Sree Malliyoor Maha Ganapathy Temple — Attraction in Kerala

Here are some captivating images of the Malliyoor Sree Maha Ganapathy Temple in Kuruppanthara, Kottayam — including the uniquely adorned idol of Ganesha with baby Krishna seated on his lap.  

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Temple Highlights • Presiding Deity: The temple venerates Vaishnava Ganapathy—a distinctive form of Lord Ganesha cradling a young Sri Krishna, also known as Beeja Ganapathi. The idol features a right-twisted trunk with a lemon at its tip, while the deity holds an axe, rope, horn, laddu, and the child Krishna on His lap.   • Legend & History: Originating as a family shrine of Malliyoor Illam, it was elevated spiritually by the devoted recitations of Brahmasree Sankaran Namboothiri. Over time, the idol came to embody the Vaishnava spirit.   • Architecture: A fine example of traditional Kerala temple design, the complex includes chuttambalam, thidappally, mulayara, Namaskara Mandap, and a spacious Agrashala (dining hall) supported by wooden pillars.   • Sub-deities (Upadevathas): The temple houses shrines for Anthimahakalan, Brahma Rakshas, Aaya Yakshi, Sastha, Bhagavathy, and Shiva.  

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Festivities & Offerings • Major Festivals: • Eight-day Thiruvutsavam culminating on Vishu with elephant-led processions and aarattu rituals.   • Vinayaka Chaturthi in Chingam is celebrated with special poojas and the Ashtadravya Ganapati Homam involving 1008 coconuts.   • Ganesha Sangeethotsavam: A 60-day classical music extravaganza starting in Vrischikam (Nov–Jan).   • Regular Rituals: • Monthly Bhagavatha Saptaham and Bhagawatha Prabhashanam events honoring Bhagavatha hamsam Malliyoor Sankaran Namboothiri.   • Special Offerings: • Mukkutti Pushpanjali – offering 108 saplings with Maha Ganapati Mantra. • Ayiramkudam Jalabhishekam – 1000-pot water ablution. • Thadi Nivedyam – rice flour offering for health. • Palpayasam – sweet milk pudding, especially on Thursdays for progeny blessings. • Pazhamala – banana garland for marriage-related blessings. • Chathurhiyootu, Udayasthamana Pooja, Ashtadravya Ganapati Homam, and more.     

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Visiting Information • Timings: • Morning: 5:00 AM (Nirmalya Darsanam) – 11:30 AM • Evening: 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM   • Dress Code: • Men: Mundu (dhoti), optionally with angavastram. • Women: Saree, salwar-kameez, or pavada/blouse. • Prohibited: Shirts, banyans, lungis, slippers, etc.   • How to Reach: • By train: Nearest station is Kuruppanthara—just 0.5 km away.   • By road: From Kuruppanthara Junction on MC Road, the temple is 2 km towards Manjoor.   • Nearest airport: Kochi International Airport, approx. 72 km away.  

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Summary Table

Feature Details Deity Vaishnava Ganapathy with Krishna on lap Festivals Thiruvutsavam, Vinayaka Chaturthi, Ganesha Sangeethotsavam Offerings Mukkutti Pushpanjali, Palpayasam, etc. Timings Morning: 5–11:30 AM; Evening: 5:30–8 PM Reachable Via Train (Kuruppanthara), Road (MC Road), Airport (Kochi)

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The Malliyoor Sree MahaGanapathy Temple in Kottayam district, Kerala is the sacred abode of the all - encompassing divine presence of Lord Ganesha and also a coveted destination of lakhs of pilgrims from all over India. The endearing elephant - headed Lord Ganesha, the son of Siva and Parvathy, enjoys prime place among all the gods in the Hindu pantheon. He is Parabrahma incarnate, the God of Wisdom and Learning, the Remover of all Obstacles and is worshipped first, any other god. The Malliyoor Sree MahaGanapathy Temple is in comparable in the conception of the presiding deity as Vaishnava Ganapathy, with a young Sree Krishna seated on the lap of Lord Ganesha. This unique and powerful infusion of the Vaishnava spirit in the Ganesha idol is the supreme achievement of the devoted penance of the much-revered main priest of the temple, Brahmasree Bhagavathahamsam Malliyoor Sankaran Nampoothiri. Today thousand of devotees flock to the feet of Vasihnava Ganapthy at Malliyoor seeking eternal salvation form the bonds of Karama and solace from the evils of Kaliyuga. The Malliyoor Maha Ganapathy Temple is believed to have come into existence much before the Perumals exercised their sway over the southern peninsula. The pre-Perumal historical records have many references to the importance of this place of worship. The deity here is conceptualised as Beeja Ganapathi, the trunk twisted rightward and carries on its tip a lemon, the hands hold an axe, a rope, a horn and a laddu, cradling little Sree Krishna in his lap. The Vaishnava spirit permeates the entire atmosphere. The story goes that a deeply devout and saintly Brahmin brought the idol over here from an unidentified and unspecified pilgrim centre some where in the North, centuries back. The family-deities Anthimahakalan and Yakshi worshipped by the once-powerful administrators of the temple also find a place inside the temple complex. The temple is jointly administrated by two families, the Aryappally mana and Vadakkedam Mana. In course of time the two families were merged to Malliyoor and the Temple when went through a period of misfortune and penury, the Malliyoor family bearing a brunt of it. But they worshipped Lord Ganapathy with unwavering devotion even when the temple was without a root over the sanctum sanctorum and the family having a hand to...

Malliyoor Maha Ganapathy Temple, located in the heart of Malliyoor village in Kottayam district, is one of the most spiritually powerful and peaceful temples in Kerala Dedicated to Lord Maha Ganapathy, the temple is a highly revered place of worship and attracts thousands of devotees throughout the year.

What truly sets this temple apart is the deep sense of divine energy and calmness you feel the moment you enter the premises. The temple is beautifully maintained, clean, and surrounded by lush greenery, which adds to the peaceful ambiance. The priests and temple staff are warm, welcoming, and always ready to help guide devotees through various poojas and offerings.

One of the major highlights here is the Unniyappam Vazhipadu, a special offering to Lord Ganapathy. These unniyappams are freshly prepared at the temple in a very traditional way, using jaggery, banana, and rice flour. They are offered with devotion and later distributed as prasadam. The taste is simply divine—soft, flavorful, and spiritually fulfilling. Devotees believe this offering helps in removing obstacles and gaining blessings in education, health, and prosperity.

Equally famous is the Appam Moodal Vazhipadu, where a large quantity of appam is prepared and offered as a grand symbolic gesture of devotion. The sight of the neatly arranged golden-brown appams being offered in front of the deity is truly mesmerizing. It’s not just a visual treat but also carries deep spiritual meaning and tradition. Participating in or witnessing this vazhipadu is considered highly auspicious.

The temple also provides space for devotees to sit, meditate, or simply soak in the divine atmosphere. Whether you are a regular devotee or a first-time visitor, Malliyoor Maha Ganapathy Temple offers a fulfilling spiritual experience like no other.

Highly recommended for anyone visiting Kerala—this temple is a place where you can truly feel the divine presence, receive blessings, and be a part of beautiful traditions like the Unniyappam and Appam...