RANDU MURTHY KERALA
The temple has something soulful about it – be it architecture, rituals, myths or just the very ambience. Situated on the banks of the Shokansini river in Thiruvalathur, the “Randu Moorthi” temple occupies a significant position among the 108 Durga temples of Kerala. The temple worships two deities – “Annapoorneswari” in Keezhkavu and “Mahishasuramardini” in Melkkavu. The Annapoorneswari idol is believed to be “Swayambhu” which means that it is of divine origin. The Mahishasuramardini idol is 7 ft tall and carved out of wood. What stands out about the temple is its stunning architectural splendour. The circular sanctum sanctorum is one of the main attractions of the temple. The exquisite woodwork and stone sculptures of the temple give the structure a distinctive look. About 4,000 stone lamps are fixed on the outer walls of the temple. There are various legends and myths about the temple that makes its story even more appealing. Thrikkangode Randumoorthy temple is a big and beautiful temple with huge compound wall and beautiful walkways.Temples uniqueness is that here in inner sanctum there are idols of two Gods, Shiva and Vishnu. It is believed that idols came up there by themselves and therefore very auspicious. Lord Shiva is in a west facing position and is believed to be very powerful, Lord Vishnu is believed to balance the power of Lord Shiva. There are separate pujas for Shiva and Vishnu. Sankhabhishekam is the main offering here. There are two priests of equal importance, one for each God. Temple also has sub-deities - Sree Ayyappan, Sree Krishnan, Ganapathi and Parvathi and also a Sarpakkavu. During the mandalam time this is a popular place of worship for Ayyappa devotees. This temple is believed to be one of the temples installed by Lord Parasuraman in Kerala. This ancient temple later withered away and was covered by forest for centuries together until it was found out by two Aadivasis Chakki and Chaathan. Story is that when they were cutting tree barks with their sickles they hit upon the idols and it started bleeding. Scared, they fled. When the locals came to know about this they cleared the area and found the two idols - these were of Shiva and Vishnu and therefore a temple was erected there. People from far way places come here for getting relief from Fits and mental conditions. The belief is that if the person apply the oil offered to the Gods here , bathe and pray for 21 days in a row, there will be relief from these problems. Thirualathur Rendu Murthy Temple (Mahishasura Mardhini and Annapoorani):Thirualathur Randu Murthy Temple, Mother has taken the form of Annapoorneswary and Mahishasuramardini in this temple which is located on the Palakkad- Chittoor route about 5 Km from Palakkad town on the banks of the sokanasini river. This river flows on the right (Valathu) side of the Temple and so this place is called Thruvalthur ( Thiru = Sri, valathur= Right side).. There are Two flag staffs in front of the Sree Kovils to indicate that there are two deities. It is one of the oldest temples in Kerala and is said to be one of the 108 Durgalayas consecrated by Lord Parasurama.. According to legends, Mother in her form as Mahishasura Mardhini consumed liquor and flesh after her victory over Mahisha and tried to enter this temple to meet her sister Annapoorani, but was prevented from entering by the Annapurneswary aspect of Mother. This is because the Annapurneswary aspect is a benign aspect subject to not being polluted by meat and liquor. Hence, Mahishasura Mardhini sat out side the Annapoornesawry temple and a separate Sannidhi and temple were built for her. K Rajaram IRS 1 5 25 On Thu, 1 May 2025 at 00:13, 'gopala krishnan' via Thatha_Patty < [email protected]> wrote: > *RANDU MOORTHY TEMPLE-TIRUVALATHUR- PALGHAT DISTRICT- KERALA-**Compiled* > > Dear friends, > > Today my posting is about Randu Moorthy temple at *Tiruvalathur* in the > Palghat District of Kerala. Here the principal deities are Annapoorneswari > and Mahishsura Mardini. > > There is another Randu Moorthy temple at *Thirukkangode* in the same > Palghat District where deities are Lord Vishnu and Lord Siva. This will be > covered in another posting. > > Hope a divine reading. > > *Gopalakrishnan 1-5-2025* > > Introduction > > There are two presiding deities – Annapoorneswari and Mahishasura Mardini > (two different forms of the Mother Goddess) in thid temple. Situated on the > banks of the Sokanasini at Thiruvalathur in Palakkad, the temple has a > beautiful Koothambalam (traditional temple theatre) and a huge Mizhavu (a > percussion instrument). > > The temple > > Surrounded by scenic paddy fields, this magnificent temple is home to the > fierce goddess Mahishasuramardini and the peaceful goddess Annapurneswari > in a peaceful and beautiful environment where architecture, rituals and > legends blend together. *Among the 108 Durga temples in Kerala, the “Shri > Randumoorthy” temple has an important place.* > > Sri Randumoorthy Bhagavathy Temple is situated on the banks of *Shokanashini, > a tributary of Bharathapuzha,* in Thiruvalathur village of Kodumbu > panchayat near Palakkad city in Palakkad district. > > The name ‘Sri Randumoorthy Bhagavathy kshetra’ came from the fact that the > Adiparashakti Jagadambika as Atyugradevi Mahishasuramardini and > Annapurneshwari as Shantaswarupini reside in two Bhavas in the same complex. > > Standing in a scenic setting, this temple is the crowning glory of > Kerala architecture*. It is a rare sight with two shrines of equal size, > two flagpoles and two nalampalams.* > > The Wall (Anappalimathil) > > The biggest feature of this temple is its huge wall. Legend has it that it > is not man-made. There is a story behind its construction. *The story > goes that this wall was built by demons and they built it in one night, but > before the work was completed, the rooster crowed and they abandoned the > work and left the place*. > > As proof of this, it can be understood that the work of the eastern tower > and the wall on the eastern side are not been completed. It is also said > that the granite stones used to build this temple wall were brought from a > place called Para, which has now become a carriage way. > > *Main deities* > > Mahishasuramardini > > According to legend, the first deity in the temple is Mahishasuramardhini > who resides in the northern Srikovil. The idol of the Supreme Goddess > Mahishasuramardhini is about six feet tall. *Darshan is towards the west*. > The arms of the eight-armed idol include conch shell, wheel, mace, arrow, > bow, sword and trident. Daruvigra Pratishtha (Varikapalav) is made by > stepping on both the ears of Mahishtha and piercing Mahishtha’s ear with a > skewer in the right hand and arrow and bow in the left hand with > Mahishtha’s horn. On the right side of the Daruvigra is the archanabimbam > of Mahitasuramardini. Archana, pooja and decorations are done in this > archanabimba. > > Annapoorneswari > > Annapurneshwari Pratishtha, the Swayambhu of the temple, also has a unique > legend. It is believed that such a shrine came after the dedication of > Mahishasuramardini. The story goes like this: > > The ferocious devotion of Mahishasuramardini caused various troubles in > the country. Heavy rains, floods, crop damage etc. are important among > them. The natives, saddened by such close encounters, prayed to the goddess > herself. *Devastated by the pain of the devotees, the goddess incarnated > as Swayambhu in the south of the shrine of Mahishasuramardini. * > > Then the locals built a new shrine there and started worshiping the > goddess in Annapurneshwari concept. Legend has it that not only there were > no problems after this, but the village began to flourish with greater > economic prosperity. > > Thiruvalathur temple has a very wide wall spread over two floors. Among > these the temple of Mahishasuramardhini on the upper floor and the temple > of Annapurneswari on the lower floor. Marriage, choroonu, bhajan etc. are > performed below in Annapoorneswari temple. Today it is seen in a revamped > form after a renovation in 2017. > > *Sub-deities* > > Shiva, Parvati, Ganapati, Sastha, Sri Krishna, Sankara Narayan, > Sapthamathrus, Anthimahakalan and Naga deities also reside in the temple as > sub-deities. > > Sapthamathrukkal > > Saptamathathrukkal are seven different forms of Adiparashakti. The seven > mothers were *Brahmani or Brahmi, Vaishnavi, Maheshwari, Aumari, Varahi, > Panchami and Indrani.* Only in unusual temples can this kind of deity in > the form of seven mothers be possible. *Here Ganapati and Veerabhadra on > the left and right are complete deities together on the same pedestal.* > > Anthi Mahakalan deity > > A large temple pond is located near the gopuram. It is known as the > Anthimahakalan pond. *The Anthimahakalan deity, believed to be the > protector of the goddess, is enshrined in a small idol resembling a > Shivalinga on the roofless floor*. > > Poojas > > Morning 5 AM : Temple Opening > > 6.30 AM to 7.30 AM : Ushapooja > > 8.30 AM to 9.30 AM : Uchapooja > > Morining 10.30 AM : Temple Closes > > Evening 5 PM : Temple Reopens > > 6.15 PM to 6.45 PM : Deeparadhana > > 7.30 PM to 8 PM : Athazhapooja > > After 8 PM : Temple Closes > > Festivals > > The main annual events of the temple are the ten-day festival held for six > days on Rohini day in Scorpio month and the Pratishtha day mahotsam in > Atham Nakshatra in Idava month. Also Niraputhiri, Ayyappan Vilakku, > Illamnira – Vallamnira, Chandikahomam and Navratri are also special. > > Thrikkarthika > > The most important festival of the temple is the Thrikarthika Mahotsavam > which is held in the Karthika Nakshatra of Scorpio. The beauty of the > temple is indescribable, and the temple is decorated with ten thousand > stone lamps. During these times, special pujas and offerings are especially > spirited. > > Prathishtadinam > > Udayastamana pooja, Navakam, Panchagavyam, Sribhutabali, Niramala, > Chuttuvilak are performed in conjunction with Pretishta day in Atham > Nakshatra in the month of Idavam under Temple Tantri. That day is > considered as Bhagvathy’s birthday. > > Illamnira (Vallamnira) > > As part of rituals, Kathir dedication, which has been practiced since > Puranic times, continues unabated even today. It is held on the first > Sunday of the month of Cancer. The right of this is inherited by the > children of Mannatuthara. > > Puthari > > The rice produced from the first ripe paddy of the year is offered to > Bhagavathy as Puthari Payasam. Thriputhari rice of this great temple and > honey in rolls are offered to the Bhagavathy and distributed to the > devotees. This is an important function of the temple. > > Ayyappan Vilakku > > Ayyappan Vilakku festival is conducted in the month of Scorpio under the > auspices of Ayyappa Sevasangam Thiruvalathur unit. > > Chandika Homam > > A grand outdoor homam is conducted annually under the auspices of Homa > Acharya Brahmashree Dr. K. N.Narasimha Adika (Kollur Sree Mukambikadevi > Temple). Devotees get the opportunity to attain virtue by getting the > blessings of Goddess Chandika to overcome obstacles and achieve success in > life and balance. It is held annually in the months of May and June. > > Ponkala > > Every year in the month of Meenam, a Pongala festival is held in the > temple premises. Women celebrate Bhagvati’s blessings by Pongala. > > Navarathri Festival > > On the occasion of Navratri festival, there are special pujas and special > art programs on every day. Writing and Pancharatna kirtanalapan are special. > > Offerings > > Ennayaadal Offering to Saptamathathrukkal is unique here. > > Koothambalam and AArattukadavu > > Koothambalam is situated in the northwest. It is a small structure > standing on a circular floor. If you go down through the eastern gopuram of > the temple and go a short distance, you can reach Arattukadavu near the > river. *Aarattu is performed here for Bhagvathy during the festival*. The > view of the river from here is beautiful. Many people come to see it. The > ancient Aliyar Shiva temple complex is located facing the flowing > Shokanashini River. The sub-deities of the temple like Shiva Parvati, > Sankara Narayana, Sri Krishna and Ganesha are located here. > > Place Name-Tiruvalathur > > In the past, Shokanashini used to flow along the left side of the paddy > fields where the temple stands today. Later, due to Devi’s intervention, it > became on the right side. That is how the place where the temple stands, > became ‘Thiruvalathar’ and became later Tiruvalathur. > > How to reach the temple > > The temple is situated in Tiruvalathur village on the south bank of > Shokanashini. Those coming from Palakkad or Chittur have to cross the > bridge across the river from Kodumbu Althara bus stop to reach the temple. > *Apart > from the Thiruvalathur LP School and a few shops, there are no notable > structures in the temple premises*. > > The south and west sides of the temple are paddy fields. There are still > many paddy fields here. Green fields and trees will attract anyone. After a > short distance, you will reach the west tower of the temple. *There is a > very small tower here*. > > Devotees seek the temple > > It is believed that all sorrows are alleviated in the Shokanashini River, > where Goddess Mahishasuramardini resides. She is revered for her divine > power to remove all sorrows from human life, and offering deepam in her > presence is said to bring relief and blessings. > > Administration > > This Grand temple is under the Malabar Devaswom Board. Thiruvalathur > Devaswom is a Grade – 3 Devaswom under the Malabar Devaswom Board. > > Contact Address > > Thiruvalathur PO, Kodumbu, Palakkad 678551 > > Phone+91 984 726 4388 > > Email [email protected] > > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Thatha_Patty" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1142615447.69417.1746083602149%40mail.yahoo.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1142615447.69417.1746083602149%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. 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