*Trippuliyoor Temple:* Legend has it that Bhima the Pandava prince built this temple and worshipped Vishnu here. A colorful legend regarding the saptarishis and a great famine that occurred in this area is associated with this temple. The food offerings made at the Tiruppuliyur temple are vast in magnitude. At least 400 measures of rice are used in the preparation of special offerings, acknowledging the hearty appetite associated with Bheema the builder of the temple. KR IRS 171025
On Fri, 17 Oct 2025 at 04:45, 'gopala krishnan' via Thatha_Patty < [email protected]> wrote: > *THIRUPULIYOOR | SRI MAAYAPIRAN PERUMAL TEMPLE | DIVYA DESAMS – > 072-ALLEPPY DISTRICT-KERALA* > > Introduction > > Puliyur Mahavishnu Temple is a *Divyadesam*, the sacred abode of Lord > Vishnu situated in Kerala that has been glorified in the Tamil hymns of the > Azhwar saints. Also known as the Thiruppuliyur Divya Desam, it is located > in *Puliyur, near Chengannur* in the Alappuzha district of Kerala state. > > Lord Vishnu is worshipped here as Maayapiran, and his consort, Porkodi > Naachiyaar. This is an ancient temple and is believed to be one of the five > shrines built by the Pandava princes in Kerala and hence, is connected with > the Mahabharata epic. > > Constructed in the Kerala style of architecture, the temple is glorified > in the Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar > saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. > > As wrote earlier, the temple is one of the five ancient shrines in the > Chengannur area of Kerala, connected with the legend of Mahabharata, where > the five Pandavas are believed to have built one temple each; Thrichittatt > Maha Vishnu Temple by Yudhishthira, *Puliyoor Mahavishnu Temple by > Bheema,* Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple by Arjuna, Thiruvanvandoor > Mahavishnu Temple by Nakula and Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple by > Sahadeva. > > Legends > > Once, *Virukshadharbi,* who was the son of Sibhi Chakravarthy, ruled an > empire where there was flood and there was no proper vegetation and the > wealth and the beauty of the entire empire felt decreasing. At that > time, the king thought, if any danam is given to *Sapta Rishis,* it > might increase the wealth and beauty of the Empire. > > He asked his palace officials to keep some gold inside the fruits and > give them that, so that they will accept. But, knowing the truth that some > gold is placed inside the fruit through their Gnana Dhirusti, they did not > accept the fruit . > > After the fruits which are given as Dhanam is being rejected by the Sapta > Rishis*, Virukshadharbi got angry on all 7 Rishis and tried them to kill > and as a result of this cruel mind, he started an Yaagm* in which a lady > known as (Arakki – female demon) by named “Kiruthyai” arise and he *ordered > the demon to kill all the sapta Rishis.* > > But, knowing this, the Emperumaan sent Indiran to destroy the Kiruthyai > Arakki and thereby protect Sapta Rishis. Likewise, *Indran killed the > demon* and all the Sapta Rishis - *Athri, Vasishtar, Kaasyapar, > Gouthamar, Bharadwajar, Vishvamitra and Jamadagni* got the seva of this > Maayapiraan along with porkodi Naachiyaar and through Indra, it is said > that all these Saptarishis got their Mukti towards the Emperumaan. > > *Later in this place temple was constructed and perumal is done the > pradhistai by Bhima*. During the Mahabharata war, Bhima underwent penance > worshipping the lord here. Bheema was the powerful among the five brothers > and this temple is large indicating his huge appearance. Also the Gatha, > the weapon used by Bheema is believed to be present in the temple.(this > Gatha was recently placed in the front of this temple with in a grill > square) > > Earliest references(History) > > Earliest references to this temple appear in the poems and hymns composed > by the greatest of Alvar saints - Nammalvar, in circa *800 AD*. Stone > inscriptions in the temple date it back to the Second Chera Empire > (800–1102 AD). Thirumangai Azhwar has mentioned Thirupuliyur in one of > his verses in his Siriya Thirumadal). > > Architecture > > When look from outside, this temple is situated about eighteen steps > from Ground level. The temple is built in Kerala style architecture, common > in all temples in the South Indian state of Kerala in Eastern axis. The > temple has no gateway tower and has *an arch from the main road*. A > rectangular wall around the temple, called Kshetra-Madil is pierced by > the gateways, encloses all the shrines of the temple. > > The temple is square in shape and after climbing the steps, we can enter > the temple. The Dhvajasthambham (Kodi Maram) of copper plates is facing > towards the East side and shining all the time. > > After entering into the temple and while traveling along the prakara, we > can find a separate Sannidhi for Bhuvaneshwari Amman. Outside the > Gharbhagriham (where moolavar is installed ), we can find Dwara palakars, > on either side, we can also find a Ganapathy (Lord Ganesha) idol with > small shrine in the prakaram. > > The copper flag post is located axial to the temple tower leading to the > central sanctum. Chuttambalam is the outer pavilion within the temple > walls. The central shrine and the associated hall is located in a > rectangular structure called Nalambalam, which has pillared halls and > corridors. Between the entrance of Nalambalam to the sanctum, there is a > raised square platform called Namaskara Mandapa which has a pyramidal roof. > Thevarapura, the kitchen used to cook offerings to the deity, is located on > the left of Namaskara Mandapa from the entrance. Balithara is an altar used > for making ritualistic offerings to demi-gods and the festive deities. The > central shrine called Sreekovil houses the image of the presiding deity. It > is on an elevated platform with a single door reached through five steps. > As per Kerala rituals, only the main priest called Thantri and the second > priest called Melsanthi alone can enter the Sree Kovil. > > The central shrine has a circular plan with the base built of granite, > superstructure built of laterite and conical roof made of copper plates > supported > from inside by a wooden structure. The temple has shrines of *Dakshinamurthy, > Krishna, Bhagavathy and Ayyappa*. The Vimanam, the roof over the sanctum, > is called Purushasukta Vimanam as the seven sages, the Saptarishis, > performed penance. > > Chief Deity > > The Moolavar is Maayapiran, who is found in Nindra Thirukkolam, is around > 3 to 4 feet in height and in front of the Moolavar sannidhi, a beautiful > mandapam in which lot of pillars are found with sculptures. > > Poojas > > The daily poojas performed at the Thirupuliyur Mahavishnu Temple, also > known as the Maayapiran Temple, include the awakening ceremony and morning > and evening worship. *The temple follows the traditional rituals of > Kerala temples, where daily prayers, or Nithya poojas, are performed in > three sessions: dawn, noon, and sunset. * > > Daily pooja schedule > > A typical daily schedule at the temple includes the following ceremonies: > > Palliyunarthal (Awakening): The day begins early in the morning with the > ceremonial awakening of the deity. > > Usha Pooja: The morning worship, including offerings of milk and nivedyam > (food offerings). > > Ucha Pooja: The midday worship, which involves a larger offering of rice. > > Deeparadhana: The evening worship, which includes lighting lamps > accompanied by ceremonial music. > > Offerings > > Prasada: Cooked vegetarian food (like rice, curries, and sweets) is > offered to the deity and then distributed to devotees. Garlic, onion, and > mushroom are sometimes excluded. > > *My note- Whether this practice is still there other than **offering > cooked raw rice as Nivedyam **could not be verified.* > > Flowers and Lamps: Flowers, water, incense, and lamps are offered during > puja ceremonies. > > Food Offerings: Specific food items like fruits are common offerings. > > Legendary Offerings: In some contexts, the offerings are tied to the > temple's specific legends, such as the offerings of fruits and flowers made > to Lord Vishnu > > Athazha Pooja: The final worship of the day before the sanctum is closed. > > Seeveli: This ritual involves carrying the idol on an elephant in a > procession around the temple, a significant daily event in some major > Kerala temples. > > Festivals and special poojas > > The temple performs several special poojas and celebrates festivals > throughout the year: > > Monthly Thiruvonam Star: A special festival, or utsavam, is held on the > day of the Thiruvonam star each month. > > Janmashtami: Lord Krishna's birthday is celebrated in the Tamil month of > Avani. > > Annual Festival: A ten-day annual festival is celebrated in the Malayalam > month of Medam (April/May). > > Arattu Festival: This festival is celebrated during the Tamil month of > Margazhi. > > Kavadiattam: This special ritual is performed during the Tamil month of > Thai. > > Pradoshams: These prayers are especially important for Lord Shiva's > shrine within the temple complex and are celebrated with devotion > > Temple Timings > > The temple is open from 4 am to 11 am and 5 pm to 8 pm > > Benefits of worshipping Puliyur Mahavishnu > > Maayapiran can remove illusions, provide knowledge and skills, help > overcome impediments, bestow happiness, and take one towards salvation. > People also worship him for protection and all-round welfare. > > How to reach Puliyur Mahavishnu Temple > > By Air-The nearest airport is Trivandrum, about 120 kilometers from the > shrine. > > By Rail-Chengannur railway junction is very near the temple. This is an > important junction, which connects with all other cities and towns across > Kerala. > > By Road-This temple is situated 7 KMs away from Chengannur in the west. > We can reach this Kshetram by getting down in chengannur railway station > which is on the railway lane between Trivandrum and kottayam. Chengannur to > Mavelikkara route the temple is situated. > > Address and phone number > > Thirupuliyur Mahavishnu temple, Chengannur Kollakadavu Road, Puliyoor, > Kerala 689510 Phone: 098251 08774 > > *Compiled and posted by R. Gopalakrishnan on 17-10-2025* > > -- > 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 visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/351133199.2518548.1760656514257%40mail.yahoo.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/351133199.2518548.1760656514257%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- 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 visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZooV5r%2B_KFPR-KEsQQCUSU5LJgwwLj%2BeqtU7HrVYbocanw%40mail.gmail.com.
