[Guruvayur/Guruvayoor] POONTHAM illam- some photos

October 5, 2007

Dear Sunil and all devotees of Sri Guruvayurappan,

I had the privilege to visit Poonthanam Illam some

2-3 times so far. It is on the Nilambur Road from

Angadippuram - just after Pattikkaad (I think close to

10kms from Angadippuram). The bus stop reads as

" Poonthaavanam " . Inside the illam there is a deity of

Durga Devi - if I remember correctly.

Also, there is a good feast (sadya) in the Illam for

devotees on Thursdays - (I am not too sure whether all

thursdays or only the first thursday of the malayalam

month) - I can confirm that if anyone needs more info.

In addition to the illam, there is also the

Poonthanam Maha Vishnu temple across the main road

(there is a short cut from the illam to come to this

temple, which Poonthanam is to have taken - also there

is a pond on this route). There is also a deity of

Ganapathi and one Venna Kannan said to be worshipped

by Poonthanam himself.

More interesting is the presence of the Lord as

Idathupurathappan - very close to the Angadippuram

Railway Station on the Shoranur - Nilambur railway

line. This temple is walking distance from the

station.

The Lord's leela here is like this:

As Poonthanam grew old he found it difficult to

travel to Guruvayoor. Once he set out for Guruvayoor

to see his dear Kannan. Then after walking some

distance, he felt extremely tired and had to abandon

his trip - at this point he literally cried out to

Guruvayurappan. Instantly, he could see Sri

Guruvayurappan standing to his left side (Idathu

puram). The Lord blessed Poonthanam - " You need not

travel all the way to Guruvayur - I will be personally

present here to accept your worship. Construct a

temple here and do your worship. "

The Lord came to be known as Idathupurathappan -

Poonthanam glorifies this deity in many of his works

as Vaamapuraadi-naatha (Vaama = left). At this temple,

there is a marking on the ground to indicate the area

where Poonthanam paid his danda namaskaram to the Lord

and we can easily understand that the Lord is to his

left.

Did you also go to the Angadippuram

Thirumaandhaankunnu Bhagavathi Temple? Aanjam Madhavan

Namboodiri tells us that this is the temple where

Poonthanam prayed to Bhagavathi and Bhagavathi on her

part - gave him Her highest benediction - that is, she

offered Poonthanam at the Lotus Feet of Sri

Guruvayurappan. Aanjam Thirumeni says that this is the

greatest blessing of Bhagavathi. Therefore, I always

make it a point to go to this wonderful temple also.

The temple itself stands on a hillock and there are

also deities of Ganapathi (very beautiful) and Lord

Siva.

I am sure that Sunilji would have visited all the holy

spots out there. (Did you take any more snaps of the

illam other than the ones posted?) I am just writing

all this out of my eagerness to say something about

Poonthanam and Sri Guruvayurappan. Therefore, please

pardon me for my over-enthusiasm & any mistakes too.

pizhayakilum pizhakedakilum

thiruvullam arulka bhagavane !!

-sriram

=====================

--- Sunil Menon <menon_sunil wrote:

> Dear Radhakrishnanji,

>

> Thanks for the nice article on Poonthanam.

> Poonthanam stories

> enlighten us to know that simple & pure Bhakthi is

> most important to Krishna than rituals, names or

> poojas.

>

> You can see two of the photos I had taken of then

> illam at

>

http://www.flickr.com/photos/guruvayoor/sets/72157602267780977

>

> Poonthanam stories also reminds me of a Narada

> story. Narada asked

> Mahavishnu why a common man who remembers God only

> once has the same importance as Narada who spend all

> day reciting Narayanaya nama:.

>

> Mahavishnu answered that the common man is busy with

> his job - Karma Yoga - that he needs to do to fill

> his and his family's stomachs; and finally when he

> gets one moment of free time, he remembers

> Narayanaya and call his name with all its purity.

> Then he fall asleep the next minute.

>

> I visited Poonthanam illam (house) a few years back;

> it is near

> Perinthalmanna in Malappuram district of Kereala.

> Guruvayur Devaswom

> maintains the illam now as they have bought the

> property.

>

> Mnay people visit on the annual Poonthanam festival

> celebrated with Kavi sammelan etc. Poonthanam day is

> on the Aswathi Nakshatram of Malayalam month

> Kumbham (February-March) On this day, recital of

> Poonthanam's works and debate takes place. A one

> week literary festival is conducted during this time

> at the illam.

>

> Om Namo Narayanaya:

>

> Sunil.

>

> guruvayur ,

> " P.R.RADHAKRISHNAN "

> <pallassanas wrote:

> >

> > GURUVAYURAPPAN WILL LOOK LIKE A

> BUFFALO

> >

> > Friends,

> >

> > All of you might have heard about

> BRAHMASHRI.POONTHANAM

> >

> > NAMBOOTHIRIPPAD and his Achanjala Nishkalanga

> Bhakthi towards Lord

> > Guruvayurappan.(unshakeble and pure devotion ).

> In my previous letter,

> > I had mentioned that he was a contemporary of

> BRAHMASHRI. MELPATHUR

> > NARAYANA BHATTATHIRI who wrote the famous

> NARAYANEEYAM. I am narrating

> > hereunder a story about his Bhakthi, He was not

> much educated as

> > MEPATHUR in SANSKRIT, VEDAS AND PURANAS, nor he

> knew SANSKRIT VYAKARANA

> > (Grammar ). In the beginning MELPATHUR had a

> contempt look on

> > POONTHANAM since he was not educated like

> Bhattathiri.

> >

> > Once it so happened that Poonthaanam went and

> asked Bhattathiri as to

> > which form Lord GURUVAYURAPPAN was to be thought

> while praying, for

> > which Bhattathiri in utter contempt replied "

> CHATTI

> > ERUMAYEPPOLE " meaning He will be like a BUFFALO.

> >

> > Brahmasri Poonathanam accepted this and started

> imagining LORD

> > GURUVAYURAPPAN as a buffalo and started praying.

> The next day when the

> > UTHSAVA MURTHY ( the idol meant for taking in

> procession outside the

> > Sanctum Sanctorum ) was to be taken out from the

> Sanctum Sanctorum , it

> > could not be taken out through the door.

> Immediately the MELSHANTHI (

> > Chief Priest ) and others rushed to Bhattathiri

> and asked him as to why

> > the Idol could not be taken out. Bhattathiri was

> taken aback for a while

> > but later said " KOMBU THATAYUKAYAANE. KURACHCHU

> CAHARICHCHU

> > ETUKKUKA. ENNAAL VARUM " meaning that the horns

> were obstructing and

> > just tilt a bit and remove the Idol. It will

> come. This shows the power

> > of prayer of Poonthanam and his unshakable and

> pure devotion towards

> > LORD GURUVAYURAPPAN.

> >

> > Again while reciting SRI VISHNU SAHASRANAMAM ,

> Poonthanam started

> > chanting as " PADMANAABHO MARA PRABHU " . Hearing

> this ,

> > Melpathur told Poonthaanam that it is not " MARA

> PROBHU " but you

> > must recite as " AM ARA PRABHU " . Immediately LORD

> GURUVAYURAPPAN

> > as invisible (ASAREERI) thundered I am both MARA

> PRABHU and

> > AMARAPRABHU. Lord thus accepted Poonthaanam's

> pure bhakthi..

> >

> > Unfortunately, we know only the ILLAM'S name from

> which Poonthaanam

> > hailed.

> >

> > ULLUR. S. Parameswara Iyer has has given his name

> as Brahmadaththa and

> > he was born in a Namboothiri Family who had no

> formal education in

> > Vedas, Puranas, Sanskrit Etc. However it is a

> matter of debate by

> > scholars

> >

> > Regards to one and all.

> >

> > " OM NOMO BHAGAVATHE VASUDEVAYA "

> >

> > P.R.RADHAKRISHNAN

> >

>

______________________________\

____

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October 6, 2007

Dear Sri Ram,

Your Article on Poonathaanam Illam is excellent. I had an opportunity to go to Idatupraththappan Temple. Although, the Guruvayur Devaswam is doing some thing to renovate the temple, I feel it is not sufficient. When I saw, only a part of the wall was renovated. I do not think there is dearth for money In Guruvayur Devaswam. They can definitely bring the temple to its old status and glory. Whatever you have told in your article I have seen . If there is dearth for money to renovate the temple with Guruvayur Devaswam, I think we can all contribute for this purpose to Guruvayur Devaswam, provided they will utilise the money properly. In fact, most of the Devaswam employees are corrupt to the core. It is not only with this Temple. All temple Devasthanams which are rich are most corrupt whether it is in Kerala, Tamil Nadu or in Andhra.

Please be writing often in the site. I have seen the photographs ( Two Nos.). Well taken. The once famous ILLAM is in a dilapidated condition.

May Lord Guruvayurappan bless you.

" OM NAMO BHAGAVATHE VASUDEVAYA OM VISWASMAI NAMAH: "

Warm regards,

P.R.RADHAKRISHNAN

On 05/10/2007, SRIRAM SUBRAMANIAN <abheri wrote:

Dear Sunil and all devotees of Sri Guruvayurappan,I had the privilege to visit Poonthanam Illam some2-3 times so far. It is on the Nilambur Road fromAngadippuram - just after Pattikkaad (I think close to

10kms from Angadippuram). The bus stop reads as " Poonthaavanam " . Inside the illam there is a deity ofDurga Devi - if I remember correctly. Also, there is a good feast (sadya) in the Illam fordevotees on Thursdays - (I am not too sure whether all

thursdays or only the first thursday of the malayalammonth) - I can confirm that if anyone needs more info.In addition to the illam, there is also thePoonthanam Maha Vishnu temple across the main road

(there is a short cut from the illam to come to thistemple, which Poonthanam is to have taken - also thereis a pond on this route). There is also a deity ofGanapathi and one Venna Kannan said to be worshipped

by Poonthanam himself.More interesting is the presence of the Lord asIdathupurathappan - very close to the AngadippuramRailway Station on the Shoranur - Nilambur railwayline. This temple is walking distance from the

station. The Lord's leela here is like this:As Poonthanam grew old he found it difficult totravel to Guruvayoor. Once he set out for Guruvayoorto see his dear Kannan. Then after walking some

distance, he felt extremely tired and had to abandonhis trip - at this point he literally cried out toGuruvayurappan. Instantly, he could see SriGuruvayurappan standing to his left side (Idathupuram). The Lord blessed Poonthanam - " You need not

travel all the way to Guruvayur - I will be personallypresent here to accept your worship. Construct atemple here and do your worship. " The Lord came to be known as Idathupurathappan -Poonthanam glorifies this deity in many of his works

as Vaamapuraadi-naatha (Vaama = left). At this temple,there is a marking on the ground to indicate the areawhere Poonthanam paid his danda namaskaram to the Lordand we can easily understand that the Lord is to his

left.Did you also go to the AngadippuramThirumaandhaankunnu Bhagavathi Temple? Aanjam MadhavanNamboodiri tells us that this is the temple wherePoonthanam prayed to Bhagavathi and Bhagavathi on her

part - gave him Her highest benediction - that is, sheoffered Poonthanam at the Lotus Feet of SriGuruvayurappan. Aanjam Thirumeni says that this is thegreatest blessing of Bhagavathi. Therefore, I alwaysmake it a point to go to this wonderful temple also.

The temple itself stands on a hillock and there arealso deities of Ganapathi (very beautiful) and LordSiva.I am sure that Sunilji would have visited all the holyspots out there. (Did you take any more snaps of the

illam other than the ones posted?) I am just writingall this out of my eagerness to say something aboutPoonthanam and Sri Guruvayurappan. Therefore, pleasepardon me for my over-enthusiasm & any mistakes too.

pizhayakilum pizhakedakilumthiruvullam arulka bhagavane !!-sriram===================== --- Sunil Menon <menon_sunil wrote:

> Dear Radhakrishnanji,> > Thanks for the nice article on Poonthanam.> Poonthanam stories> enlighten us to know that simple & pure Bhakthi is> most important to Krishna than rituals, names or

> poojas.> > You can see two of the photos I had taken of then> illam at> >

http://www.flickr.com/photos/guruvayoor/sets/72157602267780977> > Poonthanam stories also reminds me of a Narada> story. Narada asked> Mahavishnu why a common man who remembers God only

> once has the same importance as Narada who spend all> day reciting Narayanaya nama:.> > Mahavishnu answered that the common man is busy with> his job - Karma Yoga - that he needs to do to fill

> his and his family's stomachs; and finally when he> gets one moment of free time, he remembers> Narayanaya and call his name with all its purity.> Then he fall asleep the next minute.

> > I visited Poonthanam illam (house) a few years back;> it is near> Perinthalmanna in Malappuram district of Kereala.> Guruvayur Devaswom> maintains the illam now as they have bought the

> property.> > > Mnay people visit on the annual Poonthanam festival> celebrated with Kavi sammelan etc. Poonthanam day is> on the Aswathi Nakshatram of Malayalam month> Kumbham (February-March) On this day, recital of

> Poonthanam's works and debate takes place. A one> week literary festival is conducted during this time> at the illam.> > > Om Namo Narayanaya:> > Sunil.> > > guruvayur ,> " P.R.RADHAKRISHNAN " > <pallassanas wrote:

> >> >> > GURUVAYURAPPAN WILL LOOK LIKE A> BUFFALO> >> >> >> > Friends,> >> >> >> > All of you might have heard about

> BRAHMASHRI.POONTHANAM> >> > NAMBOOTHIRIPPAD and his Achanjala Nishkalanga> Bhakthi towards Lord> > Guruvayurappan.(unshakeble and pure devotion ). > In my previous letter,

> > I had mentioned that he was a contemporary of> BRAHMASHRI. MELPATHUR> > NARAYANA BHATTATHIRI who wrote the famous> NARAYANEEYAM. I am narrating> > hereunder a story about his Bhakthi, He was not

> much educated as> > MEPATHUR in SANSKRIT, VEDAS AND PURANAS, nor he> knew SANSKRIT VYAKARANA> > (Grammar ). In the beginning MELPATHUR had a> contempt look on> > POONTHANAM since he was not educated like > Bhattathiri.> >> >> >> > Once it so happened that Poonthaanam went and> asked Bhattathiri as to> > which form Lord GURUVAYURAPPAN was to be thought > while praying, for

> > which Bhattathiri in utter contempt replied " > CHATTI> > ERUMAYEPPOLE " meaning He will be like a BUFFALO.> >> > Brahmasri Poonathanam accepted this and started

> imagining LORD> > GURUVAYURAPPAN as a buffalo and started praying. > The next day when the> > UTHSAVA MURTHY ( the idol meant for taking in> procession outside the> > Sanctum Sanctorum ) was to be taken out from the

> Sanctum Sanctorum , it> > could not be taken out through the door. > Immediately the MELSHANTHI (> > Chief Priest ) and others rushed to Bhattathiri> and asked him as to why> > the Idol could not be taken out. Bhattathiri was

> taken aback for a while> > but later said " KOMBU THATAYUKAYAANE. KURACHCHU > CAHARICHCHU> > ETUKKUKA. ENNAAL VARUM " meaning that the horns> were obstructing and> > just tilt a bit and remove the Idol. It will

> come. This shows the power> > of prayer of Poonthanam and his unshakable and> pure devotion towards> > LORD GURUVAYURAPPAN.> >> >> >> > Again while reciting SRI VISHNU SAHASRANAMAM ,

> Poonthanam started> > chanting as " PADMANAABHO MARA PRABHU " . Hearing> this ,> > Melpathur told Poonthaanam that it is not " MARA> PROBHU " but you> > must recite as " AM ARA PRABHU " . Immediately LORD

> GURUVAYURAPPAN> > as invisible (ASAREERI) thundered I am both MARA> PRABHU and> > AMARAPRABHU. Lord thus accepted Poonthaanam's> pure bhakthi..> >> >> >

> > Unfortunately, we know only the ILLAM'S name from> which Poonthaanam> > hailed.> >> > ULLUR. S. Parameswara Iyer has has given his name> as Brahmadaththa and

> > he was born in a Namboothiri Family who had no> formal education in> > Vedas, Puranas, Sanskrit Etc. However it is a> matter of debate by> > scholars> >> >

> >> > Regards to one and all.> >> > " OM NOMO BHAGAVATHE VASUDEVAYA " > >> >> >> > P.R.RADHAKRISHNAN> >> >

> ________Tonight's top picks. What will you watch tonight? Preview the hottest shows on TV.

http://tv./

-- Rrpallassana