Vayilyamkunnu Bhagavathi Temple
Vayillyam Kunnu Bhagavathi Temple is located at Katampazhipuram, the historical land of Valluvanad Kerala, 24 km (15 mi) away from Palakkad on the way to Cherpulassery. The temple is dedicated to Thirumanthamkunnu Bhagavathy ( similar to one at Angadipuram and Kongad). The spectacular annual festival - Vayillyamkunnu Pooram festival- of this temple is celebrated during the Malayalam month of "Kumbham" (Feb 15-March 15) with much gaiety and splendour.
Legend
Kadampazhipuram was historically and culturally important place of south malabar in olden era and it was considered as one of the major centers of sanskrit education and lieracy works , after Thanjavur. The legend of "Vararuchi-Parayi petta panthirukulam" and history of Cholamandalam contributed towards the beaty of Kadampazhipuram @Vayillyamkunnu. Legend behind the birth of this temple points to the era way back to 13th century which says about the asylum of a vaishya minister named Sankara Nayanar and his men of a local kingdom from the bank of river Kaveri of then Cholamandalam to the king of Calicut (Kozhikkode)- which was caused from the dispute arose from the decision of the local king to marry the clever daughter of that minister who had found out a solution for a challenging problem which was haunting the king for days together (refer Guptan). Minister along with people of four gramams reached Calicut and impressed by their intelligence and straight forwardness, Zamorin, King of Calicut, gave them permission to build 'nagarams' in Valluvanad area and sent pathinaayirathil nair – The chieftain who can arrange ten thousand warriors on demand by zamorin – along with them, for arranging the places and support.[1] Thus, the people belong to "Adithyapuram" gramam in the group has selected the place "vayillyamkunnu" for their livelyhood and developed "vayillyamkunnu" nagaram. They have built a temple at the hill top for their "Paradevatha-Bhagavathy". That is today's Vayillyamkunnu Bhagavathy Temple. Being "Saivaites"by belief, Vayillyam kunnilappan Siva temple was also maintained by this group for centuries along with their paradevatha (Goddess) temple.
The name of the place vayillyamkunnu is related to "Vayillyam kunnil appan" of the 'parayi petta panthirukulam'.[2] Vayillyamkunnilappan Siva temple is located at down hill near to the Vayillyamkunnu Bhagavathy temple. Power of goddess vayillamkunnu Bhagavathy is very famous. It is a belief in the area that bhoothagana of bhagavathy had levelled the entire area of the desam surrounding the hill in a single night to make it livable for her devotees.
Temple rituals and offerings
Main diety of the temple is Bhagavathy (Goddess) and other dieties are Veerabhadran, Ganapathy and Sapthamathrukkal. At south-west corner, Panamkurussi Bhagavathy is worshipped in sister concept . Sreemoolasthaanam, Kshethrapalan and Nagaprathishta are out side the chuttambalam.
Famous Namboothiri Brahmin family Animangalam has the thanthram and keralite brahmins perform the daily santhi. Three poojaas - Usha pooja, Ucha pooja and Athazha pooja - are conducted daily and Deeparadhana in the evening is important for darsan. Main offerings in the temple are chuttuvilakku, pattu charthal, pon thali charthal, niramala, chauthussatham, koottu payasam, kathinavedi and pushapanjali. Mangalya pooja is performed for girls for better marriage. Muttarukkal is conducted at Sreemoolasthanam.
Important days in the temple are Vishukkani, paathi chovva in the malayalam months of Karkkidakam (July–August) and Thulam ( October–November) and Thalappoli ( Last tuesday of Malayalam month Makaram). Kalampattu is an important ritual in this temple which is conducted through out Mandalam season (November–January). Temple Velichappad (oracle) will be conducting the ritual with the presence of vadyam and melam.
Administration
Vayillyam kunnu devaswom is administered by Temple Trustee board consisting of six traditional trustees (ooralans) belong to five Guptan ancestral families and one Tharakan family (Manikkyandath, Nambyandath, Koothandath, Ariyandath, Ambalandath and Palappath respectively) and Executive officer appointed by Malabar Devaswom Board. Vayillyamkunnu Bhagavathy Temple along with Vayillyamkunnilappan Siva temple and Mele thrikkovil temples collectively consist of Vayillyamkunnu Devaswom and it is one of the important temples of Valluvanad under Malabar Devaswom borad.
Pooram Festival
Annual Pooram festival is the major temple festival and it falls in the pooram star of malayalam month, Kumbham(Feb-Mar). Pooram is famous for the presence of Kerala's main elephants -around thirty- and renowned Panchavadyam troops in its four desam velas. It is conducted in the concept of Dwajathi with Kodiyettam (on Karthika star of Kumbham). The grand Purappadu is on the day of Makeeryam star and next 7 days till pooram, Bhagavathy's Aaraattu procession will be held during morning and night with Elephants, vadyam and melam. On the seventh pooram day is the magnificient pakalppooram with procession of famous elephants of kerala and panchavadyam with notable percussion artists. Kudamattom(exchange of elephant umbrellas) of four desa poorams and Kootti ezhunnallippu are the other major highlights of pooram festival.