Thiruvegappura Maha deva kshethram

Mahadeva Kshethram, Thiruvegapura
BY
P.S.Krishnan
Thiruvegapura is a village in Ottapalam Taluka in Palakkad District. It is on the Pattambi
– Valancherry Road , 5 Kms from Valancherry. Thiruvegapura is the Gateway of
Palakkad District as one reaches Malappuram District on crossing the Thutha puzha
river bridge which is bordering the village. It is a typical Valluvanadan village with
beautiful landscape and vegetation on the banks of Thutha Puzha, a tributary of Bharata
Puzha. The people are mainly Hindus and Muslims. Hindus consists of Nairs,
Nambuthiris and ambalavasi communities. Fairly a good number of Nambuthiri Illams
are there in this village. Only three Tamil Brahmin families were staying here out of
which one family has moved out. This village has produced many eminent people:
Famous Sanskrit scholar, Thiruvegapura Anayath Krishna Pisharody was the Guru of
Manavedan Raja, the then Zamorin Raja of Kozhikode . All are aware that Manadevan
Raja started Krishnanattam, the present day Kathakali and Pisharoti, being his Guru was
also involved in the development of Kathakali. World famous magician
Prof.Vaazhakunnam, was a native of this village. Chenda maestro Thiruvegapura Rama
Poduval who excelled in Thayambaka during his days, poet and Shaakunthalam
translator Cheruliyil Kunchunni Nambeesan and Scientist Dr. T.M.K. Nedungadi a close
disciple of Prof. C.V.Raman, Nobel Laureate, are all from Thiruvegapura.
Temple:
Thiruvegapura is famous for the Mahadeva Kshetram. This Siva Temple is on the banks
of Thutha Puzha, a tributary of Bharatha Puzha. This temple is built in the 14th century
and is unique in many ways. The main deities are Lord Sivan, Lord Sankaranarayanan
and Lord Krishnan. The sthalapuranam says that the Lingam was founded by Garudan.
Garudan was bringing the idol from Himalayas and the muhurtham time was fast
approaching. The Lord ask Garudan to fly fast (Vegam parakkanam) and thus the name
Thiru vegam para. This is one of the few temples, where you can find in the inner
prakaram three separate Sreekovils for the three deities with three flag posts
(Kodimaram), three balikallu at the entrances, also three separate sets of upadevatas like
small balikallu and stone navagrahams around the garbhagrahams. Apart from these
three deities, Ganapathy prathishta is there in the inner prakaram on the right side of
Siva. In the inner prakaram big homakundam built with stone, which looks like a well
from outside is there. In olden days on Vaikkathashtami day Vasordhara homam
(continuous pouring of ghee without break in to the homakundam with 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. (bigger
than the one at Guruvayur). Padma Shri Mani Madhava Chakyar used to perform
Chakyar Koothu and Koodiyattam here for decades. In the outer prakaram we have the
prathishta for Sastha, Erinjoodan (Thripuranthakan), and Kirathamoorthy. Here the
abhishekajalam and water for Neivedhyam are brought from the river by the Nambuthiri
who is doing the poojas.
Offerings:
The main offerings are Divasa pooja, Palpayasam and Sathasathayam. Koovalamala, Nei
Vilakku are also offered by devotees.
Festivals:
Vaikkathashtami is celebrated in Vrischika Masam. Sivarathri is important in
Kumbamasam. Ulsavam for eight days are celebrated from Kumbha Masam Uthrttathi .
Ulsavam ends with arattu on the last day.
Income:
The temple gets an amount from Guruvayur Dewasthanam and Devaswon board. This is
just sufficient to do poojas. The temple is in a dilapilated stage and needs urgent repairs.
Timings:
The temple is open in the morning up to 9.30 – 10AM and in the evening up to 7.30PM .
How to reach:
The temple is situated in the Pattambi – Valanchery route. Buses are there from Palakkad,
Pattanbi, Valanchery etc. One has to take the ticket to Ambalanada stop. Nearest Railway
stationis Kuttippuram
Thiruvegapura Nearby places :
Vettekaran (Kirathamoorthy):
In Thiruvegapura, there is a famous Kirathamoorthy temple managed by Padinjarepattu
Mana. In this temple the prathishta is Lord Vettekaran (Kirathamoorthy) and his consort
Kiratha lady (Parvathy) Thousands of people visit this temple and fulfil their wishes.
Naranathu Branthan, Rayiranellur Mala :
Naranathu Branthan was one of the 12 sons sons of Parayi and Vararuchi in the story of
Parayi petta panthirukulam. This Mala is at Naduvattom, 3 Kms from Thiruvegapura.
Here the hill has a height of 500 feet with an area of 300 acres. Naranathu Branthan got
Devi darshan at this place.The place where Naranathu Branthan got vision of Devi is
converted into a temple. There is no idol here but Devi’s foot print has formed a pit and
it is in this pit, a Goddess shrine was built later. The pit is the incessant source for water
and being on the hill top, the water in the pit never went down (never dried up).
Thousands of people outside and inside Kerala visit the place to have blessings from the
Devi on every year on the next day of Deepavali in the month of Thulam – Naranathu
Branthan is supposed to have got Devi’s vision on this day. There is a big statue of
Naranathu Branthan on the hill top which can be seen from the plains. There are caves
and black rocks built by Naranathu Branthan here. It is to this hill top that Naranathu
Branthan rolled up the big stone and after reaching the top, he used to push the stone
down. This he was doingEvery day. The serenity and scenic beauty of the place
attractsthousands of people on the day after Deepavali.