SANKARANARAYANATEMPLE, TIRUVEGAPPURA PALGHATDISTRICT-KERALA
Introduction The Sree Thiruvegappura Temple, also known as theSankaranarayana Temple, is a unique temple in Palakkad, Kerala, known forhousing Lord Shiva,Parvathy, Lord Vishnu, and the combined deity of Lord Sankaranarayana within asingle complex. The temple features exquisite Kerala architecture, aprominent Koothambalam (temple theatre), and three flag masts, reflecting its distinctivenessand cultural significance. The temple faces East. This large temple is on the banks of Thutha Puzha, atributary of Bharatha Puzha. What makes Sree Thiruvegappura Temple differentfrom other temples in Kerala is the presence of three prime deities (Lord Shivaalong with Parvathy, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Sankaranarayana) and three flagmasts that coexist in a single temple complex. Positioned close to the border between Palakkad andMalappuram districts, thetemple is approximately five kilometres from Valanchery. A visit to Sree Thiruvegappura Temple promises anunforgettable experience, blending deep spiritual significance with vibrantcultural celebrations, all set in the picturesque landscape of Palakkad. Key Features Deities: The temple is notable for having multiple principaldeities in one sacred space: Lord Shiva with Parvathy, Lord Vishnu, and LordSankaranarayana. The harmonious coexistence of these three deities here is areflection of the temple's legacy, deep-rooted traditions and reverence. Architecture: It boasts exceptional architectural finesse,characteristic of typical Kerala temple design. Koothambalam: A well-crafted temple theatre, theKoothambalam, is a significant feature of the temple complex. Three Flag Masts: Uniquely, the temple has three flag mastscoexisting within the same complex. Location and Significance Location: The temple is located in the village of Thiruvegappurain the Ottappalam taluk ofthe Palakkad district. Historical Belief: It is believed that the temple was constructed by ancient sagesand has a rich cultural and historical background. Cultural Events: The temple is also a hub for culturalperformances and vibrant festivals. Legend According to legends, the Shiva lingam of Thiruvegappura Sankaranarayana Temple wasfounded by Garuda and brought it from Himalayas. The muhurtham timefor installing the idol was approaching when he was bringing it from Himalayas.So, the Lord asked Garuda to fly fast (VegamParakkanam) and got the temple its name “Thiru Vegam Para’. History andArchitecture Believed to have been constructed by sages from ancienttimes, the Sree Thiruvegappura Temple flaunts exceptional architecturalfinesse. The temple is anancient temple in Kerala date back to the 14th century. The Koothambalam or temple theatre here is adorned withintricate craftsmanship and designs. It is in fact also a cultural epicentrefor the land where cultural performances are held from time to time. Thisaesthetically constructed theatre adds beauty and charm to the temple and itssacred environs. This is one of the few temples, where you can find in theinner prakaram three separate Sreekovils for the three deities with three flagposts (Kodimaram), three balikallu at the entrances stone navagrahams aroundthe garbhagrahams. Apart from these three deities, Ganapathy prathishta is therein the inner prakaram on the right side of Siva. In the inner prakaram a big homakundam built with stone, which lookslike a well from outside is there. In olden days on Vaikkathashtami dayVasordhara homam (continuous pouring of ghee without break in to the homakundamwith chanting of manthras) was conducted here. In the outer prakaram, the Koothambalam is there in the south– east corner which is very large with exquisite typical Kerala architecture. In the outer prakaram we have the prathishta for Sastha, Erinjoodan(Thripuranthakan), and Kirathamoorthy. Sanctums A specialty of this temple is that it has three separate sanctums for three separate deities. Each deity has separateflag posts and three balikallu at the entrances. Besides,all of them have stone navagrahams (9 celestial bodies) around itsgarbhagrahams. Although the temple is commonly referred to by the names ofLord Sankaranarayana and Lord Shiva, it is believed that the original and earliestconsecration was that of Lord Mahavishnu, enshrined in the northernsanctum. Legend holds that the Vishnu idol here dates back to the Krita Yugaand was installed by the great sage Kapila Maharshi. Deities Even though the maindeity is Lord Shiva in this temple, Lord Vishnu and LordSankaranarayanan are also worshipped here with equal importance. Sub deities. The sub-deities worshipped here include Lord Ganapathi,Dakshinamurthy, Tripurantaka, Vettakkorumakan, Ayyappan, and serpent gods(Nagas). Poojas Here the abhishekajalam and water for Neivedhyam are broughtfrom the river by the Nambuthiri who is doing the poojas. The Thiruvegappura Temple's daily poojas involve standardtemple rituals, with specific offerings for the primary deities, Shiva,Parvathy, and Vishnu. These offerings may include Archana, Dhara, andAbhisheka for Lord Shiva, and similar rituals for the other deities. Whilethe exact daily schedule is not detailed, the temple conducts varioustraditional poojas and has a unique Koothambalam. Types of Poojas and Offerings Abhisheka: A ritualistic bathing of the deity with sacredsubstances like milk. Archana: The offering of flowers or other items to the deity while chantingtheir names. Dhara: A continuous stream of water or other liquids poured over thedeity. Special Offerings: The temple may offer Paal Payasam (milk pudding) andVilwa Mala (garlands of Bilva leaves). Festivals There are numerous festivals held at the Sree ThiruvegappuraTemple from time to time. Among them one of the most important festival, whichis also believed to be a time for healing and divine grace, is the Oushadaseva, which isusually held on the 16th of Karkidakam (July-August). Annual festival- The temple celebrates its annualfestival for eight days in the Malayalam month of Kumbham.The Kodiyettamfestival follows the Uthrattathi asterism in Kumbham, showcasing colourfulprocessions and rituals. Theeyattu, celebrated on the first Saturday ofEdavam, is a dramatic ritual performance that captivates attendees with itsspiritual fervour. Anayoottu, observed during the first week ofKarkidakam, features a traditional feast for elephants, while Erinjupuranpattu,spanning from the first Sunday of Medam for 13 days, offers a unique blend ofmusic and devotion. Vaikkathashtami andSivarathri are alsocelebrated in this temple with grandeur. Offerings: The main offerings are Divasa pooja, Palpayasam andSathasathayam. Koovalamala, Nei Vilakku are also offered by devotees. Income The temple gets an amount from Guruvayur Devasthanam and MalabarDevaswom board. This is just sufficient to do poojas. Temple Timings The temple is open in the morning 5 AM – 10AM and in theevening 5 PM up to 8.30PM. About Tiruvegappura Thiruvegapura is a village in Ottapalam Taluka in PalakkadDistrict. It is on the Pattambi – Valancherry Road., 5 Kms from Valancherry.Thiruvegapura is the Gateway of Palakkad District. It is a typical Valluvanadan village with beautiful landscape and vegetation onthe banks of Thutha Puzha, a tributary of Bharata Puzha. The people are mainly Hindus and Muslims. Hindusconsists of Nairs, Nambuthiris and ambalavasi communities. Fairly a good number of NamboothiriIllams are there in this village. World famous magicianProf. Vaazhakunnam, was a native of this village.. How To Reach By auto 5 KMs from Valan cherry. By Bus Pattambi Bus Stand,about 15 km. By Train Shornur Railway Station, about 30 km. Nearest Railwaystation is Kuttippuram Address and phone number Sankara Narayana temple, Thiruvegappura, Kerala 679304 Phone:+91 471 2321132 Administration The temple is managed by the Malabar Devaswom board Compiled and posted by Gopalakrishnandated 0-10-2025 -- 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/1875016507.747789.1759998398566%40mail.yahoo.com.
