Thirunelli Temple

Thirunelli Temple front view

Thirunelli Temple (also Tirunelli) is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Maha Vishnu on the side of Brahmagiri hill in Kerala. The temple is at an altitude of about 900m in north Wayanad in a valley surrounded by mountains and beautiful forests. It is 32 km away from Manathavady

History

No proper records of the exact dates of establishment of temple exist, though it is beyond dispute, that Thirunelli was once an important town and pilgrim center in the middle of an inaccessible jungle valley surrounded by mountains on four sides . There exists documentary proof that Thirunelli at the time of Tamil Chera king Bhaskara Ravi Varma I (962–1019 CE) was an important town and pilgrim center in South India. In the dense jungles surrounding temple, the ruins of two ancient villages can be found. Noted historian V. R. Parameswaran Pillai in his book Thirunelli Documents states that this temple was once an integral part of the early recorded history of Kerala.

Mention in Puranas and folklore

The name Thirunelli derives from the nelli, the Tamil/Malayalam and Kannada word for Indian gooseberry of the Amla tree. Veda vyasa wrote the 18 existing Puranas. The Matsya Purana, Skanda Purana, Narasimha Purana, Padma Purana, and many other Puranas and Hindu texts mention the beautiful Vishnu temple as being built by Lord Brahma, located in the picturesque Sahya valley, deep in the middle of forest of unmatchable beauty, and in these texts, it is referred to as "Sahyamalaka Kshetra."^[1] According to tradition, Lord Brahma was traveling round the Universe on his hamsa, when he became attracted by the beauty of the area now known as Brahmagiri Hill. Descending on that spot, Brahma noticed an idol, set in an Amla tree. Brahma recognized the idol as Lord Vishnu Himself and the place as Vaikuntha (Vishnuloka) itself.^[2]^[3] With the help of the Devas, Brahma installed the idol and called it Sahyamalak Kshetra. At Brahma’s request Vishnu promised that the waters of the area would wash away all sins. (Thus, the spring and river near the temple is called Papanasini: “washes away all sins”).

Even today the head priest of the temple leaves a portion of the worship materials in the belief that Lord Brahma Himself will come and perform pooja rites deep in the holy hours of morning.

The famous incarnation of Lord Vishnu Parasurama is reputed to have visited Thirunelli and performed last rites of his father sage Jamadagni. He also took immersion in the Papanasini to wipe away sins committed in killing Kshatriyas.

Relation with other temples and legends

Kottiyoor Temple and Trisillery temple are inextricably linked with legends and folklore to Thirunelli temple. There exists an old route which traverses Narinirangi Mala to connect with Trissilery Maha Deva Lord Siva temple. In earlier days, all devotees who visited Trissilery used to undertake the arduous crossing of Narinirangi mala to pay respect to Lord Vishnu and Brahma at Thirunelli. The journey was fraught with danger and might have been comparable to hardships of early Sabarimala pilgrimages.

Surroundings

Papanasini

Emanating from the heart of Brahmagiri flowing through roots, leaves and flowers of ancient trees and medicinal herbs, Papanasini is a holy mountain stream accessible around 1 km northwest of the temple premises. One dip in the cold Papanasini waters is reputed to wash away all sins committed in a lifetime. It is further believed that Papanasini is the confluence of the rivers Ganges and Saraswathy.

Panchatheertham

Panchatheertham - the holy temple pond.

Panchatheertham is the holy temple pond. One notable feature of the temple is the lack of a temple well. Hence water is transported from a perennial mountain stream deep in the valley by impressive stone aqueducts right into the priests' room. Thirunelli is famous as the destination to perform last rites of the deceased at the rock close to Papa nasini stream.

Renovation

Parts of the temple including sanctum sanctorum is being renovated. Renovation activities can be seen on one side of the temple where sculpted stones and beautiful wood carvings are under preparation.

Access

Thirunelli Temple can be accessed from Mananthavady or Kalpetta. The Periya ghat road connects Mananthavady to Kannur and Thalassery. The Thamarassery mountain road connects Calicut with Kalpetta. The Kuttiady mountain road connects Vatakara with Kalpetta and Mananthavady. The Palchuram mountain road connects Kannur and Iritty with Mananthavady. The road from Nilambur to Ooty is also connected to Wayanad through the village of Meppadi. There are KSRTC Buses Connecting Thirunelli Temple one important service is Vaikom Temple <<>> Thirunelli Temple Limited Stop Fast Passenger, Connecting Piravom - Kolenchery - Perumbavoor - Thrissur - Kozhikode - Mananthawady - kalpetta.

The nearest railway station is at Mysore and the nearest airports are Kozhikode International Airport-120 km, Bengaluru International Airport-290 km, and Kannur International Airport, 58 km.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thirunelli Temple.

↑ http://www.kamakotimandali.com/misc/thirunelli.html
↑ http://www.eastrovedica.net/?p=227
↑ Rema Devi R. Tondaiman (2002-07-07). "A mystic journey". The Hindu. Retrieved 2014-11-02.

Coordinates: 11°54′42″N 75°59′45″E / 11.91167°N 75.99583°E / 11.91167; 75.99583

Hindu temples in Kerala

Alappuzha	Kurattikkadu Mutharamman Devi Temple Thrikkuratti Mahadeva Temple Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Manakkattu Devi Temple, Pallippad, Harippad Chakkulathukavu Chammanad Devi Cherthala Devi Chettikulangara Devi Evoor Major Sri krishnaswamy temple Haripad Sree Subrahmanya Swamy temple Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple Kuttikattu Sree Bhadra Kali Devi Mannarasala Mullakkal Nalpathaneeswaram Sree Mahadeva Padanilam Parabrahma Temple Pattambalam Valiyakulangara Devi

Ernakulam	Cherai Gowreeshwara Dakshina Mookambika Temple North Paravur Chottanikkara Eravikulangara Iringole Kavu Kalamassery Mahaganapathy Kurumbakkavu Bhagavathy Pallikal kavu Panekavu Bhagavati Shastha Sree Bhavaneeswara Sree Poornathrayesa Sree Venugopala Thamaramkulangara Sree Dharma Sastha Thrikkakara Temple Thrikkara Temple

Idukki	Sri Siddhi Vinayakar

Kannur	Andalur kavu Sree Vadeswaram Azhikode Palottukavu Chenankavu Chala Bhagavathi Sree Annapoorneswari Sree Chovva Shiva Temple Edappara Chamundi Hanumarambalam Sree Jagannathan Kadalayi Kandanthalli Keecheri Palottukavu Keezhur Mahadeva Kottiyoor Vadakkeshwaram Kunnathoor Padi Madayi Kavu Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathy Temple Vadukunda Mamanathambalam Manakulangara Mariamman Koil, Pilakool Mavilakkavu Mookambika Temple Muneeswaran Kovil Oorpazhachi Kavu Padavil Sree Muthappan Panoonneri Shiva Parassinikkadavu Muthappan Payyannur Sree Subramanyaswamy Temple Peralasseri Sree Subramaniaswamy Temple Pillayar Koil Neeliyaarkottam Rajarajeshwara Temple Sree Andalurkavu Tiruvangad Talap Ambalam Trichambaram Thrikkapalam Shiva Valluvan Kadav Sree Muthapan Vasudevapuram Tavanur Places of worship in Kannur district

Kasaragod	Ananthapura Lake Kanila Shree Bhagavathi Madhur Trikaripur Chakrapani Sri Gopalakrishna Temple Kumble

Kollam	Ammachiveedu Muhurthi Anandavalleeshwaram Sri Mahadevar Temple Ashram Sree krishna Swamy Kadakkal Devi Kodimoottil Sri Bhadrakaali Kottankulangara Devi Temple Kottarakkara Sree Mahaganapathi Kshethram Kottarakkulam Sree Mahaganapathy Kovil, Kollam Oachira Parabrahma Temple Panakkattodil Devi Temple Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada Temple Pulimukham Devi Temple Paravur Puttingal Devi Temple Sasthamcotta Sree Dharma Sastha Temple Sree Indilayappan Sree Maha Ganapathy Vayalil Thrikkovil Mahavishnu

Kottayam	Thirunakkara Sree Mahadevar Temple, Kottayam ThiruVazhappally Sree Mahadevar Chirakkadavu Sree Mahadevar Ettumanoor Mahadevar Neendoor Subrahmanya Swami Temple Kavinpuram Devi Morkulangara Devi Kadamuri Narasimhaswamy Temple, Kadamuri Moozhayil Sankaranarayana Temple Anicad Kodungoor Devi Temple Elamgulam Sree Dharma Shastha Temple Anicad Sree Bhagavathi Temple Kaduthruthy Mahadeva Temple Pullattukunnel Temple, Elamgulam Nethalloor Devi Panachikkadu Paippad Puthenkavu Bhagavathi Perunna Subrahmanya Swami Pundareekapuram Thrippakudam Vaikom Puthiyakavu Devi Temple

Kozhikode	Azhakodi Devi Lokanarkavu Pisharikavu Valayanad Devi

Malappuram	Alathiyur Hanuman Kadampuzha Devi Kadampuzha Bhagavathy Sree Rama Thirumanthamkunnu Thirunavaya Thrikkavu

Palakkad	Brahmeeswaran Chinakkathoor Karimpuzha Sree Ramaswamy Killikkurussimangalam Kodikkunnu Bhagavathy Manapullikavu Malamakkavu Ayyappa Temple Meenkulathi Sri Nellikulangara Bhagavathi Thirupuraikkal Valliya Aarattu – Karnaki Amman Vayilyamkunnu Bhagavathi Viswanatha Swam

Pathanamthitta	Aranmula Parthasarathy anikkattilammakshethram Gurunathanmukadi Kaviyoor Mahadevar Mahadeva Mezhuveli Muringamangalam Sreemahadevar Panayannarkavu Pattupurakkavu Bhagavathi Rektha Kanda Swamy Sabarimala Sree Bhuvaneswary Sree Vallabha Sreenarayanapuram Sri Chirakkakavu Bhagavthi Thazhoor Bhagavathy Kshetram Thrikkovil Sree Padmanabha Swami Kshetram Thrippara Shiva Kshetram Thumpamon Vadakkumnatha Valiyakoikkal

Thiruvananthapuram	Attukal Avanavanchery Sri Indilayappan Edava Palakkavu Bhagavathi temple Irumkulangara Durga Devi Janardanaswamy Kappil Bhagavathy Mannanthala Anandavaleeswaram Padmanabhaswamy Sarkaradevi Sivagiri Sarada Mutt Sreekanteswaram Thaliyadichapuram Sree Mahadeva Vellayani Devi Temple Venkatachalapathy

Thrissur	Arattupuzha Temple Ammathiruvadi Temple Annamanada Mahadeva Temple Chembukkavu Bhagavathy Temple Chemmanthatta Mahadeva Temple Chiravarampathukavu Bhagavathi Temple Choorakkottukavu Bhagavathy Temple Guruvayur Temple Ivor Madom Kanimangalam Sastha Temple Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple Koodalmanikyam Temple Kootumuchikal amma Kottekkad Temple Kuttankulangara Sri Krishna Temple Kuttumuck Siva Temple Laloor Bhagavathy Temple Mammiyoor Temple Mithrananthapuram Trimurti Temple Muthuvara Mahadeva Temple Pallimanna Siva Temple Panamukkumpally Sastha Temple Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple Poonkunnam Seetha Ramaswamy Temple Poonkunnam Siva Temple Punkunnam Seetha Ramaswamy Temple Shatrughna Temple Shree Rama Temple Sree Maheswara Temple Sringapuram Mahadeva Temple Thanikkudam Bhagavathi Temple Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple Thiruvanchikulam Temple Thiruvullakkavu Sree Dharma Sastha Temple Thottipal Bhagavati Trikkur Mahadeva Vadakkunnathan Vailikulangara Bhagavathi Temple Vilwadrinatha Temple Peruvanam Mahadeva Temple Mathur Shiva Temple

Wayanad	Mazhuvannur Maha Siva Kshethram Thirunelli Valliyoorkkavu

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/17/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.