Thirunavaya Temple
Encyclopedia
Tirunavaya Temple is a historically significant ancient Hindu temple
on the banks of the River Bharata dedicated to Nava Mukundan Vishnu with the other deities like Ganesha
, and Lakshmi
. It is located near the ancient Hindu
pilgrimage centre of Tirunavaya
, a village 8 km south of Tirur
in the Malappuram district of Kerala state, India
. The temple was the traditional venue for the historic ritual of the Mamankam festival
, an enactment of traditional martial arts by suicide squads.
and Ganesha
, the king of the elephants, worshiped god Vishnu
here with lotus flowers from a lake nearby; with the two devotees using flowers from the same source, its supply dwindled, and Ganesha appealed to Vishnu, who took Lakshmi by his side on the same throne and accepted worship offered by Ganesha.
There is another legend associated with the Tirunavaya Temple. The deity is called "Nava Mukundan" as it is believed that the idol was the ninth one to be installed in the shrine by a group of Hindu saints known as "Navayogis". The first eight idols disappeared as soon as they were placed there and the ninth sank to its knees before it was forcibly stopped. It is interesting that the image of Nava Mukundan is portrayed only from above the knee, the rest of the image being concealed within the ground. There is believed to be a bottomless unexplored pit behind the image in the sanctum.
Hindu temple
A Mandir, Devalayam, Devasthanam, or a Hindu temple is a place of worship for followers of Hinduism...
on the banks of the River Bharata dedicated to Nava Mukundan Vishnu with the other deities like Ganesha
Ganesha
Ganesha , also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh, also known as Ganapati , Vinayaka , and Pillaiyar , is one of the deities best-known and most widely worshipped in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India and Nepal. Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations...
, and Lakshmi
Lakshmi
Lakshmi or Lakumi is the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity , light, wisdom, fortune, fertility, generosity and courage; and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm. Representations of Lakshmi are also found in Jain monuments...
. It is located near the ancient Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
pilgrimage centre of Tirunavaya
Thirunavaya
Thirunavaya is a small village in Malappuram district of Kerala, south India. This village is famed as the theatre of the Mamankam festival held in the Thirunavaya Temple on the banks of the Bharathapuzha River....
, a village 8 km south of Tirur
Tirur
Tirur is a town and a municipality in Malappuram district in the Indian state of Kerala spread over an area of 16.55 km2 . It is birth place of Thunchathu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan, the father of Malayalam literature. Thunchan Parambu is highly venerated and its sand is believed to be sacred. The...
in the Malappuram district of Kerala state, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The temple was the traditional venue for the historic ritual of the Mamankam festival
Mamankam festival
Mamankam festival or Mamangam festival was an ancient festival celebrated in Thirunavaya, Malabar coast, south India, in the present day state of Kerala from the time of Kulasekharas in every 12 years until 18th century, mostly remembered for the bloody battles occurred during the festivals...
, an enactment of traditional martial arts by suicide squads.
Legends associated with Tirunavaya Temple
According to the local legends, goddess LakshmiLakshmi
Lakshmi or Lakumi is the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity , light, wisdom, fortune, fertility, generosity and courage; and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm. Representations of Lakshmi are also found in Jain monuments...
and Ganesha
Ganesha
Ganesha , also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh, also known as Ganapati , Vinayaka , and Pillaiyar , is one of the deities best-known and most widely worshipped in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India and Nepal. Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations...
, the king of the elephants, worshiped god Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
here with lotus flowers from a lake nearby; with the two devotees using flowers from the same source, its supply dwindled, and Ganesha appealed to Vishnu, who took Lakshmi by his side on the same throne and accepted worship offered by Ganesha.
There is another legend associated with the Tirunavaya Temple. The deity is called "Nava Mukundan" as it is believed that the idol was the ninth one to be installed in the shrine by a group of Hindu saints known as "Navayogis". The first eight idols disappeared as soon as they were placed there and the ninth sank to its knees before it was forcibly stopped. It is interesting that the image of Nava Mukundan is portrayed only from above the knee, the rest of the image being concealed within the ground. There is believed to be a bottomless unexplored pit behind the image in the sanctum.