Mahadeva Kshethram, Thiruvegapura
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.
Thiruvegapura is famous for the Mahadeva Temple. 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.