Thirumandhamkunnu Temple is a historically significant Hindu temple in Angadipuram near Perintalmanna which is known as the capital city of Valluvanad,in Malappuram district, Kerala state, South India. The temple deity, Thirumandhamkunnilamma, was the para devatha (official goddess) of the kings of Valluvanad, the local feudal kings ruled the area in the Middle Ages. The assassins (called Chavers) of Valluvanad king set out from this temple to Thirunavaya, to participate in the famous Mamankam festival. A memorial structure called the chaver thara ("platform of the assassins") can be found in front of the main entrance of the Thirumanthamkunnu Temple.
The temple is also an important pilgrim center, especially for the eleven-day long annual festival celebrated in March and April months of the Gregorian calendar. The "principle deity" of temple is the Hindu god Shiva. Other deities include goddess Bhagavathi, locally called as Thirumandhamkunnilamma and the elephant god Ganesha, for whom the famous Marriage Offering (Mangalya puja) is performed.
Angadipuram Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy/Bhadrakali temple,standing on a 60-ft high hillock has an imposing appearance, especially when viewed from the main road (Palghat-Calicut highway).
Its surroundings were extremely scenic once. The rituals here are done regularly and meticulously at fixed timings daily. and the temple's fame attracts a large number of devotees from far and near.
The idol of this temple is almost idential with that at Kodungallur, except that the Angadipuram idol is taller. Due to this, the Angadipuram Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy is considered the elder sister of Kodungallur Bhagavathy. The other difference is that no animal sacrifices are done at the Angadipuram Temple.
There is a possibility that both these temples were originally built by the same king - perhaps Cheraman Perumal. It is said that Pallava kings and Chera kings were traditional friends and when the Pallava king was defeated and sent out of Tamil Nadu he took refuge in Cheraman Perumal's kingdom and they continued to be great friends.
It is also said that the Goddess of these temples, along with many other temples, was Madurai Meenakshi (Kannagi).
Location : Thirumandhamkunnu Temple, Angadipuram, Malappuram, Kerala, India.
Gods : Lord Shiva, Goddess Durga, Lord Ganesha
Landmark : The Temple is located on the highway running between Calicut and Palghat. Buses are available from either town at intervals of 30 minutes. Nearest Railway Station : Whether you are coming from Madras, Trivandrum or Calicut, get down at Shoranur Junction, and take a train going to Nilambur. Get off at Angadipuram Railway Station. The temple is just about half-a-kilometre from the station. Either walk it, or take a taxi or autorickshaw.
Festivals :
The Pooram festival conducted in the month of April-May, attracts large numbers of devotees. A unique custom here is the arrival of Vellathiri in the Pooram ground to give audience to the Malayankutty, the headman of the Pana tribal community. The deity is taken out in a procession and bathed twice in the stream daily. This continues for eleven days.
About 3-4 months before the starting of the Pooram, there is daily Kalampattu at the temple. The assigned Kurups draw the kalam and one of the pujaris of the temple conducts the puja every night.
On the first day of the Pooram, the temple flag is hoisted on the big mast in front of the temple by the Thanthri. After the Pandiradi puja (When the Sun's shadow measured 12 feet, as measured by the human foot.). The Thanthri takes out the deity and climbs on an elephant which is properly caparisoned and decorated. After a few circumambulations of the temple, accompanied by musicians playing on drums and pipes, the procession starts its downward journey from the Northern Gopuram down the steps of the temple. After the procession reaches the foot of the hillock, the Thanthri alights from the elephant and takes the deity down to the stream. The deity is given an elaborate ritual bath. This normally takes more than an hour. The musicians keep time with the rituals. The deity is then taken back to the temple. This ceremony is repeated on all the eleven days, twice daily, except on the tenth day, when the deity is taken out for a ritual re-enactment of a hunt.
The Pooram is characterised by fireworks every night, and cultural programmes daily, like classical music, dance and drama.
Offerings :
List Of Offerings
1.Valiya Vilakku
2.Neivilakku
3.Enna Vilakku
4.Mala
5.Ganapathi Homam
6.Kootu Ganapathy Homam
7.Pushpanjali
8.Rakhtha Pushpanjali
9.Swayamvaramanthram Pushpanjali
10.Bhagyasooktham Pushpanjali
11.Lalitha Sahasranamam Pushpanjali
12.Saraswatha Sooktham Pushpanjali
13.Thrushtuppu Manthram Pushpanjali
14.Aikamathya Sooktham Pushpanjali
15.Dwadasakshari Manthram Pushpanjali
16.Thrimadhuram
17.Unda Thrimadhuram
18.Neipayasam
19.Nalikera Payasam
20.Kadhina Payasam
21.Koottu Payasam
22.Palpayasam
23.Appam
24.Otta
25.Ada
26.Sandhya Namaskaram
27.Trikala pooja
28.Dhara/Sankhabhishekam
29.Elaneer Dhara
30.Karuka Homam
31.Mruthyunjaya Homam
32.Vella Nivdyam
33.Veti (for one each)
34.Malar Nivedyam
35.Muttarukkal
36.Milk and Bananas for Naga gods
37.Niramala
38.Vivaham (marriage)
39.Chorun (Annaprasan)
40.Chatursatham (101 coconuts)
41.Chathursatham (201 coconuts)
42.Mahasandhya Namaskaram
43.Umamaheswara /Mahalakshmi pooja
44.Dambati pooja
45.Mangalya pooja
46.Mahaganapathi homam
47.Mruthyunjayahomam
48.Rudrabhishekam
49.Kal Kazhuki Oottu
50.Sree Rudram Dhara
51.Kalabham
52.Deepasthambham Theliyikkal
53.1001 Kutam Dhara for Shiva
54.Udayasthamana Pooja
55.Anayootu
56.Chamayam charthal
57.Oil for Ketavilakku
58.Thrithali Charthal
59.Chuvappu Charthal
60.Aal Rupam
61.Kutty Thotti Charthal
62.Thulabharam Thattu Panam only
63.One day's pooja
64.One time Pooja (Oru Nerathe Pooja)
65.Lakshmi Narayana Pooja
66.Adithya Pooja
68.Kumkumarchana
69.Kumkumarchana (with Lalitha Sahasranamam)
70.Nei Japam
71.Malarpara
72.Manjal Powder (for Naga gods)
