Monday, November 8, 2010

Vazhenkada Temple History


VAZHENKADA SREE  NARASIMHA MOORTHI TEMPLE

VAZHENKADA(P.O),ANAMANGAD(VIA),MALAPPURAM(DISTRICT),679357(PIN)
KERALA, SOUTH INDIA. Phone No.+91-9744510066.



ഓം നരസിംഹായ നമ

കലിതാഖില ഭക്ത കാമജാലഠ
കരുണാവര്‍ദ്ധി തരംഗ േലാലേനത്റം
കലേയ കലിേദാഷ ശാതനന്തം
കദളീമൂല നിവാസിനം നൃസിംഹം.

Vazhenkada Narasimhamoorthi Temple is a divine centre of peace and prosperity to thousands of devotees who visit the temple everyday.The sanctified and divine atmosphere of the temple gives so much of mental satisfaction and tranquility to the devotees.
Location:-


           Situated 13 Km. southeast of Perinthalamanna and 8 Km. from Cherpulasseri ,the temple is located in a picturesque background. The temple is on the side of the Thootha-Vettathur road,2 Km. from Thootha on the Cherpulasseri-Perinthalmana state highway and 4 Km. from Karinkallathani on the Palakkad-Kozkikkode National Highway 213 .Thoothapuzha also known as Kunthipuzha flows 1 Km.away from the temple. The road is tarred.The nearest railway station is at Angadippuram on the Shornur-Nilambur Route.The nearest airport is at Calicut.Facilities for stay are available at Perithalmanna and Cherpulasseri.

Brief history and temple administration:-


              The temple dates back to fourteenth century. The early history of the temple is still obscure. There is a myth that the idol was the one worshipped by Lord Hanuman at kadali-vanam.Earlier the temple belonged to Kongatt Malliseri mana,Alanellur Pattallur mana,anad Thamarappalli mana.Thamarapali mana hs become extinct.The eldest member from the remaining two families will always be the Trustee of the temple.The hereditary Trustee from the Mallisseri mana acts as the Managing Trustte of the temple.The Manager appointed by the hereditary Trustees with the approval of the Malabar Devaswam Board (Formerly Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment Department) of the state administers the temple.
Structures:-


                 The details of land owned by the temple prior to the Land Reforms Act are not known. At present the temple owns 85 cents of land of which 50 cents constitute the temple tank .The other structures are sreekovil,namaskara-mandapam,chuttambalam with agra-manadapam,valiya-balikkall,pradakshina-vazhi,agra-sala,gopuram,kokkarani,sub-shrines and temple tank. The sqare eka-thala sreekovil of nirandhaara type facing west has granite adhishthaanam,laterite walls and copper roof.The mouldings of the adhishthaanam are paadukam,jagathi,vriththa-kumudam,kumuda-pati,kampam,galam,gala-pati,utharam and pati.The sopaanam has four direct steps.The pranaalam has makara-simha face at the base,multi-faceted sundu with rings and go-mukha end.It is supported by a motif of a serpent made of granite.There is one ghandawaaram in the rear wall while the functional door faces west.The tiled namaskaara-mandapam has four pillars.The well is at northeast of the akaththe-balivattam. The chuttmbalam has entrances at west, north and east. The mulayara is at north east,thitappalli at southeast and a sub-shrine (having deities of Goddess Durga,Lord Ganapatthi and Lord Saastha) at southwest.Even though there is no subshrine or idol for Lord Hanuman ,a separate place inside the temple is kept for the worship of Lord Hanuman . Avil Nivedyam is a special offering for Lord Hanuman.The valiya balikkall is within the agra-mandapam.A deepasthambham with five layers of vicks is installed at the front.The pradakshina-vazhi is made of granite stone of 1.5 m. width and thickness of 20 cm.The receipt counter is at northwest while the long agra-saala is on the eastern side.The thheerththakulam or kokkarani is at the south-western corner.A gopuram is built at the western side,while gates are provided at the north and south of the laterite maryaada(which is built in the shape of elephant’s back).
Coverings and Paintings:-
On the ceiling of the agra-mandapam navagrahas are carved in wood.The dwaarapaalas are of mural painting,both in standing pose with the sole of one leg resting on serpent.

Deities:-


                The Krishna sila idol of Lord Narasimhamoorthy is in the form of Sree Maha Vishnu idol with four arms having conch,disc,club,and lotus in hands.It is a broken one and below the head it is covered with golaka.The sankalpa of the idol is of the Lord blessing Prahlada and hence of saanthabhaava.The idols of subsidiary deitirs are also of sila.Sree Durga in linga form(27 cm.),Lord Ganapathi in sitting pose(30 cm.),and Lord saastha in linga form(27 cm.).The idols of the subsidiary deities are covered with silver.Even though there is no subshrine or idol for Lord Hanuman,a place inside the temple opposite to the subshrine of God Ganapathi, is kept for worshipping Lord Hanuman.There is no subshrine or idol for Goddess Saraswathi.But Goddess Saraswathi is worshipped at a place inside the temple using a photo during Navararthri festival.Spacial poojas are performed for Goddess Saraswathi on Mahanavami and Vijayadasami .
Time of worship and poojas:-


                 The temple is kept open from 5 to 9.30 a.m. and from 5 to 7.30 p.m.Three poojas are done daily,usha-pooja (6.30 a.m.),uccha-pooja (8.15 a.m.) and athaazhapooja (7.15 a.m.).Udayathamana-pooja is performed on special days as per the request of the devotees.
Offerings:-
Kadali plantain,paal payasam,thiru-naavu charthal,pushpanjali,ola(palmyraleaf),ezhuthaani(style),thulaabharam,Udayathamana pooja ,Kathakali etc.are the main vazhipaats.For defects concerned with intelligence, one has to do Bhagyasooktha pushpaanjali,Thrunaav chaarthal(offering a form of tongue made in silver or gold) and kadali-plantain for curing stammering and getting more knowledge.Offering of kadali plantain is a very popular and important vazhipaat.Avil Nivedyam is a very important offering for Lord Hanuman.Saraswathakhrutham,which is offered for Goddess Saraswathi ,is given to children for better learning and intelligence.

Festivals:-


The annual eight-day festival is held from Thiruvonam asterisk in the month of Dhanu.All the rites,rituals and customs associated with this festival are held .This gives much relief and mental satisfaction to thosands of devotees.The prathishtha-day is observed on Makeeryam asterisk in the month of Itavam,while the birthday of the Lord is celebrated on Thiruvonam asterisk in the monyh of thulaam.Sreekrishna jayanthi,Narasimha jayanthi etc are also celabrated .Laksharchana is conducted on Ist day of Thulam every year.Navarathrippoja and Vijayadasmi are also celebrated with devotion.On Vijyadasami day,hundreds of children from all parts of the state came to this temple for Vvidyrambam. .Kathakali,Chaakyaarkoothth,Ottanthullal etc. are the performing arts staged.It may be noted that Kathakali has a unique place in this temple.Some of the artists of this art form have become very famous like the late Padmasree Vazhenkada Kunchu Nair.Other artists are late Vazhenkada Kunjunni nair,Kalamndalam Rajagopal,Vazhenkada Rama Warrier,Vazhenkada Krishna Warrier,Vazhenkada Govinda Warrier.Vazhenkada Vijayan (Vesham),Kalamandalm Balaraman(Chenda),Vazhenkda Krishnadas(Chenda),Kottakkal Devadas(Vesham),Vazhenkada Anandan(Singer) are also devotees of the temple and the natives of this place.P.V.Sreevalsan,son of Padmasri.Vazhenkada Kunchu Nair and author of Malayalam Novel ‘Kesabharam’ also belongs to this place.
Priesthood and temple staff:-
The details of the thanthri who installed the idol are not known.The present thanthri belongs to Panthalakkot mana.The present saanthikkaran is from embranthiri community.The other staff includes kazhakam ,counter clerk and atichu-thali besides Manager.

10 comments:

  1. This is the temple that cured me of my stammer when I was three years old. I remember hearing about kadalikkula arppanam as vazhipaadu

    ReplyDelete
  2. Very tranquil and divine ambience engulfs the temple.My first visit to Vazhengada temple has been an out of the world experience.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Let the spirit and power of the diety bless all children who come and seek his Blessing to Wipeout their stammering/vikkal

    ReplyDelete
  4. Very calm and vibrant atmosphere inside the temple.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Very good and more detailed ..thanks

    ReplyDelete