see a relationship between Mahadeva and the well. It is believed that if the holiness of the well is defiled, Mahadeva too is defiled by such an act. To the south of the temple well, one can see a cave that is believed to be the way by which Mahadeva appeared. The Arattu is also done on the shore of the river where Mahadeva stepped down from the umbrella.


Legend associated with Goddess Parvathi's Sreekovil   
Sree Parvathy Devi's Nada Thurappu Mahothsavam 

Formerly it was believed that Goddess Parvathi used to prepare food for Lord Mahadeva in the Thidappilli (temple kitchen) when no one was permitted to be in the kitchen. However, once one of the Brahmins belonging to the Uranmakkar (people who have a right on the temple) set out to find out the secret.
Seeing the Goddess in her full attire, he shouted out: "Devi Amma, Devi Jagadambika". Goddess Parvathi saw him and grew angry with him. She said, "As you have deviated from your usual ways of carrying out the rituals, I am leaving". The Brahmin could not stand it. He cried out and implored the Goddess for mercy. The Goddess said, "From now on, I will make my presence felt only from the twelve days beginning from the Thiruvathira nakshathram in the month of Dhanu, Lord Mahadeva's birthday. And the devotees who see me one of these days will be blessed".
It is on this legendary epistle, that the Sreekovil of Goddess Parvathi remains closed. Unlike in other temples the deity is not given Jalabhishekam (a form of pooja in which water is poured over the Idol). Only turmeric powder is used instead of water.

Offerings / Vazhipadu of Thiruvairanikulam Temple
During the 12 days when the Sreekovil is open for the public, Goddess Parvathi is bathed in oriental silks, Pattu and Thali, turmeric powder, Swayamvara Archana (pooja performed to remove marriage hurdles), Valkannadi (a unique and expensive type of mirror found only in Kerala), Nelpara, Malarpara, Aripara, Sarkara para, offerings in the form of oil - lams, Thrimadhuram, Brhminipattu etc. by the devotees.

Till 1936-37, the poojas at the temple were offered by the heirs of Ponnallur Manakal Namboodiries. Later when there were no male heirs to this family, the pooja was taken over by Kunnath West Bhattathiris. From 1990 August 9 - August 14 Ashtabhakalasham was carried out under the Thantri Vishnu Bhattathiri as the chief priest, and under the guidance of Akavoor Manakal and with the help of Uranmakkar and the public.
By 20 February 1997, the cleansing ceremony, remedial measures and renewal work had begun under the Thantri Kaaimooka Raman Adathiripaadu. This was in view of the Ashtamagala Prashnam.
The temple festival which had long been delayed and neglected was brought back to life along with remedial poojas during February 28 - March 07 in the year 1998. This indeed was a new beginning. Deva Prashnam (a form of astrology by which the pleasure and displeasure of Gods are known) revealed that the devotees were once given Kanjivizhinju (Neivedyam) during Arattu days, and this would wash off all kinds of ill health. Nowadays the temple witness long queues for this Prasadam.
During Ashtamirohini (Lord Krishna's birthday) 8 days of festival are carried out, including Bhagava Sapthaham which is reciting the life story of Krishna.
Various other festivals like Pradishta Divasam (day of deity installation) during the month of Midhuna (Punartham star), Mandala festival (Lord Ayyappa festival from the Malayalam month of Vrischikam 1 - Dhanu 11), Vishu kani (festival related to Lord Vishnu during the Malayalam month of Medam 1), Naaga Pradishta (related to Naaga (serpent) installation during the Malayalam month of Ayilyam) and pooja related to Navarathri (this is auspicious day, when the books are kept for pooja) are done.

Udayasthamana Pooja 

Bhagyasuktham Pushpanjali

One days Pooja on the time of festival

Ayursuktham Pushpanjali

One days Pooja

Srividhyamanthram Pushpanjali

1000 Pot Dhara

Ikyamathyam Pushpanjali

101 Pot Dhara

Akhoramantharam Pushpanjali

Dhara

Ganapathy Homam

Sri Rudtram Dhara

Maha Ganapathy Homam

Umamaheswara Pooja

Ganapathyku Ottappam

Mrithyunjaya Homam

Niramala

Pinvilakku

Enna (oil)

Chuttuvilakku

Neyyu (ghee)

Chuttuvilakku inner portion

Ellu Para

Holy garments for Devi

Manjal Para

Thali

Nel Para

Pattu

Ari Para

Pudava

Poo Para

Inapudava

Malar Para

Manjalpodi (Turmerind Powder)

Sangabhishegam

Valkannadi

Vellanevedyam

Thottil

Sangabhishegam

Mrithyunjaya Pushpanjali

Kuttu Payasam

Swayamvara Pushpanjali

Katum Payasam

Purushasuktham Pushpanjali

Ghee Payasam

Thrumathuram

Milk Payasam

Rekshasinu Nevedyam

Pizhiju Payasam

Sarpathinu Nevedyam

Karuka Homama

Kuvala Mala

Bhagavath Seva

Karuka Mala

Vehicle Pooja

Poo Mala

Vehicle Pooja 2, 3 wheeler  

Choroonu

Vavu Pooja

Thulabharam

Aravana 200 ml

Thirumuham

Allroopam

Muzhukappu

Wedding

Kettunera

Charthiya Pattu

Kal kazhukichuttu

Charthiya Pudava

Pradosha Pooja

Aval Nevedyam

Ellu Kizhi 

Administration Of Thiruvairanikulam Mahadeva Temple



Thiruvairanikkulam Mahadeva Trust is a society to govern the temple was formed with the public support. This saw drastic medernisation process and the temple were well ahead in its development. Further during May 1991, the established governing body and the Manas decided to hand over the rights and duties to a trust, known as the THIRUVAIRANIKKULAM MAHADEVA TRUST ( This trust is exempted under section 80.G of I.T. act ). The members consisted of the Manas and the former governing body.

The trust is also looking forward to building decorative towers and making staying facilities for devotees, and various other amenities. This, we believe, is possible only through the unstinting support of the public and devotees.
Thiruvairanikkulam Mahadeva Trust is a society to govern the temple was formed with the public support. This saw drastic medernisation process and the temple were well ahead in its development. Further during May 1991, the established governing body and the Manas decided to hand over the rights and duties to a trust, known as the THIRUVAIRANIKKULAM MAHADEVA TRUST. The members consisted of the Manas and the former governing body.
Kerala Varma Upper Primary Sanskrit School and the Primary School
Kerala Varma Upper Primary Sanskrit School and the Primary School, previously controlled by the Akavoor Mana was taken over by the trust and is successfully managed.

 Contact Address of Thiruvairanikulam Temple

Thiruvairanikkulam Mahadeva Temple Vellarappilly South Sreemoolanagaram, Aluva, Kerala Pin- 683580

Thiruvairanikulam Temple's Phone:  

0484 - 2600182, 2601182  

Thiruvairanikulam Temple's Official Website:

Email : thiruvairanikkulamtemple@gmail.com 
Web: www.thiruvairanikkulam.com