https://youtu.be/SlvQ7RzH-AA Anayadi Gajamela video & https://youtu.be/FEL7e-LSvCw KR IRS 31125
---------- Forwarded message --------- From: 'gopala krishnan' via iyer123 <[email protected]> Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2025 at 11:02 Subject: [iyer123] ANAYADI PAZHAYIDAM SRI NARASIMHA SWAMI TEMPLE,QUILON DISTRICT- KERALA-Compiled To: Iyer <[email protected]> *ANAYADI PAZHAYIDAM SRI NARASIMHA SWAMI TEMPLE,QUILON DISTRICT- KERALA-* *Compiled* Dear friends, Yesterday I watched a video in you-tube about the biggest elephant festival in Asia, at Anayadi Narasimha temple in Quilon District, Kerala, where above 60 elephants were participating. After the festival they were also fed. I thought I may write about the temple today. Hope a divine reading. Gopalakrishnan 31-1-2025 Introduction Anayadi Pazhayidam Sri Narasimha Swami Temple, located in Sooranad, is a significant pilgrim centre in the Kollam district of Kerala. *The name "Anayadi" means "footsteps of the elephant.*" The temple's main deity is Narasimha Moorthy, the fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu among the Dashavatara. This is one of the major temple in India where Narasimha Moorthy is the primary deity. The temple's ten-day-long festival is celebrated in the Malayalam month of Makara (January - February). *The Anayadi Gajamela, a grand elephant pageantry*, is one of the most revered and loved events in Kerala. Elephants are brought before the temple facing deity and later lined up for a procession to please the god. The celebration is considered incomplete without the participation of elephants, which are worshipped as incarnations of Lord Ganesha. In earlier times, wealthy families in Kerala often kept an elephant as a family member. The people of Kerala eagerly participate in and observe elephant pageants, making them a special part of their cultural and religious celebrations. Deities Presiding Deity: Lord Narashimhamoorthi facing East Sub Deities: Lord Siva, Bhuvaneswari, Nagaraja, Nagayakshi Brahmarakshas. Temple Timings THE TEMPLE OPENS AT 5:30 AM 5:30 AM: Nada Thurakkal 7:30 AM: Usha Pooja 10:30 AM: Ucha Pooja TEMPLE CLOSES AT 11:00 AM TEMPLE WILL BE CLOSED BETWEEN 11:00 AM AND 5:00 PM TEMPLE OPENS AT 5:00 PM 6:30 PM: Deeparadhana 7:15 PM: Athazha Pooja TEMPLE CLOSES AT 7:30 PM Important Festivals and Days: 10 days festival celebrated during month ‘Makaram’ and ‘Arattu’ on thiruvonam main offering is elephant procession (Ezhunellath). This is one of the temple in Kerala where maximum number of elephant are lined up in procession. The temple is famous for Anayadi Pooram - This is the largest elephant festival (Gajha Mela) in the world. Other festivals celebrated here are Navarathri Festival, Narasimha Jayanthi, Sreekrishna Jayanthi and Sapthaham. Charges for different offerings Aanayoott-₹10000 Paanakam-₹150 Shathru Samhara Archana-₹100 Other offering are Ney Vilakku, Thulasi Mala, Paayasam, Chethi Poo (Jungle Geranium flowers). Address of the temple Anayadi Pazhayidam Narasimha Temple Sooranad North, Kollam, Kerala 690561 WhatsApp only - 808 967 66 85 How To Reach By Air: Thiruvanathapuram International Airport is situated at 91.2 KM from the temple. By Rail: Kayamkulam Junction Railway Station is 18.7 KM from the Temple. By Road: Kayamkulam KSRTC Bus Depot is 18.8 KM from the Temple. About the annual festival The ten days long festival is elebrated in the Malayalam month of Makara (January - February). Anayadi Gajamela is one of the most important Gajamela held in Kerala which is loved and revered by all. Anayadi Gajamela is famous by the grant Elephant pageantry alone In order to please the god; Elephant are brought before o the temple deity and later lined up for procession. Celebration is regarded incomplete without the participation of elephants. *Elephants are worshiped as an incarnation of the Sree Ganesha*. The people of Kerala keenly observe elephant pageants on their special day. About one lakh people participate in the festival from far and wide of Kerala During the period Special Poojas, Cultural programmes, Seminars, Religious Discourses are conducted in the temple Traditional performing arts like Kadhakali, Chakyar Koothu, Nangyar Kooth, Villadichan Paattu, Harikadha, Kadhapresangam, etc; music and dance are staged during the period. Caparisoned elephants, melam, fireworks and sheevali are part of the festival. The temple is traditionally decorated with plantain, coconut leaves, flowers, leaves, traditional lamps and lights. The concluding day is marked by grand elephant pageantry; *Anaiadi Pooram is the one and only festival, in which hundreds of elephant’s line up for procession.* This is the largest elephant festival (Gaja Mela) in India. So this temple attracts thousands of pilgrims as well as *tourists including foreigners every year*. Devotees offer 250-300 Elephants almost every year.Foreigners from America, Thailand, Australia, Britain, New Zealand and Switzerland arrive to witness the Gajamela. This is a real visual treat. The festival ends with Arattu. The Utsava murti of the deity is taken out of the shrine for ritual bathing on the Final day *Anayadi Gajamela - Pomp, Pageantry and the Pride Jumbos! Published in Newsletter Issue No. 294 - February 2018* *Imagine around a hundred giant caparisoned tuskers surrounded by a massive enthusiastic crowd*. Add to it the traditional ensemble and you have before you one of the most majestic sights in God’s Own Country - the Gajamela of Anayadi Pazhayidam Sri Narasimha Swami Temple in Kollam district. Considered as Asia’s largest elephant pageantry, this grand gala found its place in Anayadi, a small sleepy hamlet in Kerala. Admired and revered by all, this festival pictures the spirit and soul of this beautiful village. In Kerala, it is impossible to think of a festival without elephants. When such a situation prevails a hundred gutsy jumbos lined up in a temple premises with their head held high in pride and glory is certainly a spectacle to behold. The elephants are hired as offerings by the devotees to the presiding deity, Lord Narasimha, the lion-headed incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Nights speckled with vibrant fireworks and days festooned with never-ending rituals make the 10 days of the festival a splendid visual. Replete with shimmering illuminations, beautiful plantain and coconut leaf adornments and flowers, the temple captivates and allures everyone. As the pachyderms make their way, every single sound of the percussion is replaced by loud cheering of those gathered. One doesn’t often get a chance to watch a hundred tuskers on a single frame so make sure not to miss it next time! For More Information: Anayadi Pazhayidam Sri Narasimha Swami Temple Anayadi, Pavumba - Parakkadavu Rd Kollam – 690561 Phone: +91 476 285 4252 Additional information Anayadi Narasimha Moorthy Temple is located on the northern border of Kollam district of which Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts share the boundaries. Frequent buses are there for Nooranadu from Quilon, Adoor, Alleppy etc. -- To go to your groups page on the web, login to your gmail account and then click on https://groups.google.com/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "iyer123" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. 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