Thirunavaya
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Thirunavaya (തിരുനാവായ)

This place is both historically and culturally important. Located on the banks of River Bharat (Nila, Bharatappuzha), Thirunavaya is a place which in earlier times served as a venue for the grand assembly of the rulers of Kerala. This assembly was important since it was organized only once in twelve years and was accompanied by an extravagant festival. The last time this festival was organized was in 1755 AD.


As of today Thirunavaya plays host to the annual Sarvodaya Mela. The Thirunavaya Navamukunda Temple is also a famous pilgrim centre where Hindus gather to perform their religious rituals such as 'Vavu Bali' (Balidarppanam)

Thirunavaya is a small village between 10 km away from Tirur and 8 km from Kuttippuram in Malappuram district of Kerala, south India. This village is famed as the theatre of the Mamankam (see below) festival held in the Thirunavaya Temple on the banks of the River Bharat.


Thirunavaya was once the capital of Perumpadapu Swaroopam. They were forced to move their capital from Thirunavaya to Thiruvanchikkulam, when the Samoothiri captured Thirunavaya. Between 1353-1361 AD, the Samoothiri Raja fought a series of small battles with smaller states called the Thirunavaya War. After Thirunavaya was captured, the Samoothiri proclaimed himself as the Rakshapurusha (in Malayalam for chief protector) and announced that from then on, he had the sole right of conducting the Mamankam festival - a major Hindu festival of the Bhagavati deity held at Thirunavaya.

 


Mamankam  (മാമാങ്കം)


Mamankam festival, (also Mamangam), is a medieval festival of South India, especially Kerala, originally celebrated during the time of King Saamoothiri (Zamorin), the 15th century ruler of Kozhikode (Malabar), it is one of the prominent festivals of Kerala. Mamankam was a great trade fair from the Sangham period where traders from Kerala and Tamil Nadu came through Ponnani Port by ships and barges. It was held once in 12 years.

At the end of the rule of Perumals, the right of Mamankam was with Valluvakonathiri Moopil Nair (better known as Vellattiri), the ruler of Valluvanad. Later the Zamorin of Kozhikode, took this right by force and this resulted in dispute and bloodshed between these two Rajas.


The Zamorin declared himself as Maharakshapurusha of the temple there. Valluvanad Raja used to send Chaver Nairs to fight until death, to recapture the right from the Zamorin, who would stand poised at Nilapadu thara in Thriunavaya, surrounded by a large contingent of Nairs and Mappila warriors, in every 12th year. The last of such Mamankam, was believed to be held in 1766, when Zamorin had a hair-breadth escape from a Chaver (suicide squad) aged 16 - Putumanna Kandaru Menon. (For more details about Mamangam, please visit: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamankam_festival)


Famous Malayalam poet Melputhoor Narayana Bhattathiri was born at Melputhoor Illam, located 3.5 km from Thirunavaya, on the northern banks of Nila River (another name of river Bharat).


Thirunavaya is one of the very few temples dedicated to Lord Brahma, the creator God of Hindu mythology.


A railway station is located 1 km away from the center. 7 km distance from National Highway 17 from Puthanathani and 8 km from Kuttippuram.


One of the major attraction in Thirunavaya area is it Pink Lotus farming. There are around 4 major lotus farms in Thirunavaya and surroundings.


The beauty of nature is eye candy at the bank of River Nila anywhere in Thirunavaya; Ideal for river bath with white sands and crystal clear water. The green paddy fields are another symbol of village beauty here.


Navamukunda Higher Secondary is one of the old and renowned educational institutes in Kerala.


Sree Sankaracharaya Sanskrit University branch is located in Thirunavaya.


Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, MES Central School, AES Central School Allur, MET Central School Kuthukallu, are some major educational institutes in this area.


To add more details to this page, I request you to visit msadique.tripod.com and send the suggestions from there.


Thank you for visiting this page.

 

നവാമുകുന്ദ ക്ഷേത്രം – തിരുനാവായ (NAVAMUKUNDA TEMPLE)

 

Thirunavaya Navamukunda Temple is a very ancient temple on the banks of river Bharath River dedicated to Navamukundan Vishnu with the other deities like Lord Ganapathy, and Goddess Lakshmi. It is located near the pilgrimage centre of Thirunavaya, a small village 8 km south of Tirur near Kuttippuram in the Malappuram district of Kerala, South India.


According to the Puranas, Goddess Lakshmi and Gajendran, the King of the elephants, worshipped Lord Vishnu here with lotus flowers from a lake nearby; with the two devotees using flowers from the same source, its supply dwindled, and Gajendran appealed to Vishnu, who took Lakshmi by his side on the same throne and accepted worship offered by Gajendran.


There is another legend associated with the 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 Rishis known as the 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 Lord Navamukundan is portrayed only from above the knee, the rest of the image being concealed within the ground. There are interesting legends associated with this state of the image. There is believed to be a bottomless unexplored pit behind the image in the sanctum.


The temple was the traditional venue for the ritual of the Mamankam festival, an enactment of traditional martial arts by Chavers (suicide squads).

Thanks for viewing this page. And welcome to Thirunavaya.

 


Navamukunda Temple

 

Lord Brahma at Thirunavaya

Thirunavaya, in the Malappuram district of Kerala, is 8 km south of Tirur near Ponnani, and 12 km. off the coast, due west of Coimbatore. An ancient temple town, Thirunavaya was built along the banks of the Bharathapuzha River, the longest river in Kerala, which winds westward to the coast. At Thirunavaya, the Bharathapuzha (also known as the Nila) makes a distinct loop northward, and there are a number of important sites here on both sides of the river.

Like several other locations we've covered in this series, Thirunavaya represents a convergence of the Trimurtis: Brahma, Visnu, and Siva. There are three temples here, dedicated to the worship of these divine personalities, therefore the place is considered to be equal to Varnasi.

 



Brahma and Siva Temples on
the Bharathapuzha's southern bank


The Brahma Temple

The Navamukundan Visnu temple is on the right (northern) bank of the Bharathapuzha, while the Brahma and Siva temples are on the left (southern) bank, in Tavanur (Thavanoor) village.

The Brahma Temple here was consecrated by Lord Parasurama, who brought and settled the Brahmins here. Parasurama himself is considered to be a "Brahma-Kshatriya", or one who perfectly balances the duties of both Brahmana and Kshatriya. For this reason, Brahmadeva is said to be Parasurama's guru, and having executed a great yajna here in Tavanur, Parasurama dedicated a temple to his guru, Lord Brahma.

Unfortunately, the Brahma Kshetra is seldom visited today, and no regular worship or festivals are held here. Most devotees and visitors go to the Navamukundan Temple, which is the predominant temple in Thirunavaya. At Navamukundan there is a daily program of worship, including regular Brahma pujas.

Near the Siva Temple sits the famous Vedic Vidyalaya Othanmar Madom, a famous school of Sanskrit and Vedic education associated with Parasurama's colony of Brahmins.

 


Navamukundan Temple  (view from River Nila)


Navamukundan Visnu Temple

This 6,000 year old temple was constructed by the Navayogis, thus the Deity is known as 'Nava Mukunda'. The term 'nava' also refers to the fact that this Deity was the 9th one to be installed in the temple by the nine rishis. The first eight murtis sank and disappeared as soon as they were installed. The ninth sank up to its knees before it stopped, and it remains in this position to this day.

Because of the unique position of the Deity, the Navamukundan temple has a special sannadhi, or altar in the sanctum. There is believed to be a large (bottomless) pit beneath the Deity.

In addition to Maha Visnu, the presiding Deity at Navamukundan, there are several Upadevathas (subsidiary deities), including Laksmi Devi and Ganapati. The temple also has beautifully carved sculptures around the sanctum sanctorum, carvings of the Dasavatar, and sculptures narrating Lord Siva's pastimes.

The temple pond is full of lotus flowers, and a large Banyan tree is in front of the temple, facing the river. Strangely enough, the Banyan does not have a portion disappearing below-ground. Aside from the rare position of the Deity and the odd Banyan, there are other unusual aspects of this temple. For one, it is difficult to judge the direction the water is flowing near the temple. Also, the riverside mandapam, where the Deity is placed to give darshan during processions, has an unusual feature: when looking out from the temple, the mandapam looks like it's outside the temple wall, but from outside looking in, it looks like it's sitting inside the wall.

It is said that the sage Markandeya once escaped from Yama and came here to Navamukundan for shelter. The Lord opened His backdoor and instructed Markandeya to run to Siva, across the riverbank, as only he could save him.

 



Thousands offer Vavu bali to the departed souls on Karkita Vavubali day at Thirunavaya

 

Navamukundan Temple seems to be best known for the Pithru Thapanam rituals held there on the day of Amavasi of Karkitaka (July). Bali Karma is offered to deceased relatives by surviving family members, who come to take holy bath before making an offering to the departed souls.

Navamukundan Temple draws throngs of devotees each year for Navrathris, and thousands come for the Mamankam festival held each year. The Mamankam has great historical importance for the area, having once been a grand assembly of local rulers, held every 12 years. One of these would be elected as the Emperor of Kerala. The 28-day fair brought visitors from great distances, many arriving by ship and barge at Ponnani Port. The last of such Mamankams was held in 1755.

 



Banks of the Bharathapuzha