About Thiruvairanikulam Temple

[Guest guest]

We can find numerous temples in Kerala which is filled with devotion, blessings and all those imminent factors which draws people from across the territorial boundaries. And among them, one temple stands out exceptionally and in the most vivid manner - THIRUVAIRANIKULAM TEMPLE. The temple is situated in the Eranakulam district to the South of Aluva Taluk at Vellarappilly south. As the name suggests Mahadeva or lord Shiva is the main deity. The image of Mahadeva sits facing the east direction. Inside, within the Sreekovil, behind Mahadeva reposes Goddess Parvati in an eloquent wedding satire, facing west. In front of the Mandapam found in the front of lord Mahadeva's Sreekovil the RISHABAM (the bull) prostrates facing Parameswara. In the nearby lawn facing east lord

Ganapati(Vigneswara) is also seen. Stretching outside Sreekovil, within the walls of temple we can see a lot of deities. To the eastern phase Lord Dharmashasta (Swami Ayyappa), and Lord Mahavishnu, Kumbham Raashi. To the west one can see the Sreekovil of Goddess Satidevi and forceful Durga. Four poojas including one Neivedhyam is given to Parameswara. Other deities, including RISHABAM is honoured with one Neivedyam. The RISHABAM, unlike other temples follows a unique doctrine. It cannot be touched by devotees or even by the Kazhaka(one who maintains the temple surroundings). Only Thantris or Brahmins are permitted to do so. Any ill elements would have to succeed by Sanitising Karma by Thantris. Sri

Parvati's idol attains unusual significance. The Sreekovil here opens only 12 days in a year, starting from the month of Dhanu from the auspicious Thiruvathira Nakshatram (Birthday of lord Mahadeva). In these days, needless to say, huge crowds flock from across the states to the shrine. The legend has it that any hindrance in Marriage, family welfare or prosperity can be ushed away by the visit. The legend has it: There seem to exist a certain relation between the history of Akavoor Mana and the temple formation. Akavoor Manaparmbu (the land of Akavoor Mana) is situtated in the Airanikulam village. Brahmins of the

Mana were regarded as Rulers during that time. Years later, a conflict erupted between the family, and a section fo them moved to Vellarapilly village. But the Brahmins often visited the Lord Mahadeva (then known as Airanikulathappan) and Sri devi Parvati. It is during this period that Akavoor Chathan came to the Mana as a dependent. Seeing one of the Brahmins desire to visit the Mahadeva temple, Akavoor Chathan made a boat using granite and used it to transport the Brahmin to and fro. Years passed. Brahmin became old. One day after the prayer at the temple, he cried to Mahadeva "Oh my lord, I am growing too old to come and see you. What do I do now?" Soon after, he started his way back home. But lifting his oolakuda (umbrella used in olden days) he found it to be heavier than usual, and he said this to Akavoor Chathan. But Akavoor never made any mention about it. Travelling in the boat, the Brahmin had the nature's call. Akavoor Chathan soon moved the boat to a nearby land. The

Brahmin got down. After he was relieved, he took back his oolakuda, and to his surprise, it seemed very light now. Still Akavoor Chathan asked the Brahmin not to worry about it. After reaching the Mannakal land, Brahmin got down and Akavoor Chathan turned the boat upside down, and rested it across the mud. To this date, one can see a granite stone lying upside down. It came to be known as Chathankallu (chathan stone) The place mentioned above is where the Thiruvairanikulam temple is situated. Earlier it used to be a forest. Pulaya woman (a particular caste) used to go there to cleanse the forest. Once, one of the women happened to use a granite stone to sharpen her arivalu (sickle). All of a sudden blood started pouring out of the stone, and seeing this, the pullaya woman de-stabilised her mental balance, and ran amock. It is said that, she ran nearly 3 km in a frenzy state, before coming to

rest. All the land through which the woman ran was given to the temple authorities by the respective owners. The area is called Varanattu Madom. During the temple festival, the pooja are first done here. The main Irakki pooja is offered only at the temple and at this place. Nowhere else is this pooja done. This shown the importance Lord Mahadeva has towards Varanattu Madom. Soon Akavoor Chathan conveyed the incidents to the Brahmin. It was indeed Airanikulathappan who had appeared in the form of a stone. And as the lord Mahadeva come from Airanikulathappan, this temple came to be known as Thiruvairanikulathappan. Once it was known that both the gods were one and the same, the temple was built and the deity was installed. The deity installation was done by Ponallur Brahmin. But the 2 families never used

to visit the other family temple. As because of this legendary, Akavoor Manakal Brahmin and Akavoor Chathan are considered as the main cause of the temple formation. When the Brahmin had kept the oolakudda down, the Lord Mahadeva who was sitting on the top of the olakuda, stepped down and travelled through the underground to reach the temple well, went and sat in the place where he appeared as Swayambhoo (self formation). This is the main reason why we see a relation between Mahadeva and the well. It is believed that if the holiness of the well is affected Mahadeva is also considered to be affected by such an act. To the south of the temple well, one can see a cave, which is believed to be the way by which Mahadeva appeared. The Arattu is also done on the shore of the river where Mahadeva got down from the olakuda. Legend associated with goddess Parvati's Sreekovil : Earlier it was believed that the goddess Parvati used to make food for the Lord Mahadeva in the Madappalli (temple kitchen). During this time no one was permitted to be in the Madapalli. But once, one of the Brahmins belonging to the Uranmakkar (people who have a generic right on the temple) set out to know the secret. Seeing goddess in her full satire he shouted out "Devi Amma, Devi Jagadambika". Goddess Parvati saw him and got angry. She said "As you have deviated from your usual ways of carrying out the process, I am going from here." Brahmin could not stand that.

He cried out and begged to seek pardon. Seeing the devotee's plea, goddess Parvati said "From now on, I will make my presence felt only from the 12 days starting from the Thiruvathiranakshatram (a star associated with birth dates) from the month of Dhanu, lord Mahadeva's Birthday. Any devotees seeing me on those days would be blessed with all the welfare. It is on this legendary epistle, that the Sreekovil of devi Parvati remain closed. Unlike other temples, the deity is not given Jalabhishekam (form of pooja where water is poured over the idol), only Manjal Podi is done (instead of water, tamarind powder is used.)

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[Guest guest]

Thanks Indu. I am one of the fortunate ones who had Devi's darshanam

during the 12 days in a year , 8 years back. Till today the

resplendent form of Sri Paravati Devi in a beautiful white saree is

very vivid in my mind. Devi blessed me with whatever I prayed for ...

 

I am very thankful that I was able to have the Divya darshnam...

 

Sumathy

 

 

guruvayur , Indu <sowparnika999> wrote:

>

> We can find numerous temples in Kerala which is filled with

devotion, blessings and all those imminent factors which draws people

from across the territorial boundaries. And among them, one temple

stands out exceptionally and in the most vivid manner -

THIRUVAIRANIKULAM TEMPLE. The temple is situated in the Eranakulam

district to the South of Aluva Taluk at Vellarappilly south. As the

name suggests Mahadeva or lord Shiva is the main deity. The image of

Mahadeva sits facing the east direction. Inside, within the

Sreekovil, behind Mahadeva reposes Goddess Parvati in an eloquent

wedding satire, facing west.

> In front of the Mandapam found in the front of lord Mahadeva's

Sreekovil the RISHABAM (the bull) prostrates facing Parameswara. In

the nearby lawn facing east lord Ganapati(Vigneswara) is also seen.

> Stretching outside Sreekovil, within the walls of temple we can

see a lot of deities. To the eastern phase Lord Dharmashasta (Swami

Ayyappa), and Lord Mahavishnu, Kumbham Raashi. To the west one can

see the Sreekovil of Goddess Satidevi and forceful Durga.

> Four poojas including one Neivedhyam is given to Parameswara.

Other deities, including RISHABAM is honoured with one Neivedyam. The

RISHABAM, unlike other temples follows a unique doctrine. It cannot

be touched by devotees or even by the Kazhaka(one who maintains the

temple surroundings). Only Thantris or Brahmins are permitted to do

so. Any ill elements would have to succeed by Sanitising Karma by

Thantris.

> Sri Parvati's idol attains unusual significance. The Sreekovil

here opens only 12 days in a year, starting from the month of Dhanu

from the auspicious Thiruvathira Nakshatram (Birthday of lord

Mahadeva). In these days, needless to say, huge crowds flock from

across the states to the shrine. The legend has it that any hindrance

in Marriage, family welfare or prosperity can be ushed away by the

visit.

>

>

> The legend has it:

> There seem to exist a certain relation between the history of

Akavoor Mana and the temple formation. Akavoor Manaparmbu (the land

of Akavoor Mana) is situtated in the Airanikulam village. Brahmins of

the Mana were regarded as Rulers during that time. Years later, a

conflict erupted between the family, and a section fo them moved to

Vellarapilly village. But the Brahmins often visited the Lord

Mahadeva (then known as Airanikulathappan) and Sri devi Parvati. It

is during this period that Akavoor Chathan came to the Mana as a

dependent. Seeing one of the Brahmins desire to visit the Mahadeva

temple, Akavoor Chathan made a boat using granite and used it to

transport the Brahmin to and fro. Years passed. Brahmin became old.

One day after the prayer at the temple, he cried to Mahadeva " Oh my

lord, I am growing too old to come and see you. What do I do now? "

Soon after, he started his way back home. But lifting his oolakuda

(umbrella used in olden days) he found it to be heavier than

> usual, and he said this to Akavoor Chathan. But Akavoor never made

any mention about it. Travelling in the boat, the Brahmin had the

nature's call. Akavoor Chathan soon moved the boat to a nearby land.

The Brahmin got down. After he was relieved, he took back his

oolakuda, and to his surprise, it seemed very light now. Still

Akavoor Chathan asked the Brahmin not to worry about it. After

reaching the Mannakal land, Brahmin got down and Akavoor Chathan

turned the boat upside down, and rested it across the mud. To this

date, one can see a granite stone lying upside down. It came to be

known as Chathankallu (chathan stone)

> The place mentioned above is where the Thiruvairanikulam temple

is situated. Earlier it used to be a forest. Pulaya woman (a

particular caste) used to go there to cleanse the forest. Once, one

of the women happened to use a granite stone to sharpen her arivalu

(sickle). All of a sudden blood started pouring out of the stone, and

seeing this, the pullaya woman de-stabilised her mental balance, and

ran amock. It is said that, she ran nearly 3 km in a frenzy state,

before coming to rest. All the land through which the woman ran was

given to the temple authorities by the respective owners. The area is

called Varanattu Madom. During the temple festival, the pooja are

first done here. The main Irakki pooja is offered only at the temple

and at this place. Nowhere else is this pooja done. This shown the

importance Lord Mahadeva has towards Varanattu Madom.

> Soon Akavoor Chathan conveyed the incidents to the Brahmin. It

was indeed Airanikulathappan who had appeared in the form of a stone.

And as the lord Mahadeva come from Airanikulathappan, this temple

came to be known as Thiruvairanikulathappan. Once it was known that

both the gods were one and the same, the temple was built and the

deity was installed.

> The deity installation was done by Ponallur Brahmin. But the 2

families never used to visit the other family temple. As because of

this legendary, Akavoor Manakal Brahmin and Akavoor Chathan are

considered as the main cause of the temple formation.

> When the Brahmin had kept the oolakudda down, the Lord Mahadeva

who was sitting on the top of the olakuda, stepped down and travelled

through the underground to reach the temple well, went and sat in the

place where he appeared as Swayambhoo (self formation). This is the

main reason why we see a relation between Mahadeva and the well. It

is believed that if the holiness of the well is affected Mahadeva is

also considered to be affected by such an act. To the south of the

temple well, one can see a cave, which is believed to be the way by

which Mahadeva appeared. The Arattu is also done on the shore of the

river where Mahadeva got down from the olakuda.

>

>

> Legend associated with goddess Parvati's Sreekovil :

> Earlier it was believed that the goddess Parvati used to make

food for the Lord Mahadeva in the Madappalli (temple kitchen). During

this time no one was permitted to be in the Madapalli. But once, one

of the Brahmins belonging to the Uranmakkar (people who have a

generic right on the temple) set out to know the secret.

> Seeing goddess in her full satire he shouted out " Devi Amma, Devi

Jagadambika " . Goddess Parvati saw him and got angry. She said " As you

have deviated from your usual ways of carrying out the process, I am

going from here. " Brahmin could not stand that. He cried out and

begged to seek pardon. Seeing the devotee's plea, goddess Parvati

said " From now on, I will make my presence felt only from the 12 days

starting from the Thiruvathiranakshatram (a star associated with

birth dates) from the month of Dhanu, lord Mahadeva's Birthday. Any

devotees seeing me on those days would be blessed with all the

welfare.

> It is on this legendary epistle, that the Sreekovil of devi

Parvati remain closed. Unlike other temples, the deity is not given

Jalabhishekam (form of pooja where water is poured over the idol),

only Manjal Podi is done (instead of water, tamarind powder is used.)

>

>

>

>

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>

[Guest divya]

I was blessed to see Lord shiva and parvati devi last year...this year also I will be there god willing.