Thirumandhamkunnu Temple

The Thirumanthamkunnu Temple courtyards are on a hilltop that

provides a view of the countryside spread out below.It is located at
Angadipuram, which was the capital of Valluvanad Rajavamsham, in
Malappuram district, Kerala state, South India.

Deity
The "principal deity" of the temple is Lord Shiva. But the famous
deity is Sree Bhadrakali or Sree Parvathy, locally known as
Thirumandhamkunnilamma and Ganesha.
The Shiva Linga installed at Sreemoolasthanam has all divinities according to
Vedamanthras. Inn addition it has Deva divinity. Rishi divinity and human
divinity. Thus it is supreme in all respects. According to legend it was first
worshipped daily by SreeParvathy. Rishi Mandhatha worshipped it subsequently
for a long time and then by two holy Deva like Brahmins, in accordance with the
instructions of Rishi codified in Grandha. All these contribute to infinite and
unsurpassed Chaithanya of Linga. It is believed that Parvathy, Parameswaran
and Durga- the three divinities - are ever present in that Idol.

The Shiva Linga installed at Sreemoolasthanam has all divinities according to

Vedamanthras. Inn addition it has Deva divinity. Rishi divinity and human
divinity. Thus it is supreme in all respects. According to legend it was first
worshipped daily by SreeParvathy. Rishi Mandhatha worshipped it subsequently
for a long time and then by two holy Deva like Brahmins, in accordance with the
instructions of Rishi codified in Grandha. All these contribute to infinite and
unsurpassed Chaithanya of Linga. It is believed that Parvathy, Parameswaran
and Durga- the three divinities - are ever present in that Idol.

The Idol of Thirumandhamkunnilamma in Mathrusala is of "daru". A number of

Bhadrakali temples in Kerala have daru idols, but one at Thirumandhamkunnu
excels them all. In mathrusala installation is aRurujit - one who conquered Ruru
the Asura - The idol is about six feet high, in a sitting posture with the left leg
bent up to the lap and the right one freely hanging down. The figure of Devi
with the brilliant crown, the glittering ornaments covering the breast bangles
and anklets, the head of Darika and weapons held in the eight hand, though
fierce as a whole, is captivating. While standing before the deity with bow, the
bhakta experiences Devil's motherly affection at heart.

The doorway to the Sreekovil is not directly in front of the idol as is the case
usually in most temples. Here it is slightly shifted to the right. The divinity of
Goddess is transferred by avahanam to a metallic bimba and abhishekam etc., is
done on the replica. The bimba is used as thidambu for mounting on elephants
during festivals.

The idols of Sapthamathrukkal and temple child are made from the same
seasoned jack wood from which the idol of the main deity was carved out. The
legend about the temple child is that Parvathy and Parameswara laid a small lad
in the scorching sun to calm down the angry and ferocious Devi returning with
the thunderous roars after killing Darika. That lad later became the temple
child and subsequently the temple ward (kshethrapalaka). This idol is said to be
growing slightly every year!

"Ishnika" was the name of the craftsman who carved out these idols. Apart
from the main temple at Mathru sala, the Kshetrapala and sreemoolasthanam
Siva, Nagas and Brahmarakshas are also installed in the temple. There is also an
idol of Child Ganapathy at the foot of the age-old peepal tree standing on the
northern side of the temple.

Puranic history
King Mandhata of the Surya dynasty ruled his kingdom for a long
period. He then gave away the kingdom to his successors and chose
to meditate on supreme god Shiva and attain the Shiva's feet at the
end]. Shiva, pleased with his penance appeared before the king
Mandhata and offered him any boon at Mount Kailash. The king
prayed to the lord for an idol to worship till his death. Shiva gave
him the most holy Shiva Lingam which was too dear to him and which
used to be worshipped by Parvati and then the god disappeared.

Carrying the Shiva Lingam on head, King Mandhata started his

downward journey from Mount Kailash and reached the hill now
known as "Thirumandhamkunnu" in Kerala. A spring with crystal-clear
water flowed along the northern slope of the hill. Many beautiful
birds chirped in the jungle. Wild animals like lion, tiger, and elephant
roamed about in the wilderness in full harmony forgetting their
traditional enmity. Different kinds of trees and plants grew in the
region and gave out a sweet smell into the atmosphere. The
surrounding attracted the king. Feelings of the idol on his head were
heavy and he placed it on the ground as soon as the Shiva Lingam got
stuck into the earth.

Shiva had gifted the Shiva Lingam to the king when his consort
Parvati was away for her bath. When Parvati turned up for worship
the Shiva Lingam was not there. She got upset on enquiry she knew
that it was presented to the King Mandhata, by her husband. Being
too much attached to it she wanted the Shiva Lingam back. Shiva
told her that he had no objection in her trying to get it back. Parvati
now offered Bhadrakali and a host of bhootha to rush up and get
back the Shiva Lingam from the King. With the army of bhootha,
Bhadrakali reached the northern slope of Thirumandha hill. The
brightness emitted by the Shiva Lingam installed by king Mandhata
was so great that it dazzled the eyes of Bhadrakali and the
bhoothas and they were unable to move up the hills. So they started
throwing up the weapons from the foot of the hill. The ascetic
attending on Mandhata were unarmed but tried to defend
themselves with whatever things they had. These being insufficient
to protect them they plucked Attanga nuts from their creeper
plants, which were available in plenty and threw them at the enemy.
Because of the power of Shiva and the divine power of Mandhata the
nuts got changed into arrows instantly. Bhadrakali and her army of
bhootha could not resist them; the fight lasted for fifteen days.

The age-old custom of "Attangayeru '' on first of Thulam (the

Malayalam month) on the new moon day of the same month in the
forenoon before pantheerady pooja refers to the legendary fight
between mandhatha and kali.

Expecting defeat Mahamaya took her viswaroopa. She had an

elephant in one ear and a lion in the other as earrings. Seeing this
form the ascetics fell down senseless. When mahamaya in this form
reached the hilltop Mandhatha was also helpless. He embraced the
sivalinga, kali tried to capture it by force. In this struggle that
followed the linga got split into two. In the "Jyothis" that arose
from it "TRIMURTHIS" (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) and Parvathy
appeared on the spot.

Parvathy told Mandhatha this idol was very dear to me. Still I do not
want to take it away from you against the wishes of my husband.
Separation from it is also difficult for me. So I will enter that linga
and remain here forever. My daughter kali is not different from me.
Actually she came here first. Let her also be installed near me
facing north and have all poojas and festival performed. So same
Parvathy disappeared into the idol. This spot is the "SREE
MOOLASTHANAM". The sivalinga here is still in split condition. Its
position is below the "peedam" and "Prabhamandala" and can be seen
only during the abhisheka before the ushapooja and "Malarnivedia"
to the deity.

As ordered by Parvathy, Bhadrakali with Sapthamathrukkal,

Veerabhadra and Ganapaty were installed facing north. This is called
"Mathrusala". Pooram, Pattu and all such festivals intended for this
goddess.

When Sree Parvathy appears, infant Ganapathy was also with her.
This infant Ganapathy was also installed at sree moolasthanam.

Sree Parvathy appeared facing west. The installations of Sivalinga at

Sree Moolasthanam were facing east. It was thus necessary to have
two darshan openings one to the east and the other to west. The
family descendants of "Valluva Konathiri '' do not generally open the
one on the west except for darshan. On either side of the doorway
here are two openings through which other worshippers can have
darshan of the deity. But in the recent past the restrictions have
been modified. After each pooja, the door is kept open for some
time for darshan of the deity by devotees.

Mandhatha spent many years at thirumandhamkunnu in meditation

and tapusu. At last he knew it was time for him to leave this world.
He was thinking of entrusting the temple to someone for perfect
upkeep and maintenance when two Brahmins came there. Mandhatha
told them his desire, gave them a Grandha containing instructions on
the performance of poojas and entrusted the shrine to them. He
then retired to the jungle nearby now known as
"KUKSHIPPARAKKAD" and freed himself from this world of mortals
by his yogic powers. Bhaktas who go round this jungle paying homage
pick out a leaf from the growing plants and keep it in hair with at
most reverence. This area is still a protected jungle. In the
Devaprashna conducted in 1959 it was observed that an idol of
mandhatha should be installed here and poojas performed. The
temple priests before pooja every Malayalam month. The annual
pooja on Chithra in midhunam on Mandhata is of special significance.

Two Brahmins entrusted with the upkeep of temple, one cleared the
jungle around the idol and hence came to be known as
"Kattillamuttam" . The other prepared pavilion for prathishta and
came to be known as "PANTHALAKODE". The thanthri of
thirumandhamkunnu temple is still a descendant from either of
these families. The nair karyasthan who was with them was given the
title "chathathumarar" and made the blower of holy conch in the
temple. The Namboodiri's informed the news to Vadakkara
swaroopam raja that was subordinate chieftain of valluvanadu raja
holding the title mannarmala raja. He immediately rushed to the spot
(Seeing the over-lord of the hill the goddess got up and paid homage
to him. This humility of Devi-the sustainer of three worlds—made
the raja blink in shame and) he prayed to the goddess to see him as
a son. He then presented an elephant to the goddess and worshipped
her from its rear, standing in its shadow. His descendants also
followed the same practice. Even now direct darshan of
thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy is not permissible to mannarmala
raja.

Spiritual Significance

Thirumandhamkunnilamma is considered the Supreme Mother,

Shakthi Devi in Hinduism. Bhadrakali is believed to be born from the
third eye of lord Shiva to kill the demon king Daruka. Bhadra means
good and Kali means goddess of time. Bhadrakali is worshipped for
prosperity and salvation. Devi is considered as the creator,
protector, destroyer, nature & kundalini.

History
Thirumandhamkunnu Temple is a historically significant Hindu
temple in Angadipuram, which was the capital of Valluvanad
Rajavamsham, in Malappuram district, Kerala state, South India.The
temple deity, Thirumandhamkunnil amma, was the paradevatha
(official goddess) of the kings of Valluvanad, the local feudal kings
ruled the area in the Middle Ages. The Nair warriors (called
Chavers, literally "martyrs") of Valluvanad king set out from this
temple to Thirunavaya, to participate in the famous Mamankam
festival.

Art & Architecture

A memorial structure called the chaver thara ("platform of the
martyrs") can be found in front of the main entrance of the
Thirumanthamkunnu Temple.

The first Vallavaraja who took over the control of the temple
entrusted its upkeep and maintenance to the local feudal lords
Ettuveetil achans and made them trusty Erukalikara nair was made
kavudaya nair. Sreemoolasthanam does not have a roof, which is an
evidence of it having been a kavu.

The painting on the walls of the mathrusala throws light to the

history of the temple. These paintings which are in lying with the
wall painting at suchindram, Pundarikkapuram, vaikom and Guruvayoor
were executed in 1944.

Beliefs & rituals

Ganesha, for whom the famous marriage oblation (Mangalya Puja) is
performed. Devotees believe Mangalya puja will remove obstacles
for one's marriage

Mangalya Puja, Rigveda Laksharchana, Chanthattam and Kalampattu

are the important religious offerings of the Thirumanthamkunnu
Temple.