A brief history of Kallarakkal Temple - Koovappady.

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KALLARAKKAL MAHAVISHNU-MAHADEVA TEMPLE - A BRIEF ANNOTATION.

 

 

 

" Yatha Sivamaya Vishnuh Evam Vishnumayah Sivah

Yathantharam na pasyami tathame swastirayushi. "

 

(Shiva in the form of Vishnu and Vishnu in the form Shiva – I bow

down -. Vishnu is the heart of Shiva and Shiva is the heart of Vishnu

as both are essentially one. As I do not perceive any difference

between the two may my life be blessed and prolonged).

 

About Kerala temples, Stella Kramrisch once wrote like this " In

this

beauteous, bountiful country, between sea and mountains, green in the

density of high trees and fertile land, the temples – 2200 are in

worship – are part of the scene " . This may not be the scene

at

present; but there are many more temples – small and big –

important

and unimportant which worshiped by a small group of devotees.

Kallarakkal Temple is one of such.

 

To an average Malayali, particularly to Nairs/Namboodiris and allied

communities, the day begins with a bath in the temple tanks or a tank

in their compound itself, and dash to the nearby temple with the wet

MUNDU. The influence of Marxism and materialistic philosophy could

not make much changes, indeed, the gods and goddesses in Kerala seem

more real than elsewhere. Kallarakkal Temple is one of such temple

which influenced the heart of the masses.

 

Kallarakkal Temple Complex is one of the important religious and

cultural centre for the people of Koovappady and surrounding areas.

 

There is no prolific history available about the origin of this

temple but a hear-saying-evidence passed through generations clearly

indicates that it was well in existence during the time of Tipu

Sultan's Malabar invasion. Angry soldiers of Sultan who were

returning to Mysore after an unsuccessful mission to conquer

TRAVANCORE said to have destroyed the original structure of

Kallarakkal Temple. Hence we could presume that the same was built

somewhere during the Seventeenth Century or even earlier.

 

According to other version of the legend, the origin of this temple

goes back to Adi Sankaracharya's period i.e. eighth century A.D.

A

couple, among the Brahmin community settled earlier in this place had

no issue for a long time worshipped Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva with

all their heart. The Lord appeared before them in a dream and

blessed. In due course of time, a child was born to them.

Overwhelming with the result of their prayer, the couple with the

help of other important gramavasi's (villagers) had built up a

temple, installed the idols of Lord Vishnu and Shiva on one compound

with separate srikovils. They started worshiping as their

ishtadevata. The earlier structure of the Srikovil was square shaped

one made of Vettukallu (red bricks) without roof on it. This may be

the reason to call the temple as " KALLARAKKAL KSHETRAM " .

 

During the later part of the twentieth century (say in 1960-61) some

enthusiastic devotees, well wishers of the area came together and

decided to form a committee for the purpose of saving the temple from

its dilapidated conditions. After a long, hectic and hard work they

could collect some fund through donations in cash and kind. Their

efforts were materialized in building the present day concrete

structure with square shaped and roofed sanctum-sanctorum (Srikovil)

for both the deities.

 

Karimpanakkal Bhagavati is said to be the other deity adorned here,

whose small Srikovil is situated just outside the north-eastern

corner.

 

Incidentally there seems to be no sign of GANAPATI being offered

worship here.

 

As there were no ruins left behind to recognize the spot where the

Bhagavati temple stood, the then constituted Temple Renevation

Committee, in the year M.E. 1174 (i.e. 1988-89) held an Ashta

Mangallya Prasnam in which it was revealed that a Devi Chaitanya

appeared and a suitable Kovil be built in the North-Eastern corner of

the compound wall. In the earlier prasna conducted during 1960s also

the same devichaitanya were appeared. Due to lack of fund available

at that time, the construction of Srikovil was postponed. Now the

same was completed and Devi pratishta together with Kumbhabhishekam

performed during the annual festival season i.e. on 14th April, 2001.

 

Even though, it is a small temple without any architectural or

cultural decorations as we normally seen in most Kerala temples, we

find a splendid artistic work that created on the VISHNU IDOL endowed

with the four lustrous arms carrying the conch, the discuss, the

mace, the Lotus and made of Anjanakallu (Black Stone) to make on the

spot feeling of his blessings on His devotees and save them from the

evil effects of KALIYUGA.

 

Now, a permanent arrangement has been made to elect the working

committee by rotation, to look into the daily affairs of the temple

and a total renovation programme being chalked out. With the ample

support of the ardent devotees and general public, the temple

authorities are able to conduct daily pooja and also annual festival

in April every year.

 

A list of various offerings, that displayed in the temple premises,

will help the devotees to get a first hand knowledge of the same.

 

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