Thirupuliyoor Mahavishnu Temple — Attraction in Kerala

பேராலித- ண்கால் நரையூர் திருபுலியூர் ஆராமம் சூழ்ந்தவர- ண்கம்—கணம—ண்கை (70) ….. திருமங்கை ஆழ்வார் சிறிய திருமடல் Moolavar : Sree Mayapiran Thayar : Sree Porkodi Nachiyar Some of the salient features of this temple are…. The temple faces east with a mandapam. The east side entrance has 18 steps. Stucco image of Maha Vishnu’s reclining posture on Adishesan is on the top of the mandapam. Dwajasthambam, and balipeedam are after the entrance mandapam. Unlike other temples, the balipeedam is installed not in a mandapa. A gadha (Bheema’s) is on a platform. Dwarapalakas are on both sides of the entrance to sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar Mayapiran is in standing posture. An elevated namaskara mandapam is in-front of the temple. In the pradakshinapatha saptamatrikas, ashtadikpalakas, and Dakshinamurthy. In the thiruchuttambalam /outer praharam two Shiva Shrines, Ayyappan, Bheema thandam/gadha, and Bhagavathy. ARCHITECTURE The temple complex consists of Thiruchuttambalam, nalambam, pradakshinapatha, Sree Kovil, Namaskara mandapam, dwajasthambam and balipeedam. The Sree Kovil is circular on plan. The adhistanam was built with stone. The adhistanam consists of jagathy, muppattai kumuda and parativari. The bhitti is plain without any windows or pilasters. The bhitti was built with leterite stones and plastered. Maha Vishnu’s various avatars are painted colourfully on the Sree Kovil wall. The pranala is like a cannon, emerges through yazhi’s mouth, supported by a bhuta gana. A conical, eka tala vimanam is on the prastaram. The vimanam is called as Purushothama Vimanam. The namaskara mandapam is with a pyramidal roof in front of Sree Kovil, which is open on four sides and supported with pillars. The nalambalam is with entrances on east and west sides forms an enclosure for the Sreekovil. HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS Since Nammalwar has sung Pasuram on Sree Mayapiran of this temple, the temple might have been existed before 8th Century CE, built by Cheras. Later the temple received contributions from Cheras, Pandyas, Venadu, Travancore Kings, etc. The temple is under the control of Travancore Devaswom board. LEGENDS This is one of the five ancient temples in and around the Chengannur, of Kerala. These five temple are connected with the Epic Mahabharata, where the Pancha Pandavas are believed to have built one temple each. Sree Imaya Varappan Temple at Thrichittatt by Yudhishthira, Sree Mayapiran Temple at Puliyur by Bheema. To signify this a thanda is kept in front of the temple. Sree Parthasarathy/ Thirukuralappan Temple at Aranmula by Arjuna, Sree Pambanaiappan/ Kamalanathan Temple at Thiruvanvandoor by Nakula and Sree Atputha Narayanan/ Amrutha Narayanan Temple at Thrikodithanam by Sahadeva. Saptarishis Atthri, Vasishtar, Kaasyapar, Gouthamar, Bharadwajar, Vishvamitra, and Jamadagni worshipped Perumal of this temple to attain mukti. In another legend, Mayapiram gave darshan Alwar in Nayaka lakshana. Parangusa Nayagi was in love with Perumal of this temple. But her parents arranged a marriage with some other person. When the bridegroom was about to come to see her, friends told her parents that Parangusa Nayagi might have married, since Thulasi smell comes out of her body. In fact her friends only arranged the marriage with Mayapiran, without knowing her parents. As per another legend, during Sibi Chkravarthi’s rule, his country was experienced heavy draught. To get rid of the draught and flourish with wealth, Sibi Chakravarthy decided to give dhan/ dakshina to the Saptarishis. Since, a country is experiencing a draught, it is sin of getting a dhan/ dakshina from the king, so they declined the same. The SaptaRishis ate the lotus plant, since food was not available. The angered King Sibi tried to kill the SaptaRishis through the demon appeared from the yagna, which he conducted. The SaptaRishis sought the help of Maha Vishnu. Maha Vishnu in turn asked Indra to save them. Indra took the form of Tiger and killed the demon. Hence this place is called as...

This temple is beloved to have been built by Bheemasena near Chenganoor (Please read about Arunmula Parthasarathy temple and Trichithattu Maha Vishnu temple for more particulars).Thirumangai Azhvar and Nammazhvar has sung about this temple and because of that it has been included in the 108 Divya Kshetrams of Vaishnavites of Tamil nadu. Possibly when the temple was built there were large number of tigers in this village as indicated by its name Puliyur. There lot of caves belonging to old stone age in this area. There is a temple of Duryodhana , who is the greatest enemy of Bheema in a place called Malanada in Kollam district. So the people of Puliyur village are banned from visiting the Malanada village and worshipping the God there . The is temple is situated on a top of the hill called Kari Manikkathu Mala. We have to climb eighteen steps to reach this temple. The sanctum of the temple is a very tall building and has a copper plated roof. The idol is that of Mahavishnu with four arms, three arms holding conch , lotus flower and wheel and the fourth arm resting on his thigh. It stands on a 20 inch high platform and is in a standing posture its height being three feet ten inches, The idol faces the east and the sanctum has doors leading to all four directions. Ganapathi is a wall idol of the temple and there are sub temples for Lord Shiva and Lord Sastha. There is also a Yakshi in the form of a mirror and also a Brahma Rakshas worshipped at this temple. It seems that once a Brahmin priest along with several Brahmins were killed in the sanctum sanctorum of this temple by a ruling family called Varayanna family. It seems some of the Brahmins went and hugged the Shiva idol but they were also killed. This incident is supposed to have happened in end of 4th centaury AD. Because of this the temple was not maintained properly for another 200 years. Then the patrons of the temple did all rituals necessary to remove the effect of the sin committed inside this temple. The Brahma Rakshas represents the Brhamin who was killed , when he was hugging the idol. These rituals were done by The Samiyar Madam of Trichur (Adhi Sankara is supposed to have established this madam.) Some rights of the temple were also given to the chief of the Samiyar Madam. There is also a corner of the temple set apart for tribals of that surrounding forests to offer worship. There is also a four foot high pillara with a platform outside the temple believed to be the base of the stow Bheema used to cook his food. History records of an offering in this temple called Mabharatha pattathanam (Possibly Dhanam to the Brahmins of Maha Bharatha,). The major offering nowadays to the temple is “Chathusatham” which is a sweetened rice, . The requirements for making this offering is about 25 kg of rice, 101 coconuts , one and a half liters of ghee and 40kg Jaggery. Pal Payasam and also Kadum Payasam are also offered . There is a temple festival in the month of Makaram. Possibly because the tragedy that happened here, just before God is taken in procession, one employee asks three times “Is there any body here from Varayannakudi family?’ and the God is brought out only if there is firm no for answer, There is a kavadi yattam festival on the first of Makaram month, which was started about 30 years back. This Kavadi is brought from Pazhayathu devi temple till this temple. Possibly because Bheema who was a very huge size built it, the temple is very tall. Old books about this temple mention that the Idol of Mahavishnu also has the power of Lord Narasimha murthy instilled in him and because of this the Idol appears to be angry. Mondays and Thursdays are considered as auspicious in this temple. The temple opens at 5.30 Am and is kept open till 11 Am.and it again opens at 5.30 Pm and remains...

It is said that this sthalam is constructed and built by Bhiman, one of the Panja - Paandavaas. He worshipped this sthalaperumal, Maayapiraan. Sapta Rishis - Atthri, Vasishtar, Kaasyapar, Gouthamar, Bharadwajar, Vishwamitrar and Jamathakkini got the seva of this Maayapiraan along with porkodi Naachiyaar and through Indra, it is said that all these Sapta Rishis got their Mukti towards the Emperumaan.

Once, Virukshadharbi, who was the son of Sibhi Chakravarthy, ruled an empire where there was flood and there was no proper vegetation and the wealth and the beauty of the entire empire seems to be decreasing. At that time, the king thought, if any Dhaanam (things that are given to any rishis, Andhanars (or) devotees to increase any thing) is given to Sapta Rishis, it might increase the wealth and beauty of the Empire. As a result of this, he thought of giving the Dhaanam to Saptha rishis. But, Sapta Rishis did not accept his Dhaanam, Since if any flood (or) decrease in the wealth and health in the entire empire is due to some reasons of the ruling king. So, they found some problem might by with virukshadherbi and did not accept the Dhaanam.

But, he wants them to accept his Dhaanam, and as a result of this, he asks his palace officials to keep some gold inside the fruits and give them that, so that they will accept that and simultaneously his Dhaanam is also accepted. But, knowing the truth that some gold are placed inside the fruit through their Gnana Dhirusti, they did not accept the fruits also.

After the fruits which are given as Dhaanam is being rejected by the Sapta Rishis, Virukshadharbi got angry on all 7 Rishis and tried them to kill and as a result of this cruel mind, he started an Yaagm in which a lady pisaasu known as (Arakki - female demon) by named "Kiruthyai" arise and he ordered the demon to kill all the sapta Rishis.

But, knowing this, the Emperumaan send Indiran to destroy the Kiruthyai Arakki and there by protecting Sapta Rishis. Likewise, Indran killed the demon and all the Sapta Rishis got the seva of the Emperumaan and got their Mukthi.

This sthalam is constructed and perumal is done the pradhistai by Bhima. When seeing from out, this temple is situated slightly above the surface. The temple is square in shape and has to climb some steps and after climbing the steps, we can enter into the temple. The Dhvajasthambham (Kodi Maram) i.e the Flag Pole is facing towards the East side and shinning all the time.

After entering into the sthalam and while traveling along the pragharam, we can find a separate sannadhi for Bhuvaneshwari amman. Outside the Gharbhagriham (where moolavar is established), we can find Dhwara Balagars, on either side, we can also find a Ganapathy (Lord Ganesha) statue on the walls of the praharam.

The Moolavar is Maayapiran, who is found in Nindra Thirukkolam, is around 3 to 4 feet in height and in front of the Moolavar sannadhi, a beautiful mandapam in which lots of pillars are found with lots of...