Thirumandhamkunnu
Temple is a historically significant Hindu temple in Angadipuram near
Perintalmanna which is known as the capital city of Valluvanad,in Malappuram
district, Kerala state, South India. The temple deity, Thirumandhamkunnilamma,
was the para devatha (official goddess) of the kings of Valluvanad, the local
feudal kings ruled the area in the Middle Ages. The assassins (called Chavers)
of Valluvanad king set out from this temple to Thirunavaya, to participate in
the famous Mamankam festival. A memorial structure called the chaver thara
("platform of the assassins") can be found in front of the main entrance
of the Thirumanthamkunnu Temple.
The
temple is also an important pilgrim center, especially for the eleven-day long
annual festival celebrated in March and April months of the Gregorian calendar.
The "principle deity" of temple is the Hindu god Shiva. Other deities
include goddess Bhagavathi, locally called as Thirumandhamkunnilamma and the
elephant god Ganesha, for whom the famous Marriage Offering (Mangalya puja) is
performed.
Angadipuram
Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy/Bhadrakali temple,standing on a 60-ft high hillock
has an imposing appearance, especially when viewed from the main road
(Palghat-Calicut highway).
Its
surroundings were extremely scenic once. The rituals here are done regularly
and meticulously at fixed timings daily. and the temple's fame attracts a large
number of devotees from far and near.
The
idol of this temple is almost idential with that at Kodungallur, except that
the Angadipuram idol is taller. Due to this, the Angadipuram Thirumandhamkunnu
Bhagavathy is considered the elder sister of Kodungallur Bhagavathy. The other
difference is that no animal sacrifices are done at the Angadipuram Temple.
There
is a possibility that both these temples were originally built by the same king
- perhaps Cheraman Perumal. It is said that Pallava kings and Chera kings were
traditional friends and when the Pallava king was defeated and sent out of
Tamil Nadu he took refuge in Cheraman Perumal's kingdom and they continued to
be great friends.
It
is also said that the Goddess of these temples, along with many other temples,
was Madurai Meenakshi (Kannagi).
Location
: Thirumandhamkunnu Temple, Angadipuram, Malappuram, Kerala, India.
Gods
: Lord Shiva, Goddess Durga, Lord Ganesha
Landmark
: The Temple is located on the highway running between Calicut and Palghat.
Buses are available from either town at intervals of 30 minutes. Nearest
Railway Station : Whether you are coming from Madras, Trivandrum or Calicut,
get down at Shoranur Junction, and take a train going to Nilambur. Get off at
Angadipuram Railway Station. The temple is just about half-a-kilometre from the
station. Either walk it, or take a taxi or autorickshaw.
Festivals
:
The
Pooram festival conducted in the month of April-May, attracts large numbers of
devotees. A unique custom here is the arrival of Vellathiri in the Pooram
ground to give audience to the Malayankutty, the headman of the Pana tribal
community. The deity is taken out in a procession and bathed twice in the
stream daily. This continues for eleven days.
About
3-4 months before the starting of the Pooram, there is daily Kalampattu at the
temple. The assigned Kurups draw the kalam and one of the pujaris of the temple
conducts the puja every night.
On
the first day of the Pooram, the temple flag is hoisted on the big mast in
front of the temple by the Thanthri. After the Pandiradi puja (When the Sun's
shadow measured 12 feet, as measured by the human foot.). The Thanthri takes
out the deity and climbs on an elephant which is properly caparisoned and
decorated. After a few circumambulations of the temple, accompanied by
musicians playing on drums and pipes, the procession starts its downward
journey from the Northern Gopuram down the steps of the temple. After the
procession reaches the foot of the hillock, the Thanthri alights from the
elephant and takes the deity down to the stream. The deity is given an
elaborate ritual bath. This normally takes more than an hour. The musicians
keep time with the rituals. The deity is then taken back to the temple. This
ceremony is repeated on all the eleven days, twice daily, except on the tenth
day, when the deity is taken out for a ritual re-enactment of a hunt.
The
Pooram is characterised by fireworks every night, and cultural programmes
daily, like classical music, dance and drama.
List
Of Offerings
1.Valiya
Vilakku
2.Neivilakku
3.Enna
Vilakku
4.Mala
5.Ganapathi
Homam
6.Kootu
Ganapathy Homam
7.Pushpanjali
8.Rakhtha
Pushpanjali
9.Swayamvaramanthram
Pushpanjali
10.Bhagyasooktham
Pushpanjali
11.Lalitha
Sahasranamam Pushpanjali
12.Saraswatha
Sooktham Pushpanjali
13.Thrushtuppu
Manthram Pushpanjali
14.Aikamathya
Sooktham Pushpanjali
15.Dwadasakshari
Manthram Pushpanjali
16.Thrimadhuram
17.Unda
Thrimadhuram
18.Neipayasam
19.Nalikera
Payasam
20.Kadhina
Payasam
21.Koottu
Payasam
22.Palpayasam
23.Appam
24.Otta
25.Ada
26.Sandhya
Namaskaram
27.Trikala
pooja
28.Dhara/Sankhabhishekam
29.Elaneer
Dhara
30.Karuka
Homam
31.Mruthyunjaya
Homam
32.Vella
Nivdyam
33.Veti
(for one each)
34.Malar
Nivedyam
35.Muttarukkal
36.Milk
and Bananas for Naga gods
37.Niramala
38.Vivaham
(marriage)
39.Chorun
(Annaprasan)
40.Chatursatham
(101 coconuts)
41.Chathursatham
(201 coconuts)
42.Mahasandhya
Namaskaram
43.Umamaheswara
/Mahalakshmi pooja
44.Dambati
pooja
45.Mangalya
pooja
46.Mahaganapathi
homam
47.Mruthyunjayahomam
48.Rudrabhishekam
49.Kal
Kazhuki Oottu
50.Sree
Rudram Dhara
51.Kalabham
52.Deepasthambham
Theliyikkal
53.1001
Kutam Dhara for Shiva
54.Udayasthamana
Pooja
55.Anayootu
56.Chamayam
charthal
57.Oil
for Ketavilakku
58.Thrithali
Charthal
59.Chuvappu
Charthal
60.Aal
Rupam
61.Kutty
Thotti Charthal
62.Thulabharam
Thattu Panam only
63.One
day's pooja
64.One
time Pooja (Oru Nerathe Pooja)
65.Lakshmi
Narayana Pooja
66.Adithya
Pooja
68.Kumkumarchana
69.Kumkumarchana
(with Lalitha Sahasranamam)
70.Nei
Japam
71.Malarpara
72.Manjal
Powder (for Naga gods)
