May I have that site please to confirm fish and chapati naivedyam? On the contrary I can prove through verses of smrithis that Brahmins of not only west bengal or thenkalai -but all ate non vegetarians food. One of the conditions of vanaprastha, in the forest is not to kill and continue the eating of non veg food. Vegetarianism advocated by the Vedas was flouted by so many brahmins in the vedic periods as well as now. Food is culture. Defying the culture and turning to vegetarianism is a yagna. Hence in the case of avivekam, restrain from sending misinformations. I have censored so many subjects from giving out. It is not a parody. The ancestors spoke the satyam. Spoke how people from every walk of life lived and got transformed. May be 2024 history of Brahmins in large eating non vegetarian food may also be written later. Let us not pretend and spread misinformation as if a know-how which alone shall be shunned KR IRS 6624
---------- Forwarded message --------- From: 'gopala krishnan' via iyer123 <[email protected]> Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2024 at 00:10 Subject: Re: [iyer123] SREEVALLABHA TEMPLE- TIRUVALLA-FORWARD-1 To: [email protected] <[email protected]>, Narayanaswamy Iyer <[email protected]> Sir, I recollect the information read from Sri Rangam temple website if I remember. How sir, either Thenkalai/Vadakakali will prepare chicken/fish dish? They cannot. I recollect reading else where a muslim lady doing all works outside sanctum in a temple near Alleppy. I miss the name of the temple Gopalakrishnan On Thursday, 6 June, 2024 at 09:33:55 am IST, Narayanaswamy Iyer < [email protected]> wrote: Dear Sri Gopalakrishna Thanks for your reply. You say that "Chappathi is offered as neiveidhyam". What I seem to remember, from the thaaththaa-paatti site years ago, is that non-veg food such as fish and chicken are also so offered along with chappaaththi at the Ranganaatha temple at Sri Rangam. S Narayanaswamy Iyer On Thu, Jun 6, 2024 at 9:14 AM gopala krishnan <[email protected]> wrote: Sir, Once Kerala was part of *Madras state. Hence these Divyadesams in present Kerala*. The temples have mixed customs. In this temple towers are Kerala style unlike Trivandrum Padmanbha swamy temple. Instead of Sudarsana chakram, it is personified. So as in the Vaishnava temple, there is Nachiyar. What I could make out. The present day priests are either Tulu potties or Nampoothiries. Not any Vaishavite iyengar priest, in any of the divyadesams in Kerala. About Srivallabha, poojas are by Nampoothiri priests only. Once the place Tiruvalla had a lot of Brahmin families, not agraharam. My late Grandmother has told she was from Thalavati, near Tiruvalla. Regarding nachair at Sri Rangam temple , a muslim lady idol, I have *read about it.* Chappathi is offered as Neivedyam. She was a devotee of Sri Ranganatha. Unlike *Aandal,* whether she is absorbed to Sri Ranganatha idol is not clear. Other information also not known to me. Most visit Sri Ranganatha and Thayar. There is battery operated vehicle for transport for elders in the sprawling 100 acreas area to Thayar sannidhi. These are the best information I can provide. Gopalakrishnan Present day worshippers are local Hindus.I am not sure any iyengar families are in Tiruvalla. It is a place with more than 50% christian population now. On Thursday, 6 June, 2024 at 06:20:25 am IST, Narayanaswamy Iyer < [email protected]> wrote: Dear Sri Gopalakrishna Just a small query or two. You write:- "*I visited Sreevallabha temple at Truvalla. It is one among the 12 Divyadesams in Kerala. It was the first time I was visiting the temple.* *"Thayar: Selvathirukozhunthu Nachiyar, Vaatsalya Devi."* (1) My recollection is that "Thaayaar" and "Selva-thiru-kozhunthu" are neither Malayalam nor Sanskrit words. They come from Jaffna Tamil practices. "Thaayar" means "mother", selva", "thiru" and "kozhunthu" mean, respectively, "precious", "sri" and "baby". What are they doing in Kerala? (2) Moreover, "Naachiyaar" is also a foreign language word in Kerala. (3) In thatha-paatti website I remember reading that in the prestigious Veera Vaishnavaite Sri Ranganaatha temple on an island in the Kaaveri River, there is a shrine to a Musllim lady called Naachiyaar next to the main shrine of Sri Ranganathar. (4) It is a regular practice in that temple that, after all the lights are Veera extinguished and the entry doors are closed, the idols of the Muslim lady and of Sri Ranganathar are secretly conveyed to another room within the temple where they spend the night. Before dawn the following day, both idols are secretly removed to their original sites. Kidly clarify, if you can. Thanks. S Narayanaswamy Iyer On Wed, Jun 5, 2024 at 2:04 PM 'gopala krishnan' via iyer123 < [email protected]> wrote: *SREEVALLABHA TEMPLE- TIRUVALLA**-FORWARD-1* *Dear friends,* *When we went for an inspection of Tiruvalla Exchange in 2004 middle, my colleague Mr Sankara Narayanan and I visited Sreevallabha temple at Truvalla. It is one among the 12 Divyadesams in Kerala. It was the first time I was visiting the temple. * *One of the specialities of the temple is daily performance of kathakali in the temple. The following are information compiled from Wikipedia.* *Gopalakrishan 5-6-2024. * *1.Introduction.* * Sree Vallabha Temple is located at Thiruvalla in Pathanmthitta district of Kerala. It is a 400-year-old temple on the banks of the River Manimala has a beautiful 8 feet idol of Sree Vallabha within the sanctum sanctorum. * *The legendary architect Perunthachan, constructed the unique Garuda Sthambha, a 54 ft flag mast made of a single block of granite.* * During the 10-day annual festival held in February-March, a whopping 12,000 bunches of padatti pazham (a variety of bananas) are made as offerings on the first day. It is also perhaps the only temple in Kerala where Kathakali is performed as a ritual offering every night.* *The temple is open from 04.30 AM to 11.30 AM in the morning and 17.00 PM – 20.00 PM in the evening. Kathakali from 2200 - 0100 hrs. * *Contact number: +91 469 2700191* *ശ്രീവല്ലഭ മഹാക്ഷേത്രം* *Deity Sreevallabhan, Sudarshanamoorthy, Kolapiran, ThiruVaazhmarban (husband of sree- lakshi, vallabhan-husband)* *Thayar: Selvathirukozhunthu Nachiyar, Vaatsalya Devi* *Prathyaksham:Khandakarnan* *Mangalasaashanam: Thirumangai Azhwar (1808-17, 2674, 11 PaaSurams), NammAzhwar(3205-15, 11 PaaSurams)* *Theertham:Khandakarna Theertham, Pamba nadhi* *Festivals Uthra Sree Bali* *Architecture Type Kerala style* *Specifications* *Direction of façade Sreevallabhan & Sudarshanamoorthy - Both in standing posture; Sreevallabhan facing east and Sudarshanamoorthy facing west* *www.srivallabhatemple.org <http://www.srivallabhatemple.org>* *The Sreevallabha Temple is a highly orthodox Hindu temple dedicated to Sreevallabha, a form of Vishnu. It is located in the city of Thiruvalla, in India.* *2 Description* *It is one of the oldest and largest Temples of Kerala, and has been a major destination for devotees in India for centuries. It is well known for its architectural grandeur and customs, which are unique to the temple. There are stone-wooden carvings and mural paintings inside the temple. * *Being one among 108 Divya Desams Sreevallabha temple has been glorified by Alvars and many other ancient works. It is considered to be the vallabha kshethram mentioned in Garuda Purana and Matsya Purana.* * Kathakali is played daily in the temple as an offering, pushing it to the top in India in terms of places where Kathakali is staged on the largest number of days per year.Vishnu appeared here as Sreevallabha for sage Durvasa and Khandakarnan. * *Pleased by the prayers of an old Brahmin lady, Sreevallabha incarnated as a Brahmachari and killed the demon Thokalaasuran. Later the deity of Sreevallabha worshipped by Lakshmi and Krishna was installed in the temple in 59 BC.* * From then till date, the temple follows its worship protocol that is known to be followed nowhere else yet. Sage Durvasa is said to reach the temple every midnight for worshipping the Lord. * *The temple governed one of the biggest educational institutions in ancient times and heavily contributed to the cultural and educational developments of Kerala* *3 Access* *Sreevallabha temple is just 2.5 km away from Thiruvalla railway station and 2 km from KSRTC bus stand. Both KSRTC and private bus services are available frequently. Auto-taxi services are also available.* *4 Temple administration* *The temple is under administration of Travancore Devaswom Board and is a major temple under Thiruvalla group.* *5 History* *Present Thiruvalla was once a village among 64 Namboothiri villages in Kerala and is one of the oldest human settlements in India. Since this place is situated at the mouth of Manimala River (valla river) it had been known as ‘vallavai’ and later transformed into ‘thiruvalla’.* * Historical evidences point out the place had been inhabited by humans before 3000 BC. Another opinion is that the place was named after Sreevallabha temple as Sreevallabhapuram and Thiruvalla in colloquial Malayalam. The temple for Sudarshana Chakra was built by Sreedevi Antharjanam of Sankramangalathu Illam and it was elaborately rebuilt by Queen Cherumthevi in 59 BC.* *Sreevallabha temple flourished to a major spiritual and educational centre by CE 1100. The temple had governed a Vedic school (thiruvalla sala) with around 1500 students and 150 teachers. Veda, Vedanta, Tarka, Mimamsa, Jyotisha, Ayurveda, and Kalaripayattu were taught there. * *Addressing Vishnu by names Kolapiran, Thiruvazhmarvan and Sundarayan, the Tamil vaishnavite saints Nammalvar of the 5th century CE (2612-2622 in Divya Prabhandham) and Thirumangai Alvar of the 9th century CE (paasurams 1806-1817 in Divya prabhandham) had praised glory of the temple.* * Famous Sanskrit poet Daṇḍin (7th century CE) of Kanchi mentioned the temple in his works. The first ever prose work in Malayalam is the Thiruvalla inscriptions dated to the first half of the 12th century CE, which was obtained from the temple during 1915. The Unnuneeli Sandesam of the 13th century CE highlighted the grandeur, beauty, serenity, fame and status of the temple during its time. Many other works also has glorified the temple., * *From the date built, the temple was under control of thiruvalla pattillathil pottimar (Brahmins of ten families) till 1752-1753. Sreevallabha Temple emerged as a major spiritual destination for devotees all over India centuries before. Temple provided staying and food facilities for all visitors, students, teachers etc. and also used to conduct annadanam (serving food to the poor) daily. * *During 1752-1753 Marthanda Varma of Travancore captured the temple from Pathillathil Pottimar. Up to 1968, ladies and elephants were not allowed in the temple. The temple used to be opened for ladies only during Thiruvathira of dhanu month and Vishu of medam till then. * *6 Architecture* *Built in the silent and picturesque land on the banks of Manimala river, this icon of Kerala temple architecture, covers an area of 8.5 acres and ranks first among the temples of old Travancore state in terms of area inside the compound wall.* * The temple is surrounded on all sides by 12 feet, tall 566 feet long, 4.5 feet thick red granite compound walls with a two-storied Kerala style gopuram (gate tower) on each side. This huge wall was built in 57 BC and is believed that it was completed in a single night by bhoothagana (servants) of The Lord. * *7. Other shrines* *Smaller shrines for lord Ganapathy and Ayyappan and another auditorium are seen in south-western side. The position of kshethra palan or temple guard which is strictly built in all temples on northern side is found here just in front of Ganapathy's shrine i.e. on southern side which also is another peculiarity found nowhere else.* * The sacred fig and mango trees beneath which sage Durvasa meditated is found near Ayyappan shrine. Just outside the western gopuram, Sankaramangalth Illam where Sreedevi Antharjanam lived is seen well preserved for the initiation of any pooja in the temple. * *Northern gopuram is always closed and is opened only for Uthra Sreebali festival**. Northeast to pradakshina veethi, a self originated pond called Jalavanthi or Khandakarna theerthem, which is believed to contain 64 hidden idols of the deity, is seen. It is for only the use of priests. * *Spot where sage Vedavyasa and sage Durvasa disappeared is found on its eastern bank and resting building for the priests on southern side. * *North to the temple a roofless shrine dedicated to kurayappa swamy is seen. There is no pooja here, but only banana as naivedyam. The temple koothambalam (stage) was destroyed by fire in 1915. * *The most highlighted construction of the temple is the Garuda dhvaja sthambam or flagstaff of Garuda,the majestic eagle mount of lord Vishnu. This monolithic structure is completely built from black granite and elevated 53.5 feet above the ground with its lower end touching water table.* *Since this flagstaff started slanting and reached its current position, a three tiered copper roofed construction has been made all around it to prevent further slanting. West to this, the currently used golden flagstaff can be seen.* *West to the third flagstaff, balikkalpura (room of the major sacrificial stone) is built around a ten feet tall bali pitha (main sacrificial stone).* * The western part of naalambalam is adorned with some murals and a small shrine for vadakkum thevar i.e., the idols of Vishnu, Shiva, Parvati, Murugan and Nrithaganapathy worshipped by Sreedevi Antherjanam* *8 Sanctum* *T**he circular, copper roofed, golden domed sreekovil is adorned with finely etched murals of Matsya, kaaliyamardana, Kurma, Dakshinamurthy, Varaha, venu gopala, maha ganapathy, Narasimha, Vamana, sudarshana, Parashurama, sree Rama, Purusha sukta, Balarama, sreeKrishna, Lakshmi, Kalki and Garuda in clockwise manner.* * Sreekovil has an outer perimeter of 160 feet and has three concentric walls. It enshrines Sreevallabha facing east and Sudarshana chakra(sathrusamhaaramoorthy) facing west under the same roof. * *Sreevallabha is portrayed as bearing a lotus in right hand, chakra in right upper hand, sankha in left upper hand and his left hand kept on his waist (kati hastham). This 7 feet tall massive idol is situated at a height of 10 feet so that one has to bend his body to see it and its top and bottom cannot be seen. * *Along with this idol other idols of Vishnu, Lakshmi, Dakshinamurthy, Varaha and Sreebali bimbam or procession idol of Sreevallabha are also there. Unlike usual yantra form, here Sudarsana is installed in eight handed human form bearing sankha (conch), chakra(disc), gada, padma(lotus), pasha(rope), ankusa (hook), musala(pole), and dhanu(bow). No other temples are known to enshrine lord Vishnu and lord Sudarsana under same roof* *10 Legends* *Legends have their own space with the history of a temple, but they should never be mixed up. While going through the legends related to Sreevallabha temple it is clear that even though Sreevallabhan’s idol is older, it was the temple for sudarshana built first. These legends can be summarised as below.* *I will continue in next posting.* -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "iyer123" 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/iyer123/1975893652.1279638.1717567431850%40mail.yahoo.com <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/iyer123/1975893652.1279638.1717567431850%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> . -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "iyer123" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. 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