THIRUMANDHAMKUNNUTEMPLE-FORWARD
Dear friends,
During the year 1997, my elder brother’s second son’smarriage was conducted in
the marriage hall of Thirumandhamkunnu SreeBhagavathy Temple. It was the first
time I was visiting the temple. At thattime, I was working as Divisional
Engineer at Calicut.
My daughter’s marriage was also within days, so the marriageinvitation was
placed at Devi’s feet and after blessing got it. Then only sendto relatives.
Our member Sri Venkat Raman resides about 7 KMs ahead of thetemple at
Perinthalmanna.
The information is compiled from Wikipedia (since the templewebsite is not
accessible due to some technical problem) and a Video inYou-Tube about the
temple. Hope a Divine reading.
Gopalakrishnan 2-6-24
1.Introduction
ശ്രീ തിരുമാന്ധാംകുന്ന് ഭഗവതി ക്ഷേത്രം
District Malappuram
Deity Bhadrakali(Sree Parvathy/ Durga/ Maha Kali)
Festivals 11 dayPooram in March–April
Thirumandhamkunnu Temple is a historically significant Hindutemple in
Angadipuram, which was the capital of Valluvanad Rajavamsham, inMalappuram
district, Kerala state, South India. The temple deity,Thirumandhamkunnil amma,
was the paradevatha (official goddess) of the kings ofValluvanad, the local
feudal kings ruled the area in the Middle Ages. The Nairwarriors (called
Chavers, literally "martyrs") of Valluvanad king setout from this temple to
Thirunavaya, to participate in the famous Mamankamfestival. A memorial
structure called the chaver thara ("platform of themartyrs") can be found in
front of the main entrance of the ThirumanthamkunnuTemple.
2 .Deities
The temple is also an important pilgrim center, especiallyfor the
eleven-day-long annual festival celebrated in March and April months ofthe
Gregorian calendar. The "principal deity" of temple is Lord Shiva. But
thefamous deity is Sree Bhadrakali or Sree Parvathy, locally known
asThirumandhamkunnilamma and Ganesha, for whom the famous marriage oblation
(Mangalya Puja) isperformed.
Devotees believe Mangalya puja will remove obstacles forone's marriage.
Thirumandhamkunnilamma is considered the Supreme Mother,Shakthi Devi in
Hinduism.
Bhadrakali believed to be born from the third eye of lordShiva to kill the
demon king Daruka.Bhadra means good and Kali means goddess of time. Bhadrakali
is worshiped forprosperity and salvation. Devi is considered as the creator,
protector,destroyer, nature & kundalini. Mangalya Puja, Rigveda Laksharchana,
Chandattam and Kalampattuare the important religious offerings of the
Thirumanthamkunnu Temple.
My note- Muttarakkal( Breaking of coconut totwo halves) and telling prophecy
is alsoconducted in the temple.
There are two lengthyflag masts, one for LordSiva and one for Devi, newly
erected after Deva prasna
There are ceremonies and rituals specific to this Hindutemple that are not
carried out at others. The Thirumanthamkunnu Templecourtyards are on a hilltop
that provides a view of the countryside spread outbelow.
3 Legend surroundingThirumanthamkunnu Temple
King Mandhata of Surya dynasty ruled his kingdom for a longperiod. He then gave
away the kingdom to his successors and chose to meditateon supreme god Shiva
and attain the Shiva's feet at the end
Shiva was pleased with his penance appeared before the kingMandhata and offered
him any boon at Mount Kailash. The king prayed to the lordfor an idol to
worship till his death. Shiva gave him the most holy ShivaLingam which was too
dear to him and which used to be worshipped by Parvati andthen the god
disappeared.
Carrying the Shiva Lingam on head, King Mandhata started hisdownward journey
from Mount Kailash and reached the hill now known as"Thirumandhamkunnu" in
Kerala.
A spring withcrystal-clear water flowed along the northern slope of the hill.
Many beautifulbirds chirped in the jungle. Wild animals like lion, tiger, and
elephant roamedabout in the wilderness in full harmony forgetting their
traditional enmity.Different kinds of trees and plants grew in the region and
gave out sweet smellinto the atmosphere. The surrounding attracted the king.
Feelings of idol onhis head heavy he placed it on the ground at immediately the
Shiva Lingam gotstuck into the earth.
Shiva had gifted theShiva Lingam to the king when his consort Parvati was away
for her bath.
When Parvati turned up for worship the Shiva Lingam was notthere. She got upset
on enquiry she knew that it was presented to the KingMandhata, by her husband.
Being too much attached to it she wanted the ShivaLingam back. Shiva told her
that he had no objection in her trying to get itback.
Parvati now asked Bhadrakali and a host of bhoothas to rush upand get back
the Shiva Lingam from the King. With the army of bhootha,Bhadrakali reached the
northern slope of Thirumandha hill. The brightnessemitted by the Shiva Lingam
installed by king Mandhata was so great that itdazzled the eyes of Bhadrakali
and the bhoothas and they were unable to move upthe hills.
So they startedthrowing up the weapons from the foot of the hill. The ascetic
attending onMandhata were unarmed but tried to defend themselves with whatever
things theyhad. These being insufficient to protect them they plucked Attanga
nuts fromtheir creeper plants, which were available in plenty and threw them at
theenemy.
Because of the power of Shiva and the divine power ofMandhata the nuts got
changed into arrows instantly. Bhadrakali and her army ofbhootha could not
resist them the fight lasted for fifteen days.
The age-old custom of "Attangayeru" on first of Thulam (theMalayalam month) on
the new moon day of the same month in the forenoon beforepantheerady pooja
refers to the legendary fight between mandhatha and kali.
4ThirumanthamkunnuBhagavathi Temple, North nada
Expecting defeat Mahamaya took her viswaroopa. She had anelephant in one ear
and a lion in the other as earrings. Seeing this form theascetics fell down
senseless. When mahamaya in this form reached the hilltopMandhatha was also
helpless. He embraced the sivalinga, Bhadrakali tried tocapture it by force.
Inthis struggle that followed the linga got split into two.
In the "Jyothis" that arose from it"THRIMOORTHIS" (Brahma, Vishnu and Siva) and
Parvathy appeared on thespot.
Parvathy told Mandhatha this idol was very dear to me. StillI do not want to
take it away from you against the wishes of my husband.Separation from it is
also difficult for me. So I will enter that linga andremain here forever. My
daughter kali is not different from me. Actually shecame here first. Let her
also be installed near me facing north and have allpoojas and festival
performed.
So same Parvathy entered into the idol. This spot is the
"SREEMOOLASTHANAM".The sivalinga here is still in split condition. Its position
is below the"peedam" and "Prabhamandalam" and can be seen only duringthe
abhisheka before the ushapooja and "Malarnivedia" to the deity.
As ordered by Parvathy, Bhadrakali with Sapthamathrukkal,Veerabhadra and
Ganapaty were installed facing north. This is called "Mathrusala".Pooram, Pattu
and all such festivals intended for this goddess.
My note- In Kodungallur also along with Devisapthamathurukkal can be seen in
the sanctum.
When Sree Parvathy appeared infant Ganapathy was also withher. This infant
Ganapathy also been installed at sreemoolasthanam.
Sree Parvathy appeared facing west. The installations ofSivalinga at
Sreemoolasthanam were facing east. It was thus for necessary tohave two darshan
openings one to the east and the other to west.
The family descendants of "Valluva Konathiri" donot generally open the one on
the west except for darshan. On either side ofthe doorway there are two
openings through which other worshippers can havedarshan of the deity. But in
recent past, the restrictions has been modified.After each pooja, the door is
kept open for some time for darshan of the deityby devotees.
5. Handing overcharge to two Brahmins
Mandhatha spent many years at thirumandhamkunnu in meditationand thapusu. At
last he knew it was time for him to leave this world. He wasthinking of
entrusting the temple to someone for perfect upkeep and maintenancewhen two
Brahmins came there.
Mandhatha told them his desire gave them a Grandha containinginstructions on
the performance of poojas and entrusted the shrine to them. Hethen retired to
the jungle nearby now known as "KUKSHIPPARAKKAD" andfreed himself from this
world of mortals by his yogic powers. Bhakthas who goround this jungle paying
homage pick out a leaf from the growing plants andkeep it in hair with at most
reverence. This area is still a protected jungle.
In the Devaprashna conducted in1959 it was observed that an idol of mandhatha
should be installed hereand poojas, performed. The temple priests before pooja
every Malayalam month.The annual pooja on Chithra in midhunam on Mandhatha is
on specialsignificance.
Two Brahmins entrusted with the upkeep of temple, one clearedthe jungle around
the idol and hence came to be known as "Kattillamuttam". The other prepared
pavilion for prathishta and came to be known as "PANTHALAKODE".
The thanthri of thirumandhamkunnu temple is still adescendant from either of
these families.
The nair karyasthan who was with them was given the title"chathathumarar" and
made the blower of holy conch in the temple.
The Namboodiri's informed the news to Vadakkara swaroopamraja that was
subordinate chieftain of valluvanadu raja holding the titlemannarmala raja. He
immediately rushed to the spot (Seeing the over-lord of the hill the goddess
gotup and paid homage to him. This humility of Devi-the sustainer of
threeworlds—made the raja blink in shame and) he prayed to the goddess to see
him asa son. He then presented an elephant to the goddess and worshipped her
from itsrear, standing in its shadow. His descendants also followed the same
practice. Even now direct darshan ofthirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy is not
permissible to mannarmala raja.
The first Vallavaraja who took over the control of the templeentrusted its
upkeep and maintenance to the local feudal lords Ettuveetilachans and made them
trusty Erukalikara nair was made kavudaya nair. Sreemoolasthanam does not have
aroof, which is an evidence of it having been a kavu.
The painting on the walls of the mathrusala throws light tothis legend. These
paintings which are in lying with the wall painting atsuchindram,
Pundarikkapuram, vaikom and Guruvayoor were executed in 1944.
6 ThirumandhamkunnuPooram,
Thirumandhamkunnu Pooram, the annual festival of the templeis an 11-day-long
celebration which is a major festival in the district ofMalappuram in which
Aarattu is a beautiful custom. Aaraattu, the bathingceremony of Devi, in which
the holy idol is carried on the tallest elephantaccompanied by 5 other
elephants leading to the lake nearby the temple. Theidol is given a holy bath
by the main priest of the temple and taken back intothe temple.
My note- The idol in thetemple is made of jack wood
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"Thatha_Patty" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email
to [email protected].
To view this discussion on the web visit
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/683432045.460915.1717295194101%40mail.yahoo.com.
