KidangoorSubramanya Swami Temple -Kottayam district, Kerala-Compiled Dear friends,
Today my posting is about the Kidangoor Subramanya SwamiTemple in the Kottayam district of Kerala. The temple is estimated to be over1500 years old and is known for its unique rituals and architectural features.The temple is located on the banks of the Meenachil river, about one kilometre south ofKidangoor Junction. Thistemple has a special pillar made of Kurumthotti wood, a medicinal tree/plant. I had posted a few months back about this temple. Thisposting contains many more information. Women of any age are not permitted insideNalambalam. Girl children below 10 years arepermitted inside nalambalam. The Moorthi bhavam is of a boy, hence when elder women appearbefore Sanctum, he has to stand up. To avoid this, women are not allowed insidenalambalam. Only insideNalambalam. For festivals and worshipping from outside Nalambalam, women of allages can enter the temple. My late mother was from Kidangoor. I have visited the templemany times with my uncles in the boyhood days. Hope a divine reading. Gopalakrishnan 1-7-2025. Key features of thetemple: Main Deity: Lord Subramanya, also known as Kartikeya orMurugan, is the main deity. Age of temple: It's believed to be at least 1500 years old. Architecture: The temple is known for its uniquearchitecture, including alarge pillar made from the wood of the Kurumthotti medicinal plant. Koothambalam: The temple features a Koothambalam, atraditional theatre hall, which is renowned for its mural art and carvings. Rituals: The temple is known for its distinct rituals,including the Thrikkarthika festival in Vrischikam (November-December), Thaipusamin Makaram (January-February), and Sashti celebrations. Location: It's situated on the banks of the Meenachil river,easily accessible from the Kidangoor - Manarcad road. Unique aspects: The temple has a unique feature where womenover the age of ten are not allowed to enter the Nalambalam (inner sanctum) dueto the deity being in a boyhood form andrespect mother when coming before him in the sanctum. Legend: The temple is associated with a legend involvingMaharishi Gauna and his Kamandalu (water pot), which is said to have carriedthe idol of Subramanya Swami. Introduction Kidangoor Sree Subramanya Swamy Temple is an ancient Hindutemple located in Kidangoor, Meenachil Taluk, Kottayam district, Kerala. Itstands on the bank of Meenachil river by the Kidangoor – Manarcad road, one kilometre south ofKidangoor Junction. It is one of the most renowned Subramanya temples in Keralawhich is estimated to be at least 1500 years old. Lord Subramanya presides hereby the name ‘Thrikkidangoorappan’. Temple stands on the bank of Meenachil river. Kidangoor is one among the64 Namboodiri villages and was on the boundary of the Vadakkumkur andThekkumkur kingdoms. Legend Legend has it that the idol of Subramanya came out of theKamandalu (an oblong pot) of sage Gauna when the water flowed out. The idol flowed along with the waterand it reached the Vishnu shrine in Kidangoor. Details-According to the legends the GaunaNadi(Meenachil river) starts from the Kamandalu of Gauna Maharshi like theriver Kaveri from Agasthya Maharshi's Kamandalu. Hence this river got the nameGauna Nadi. Gauna Maharshi filled his Kamandalu with Sapthanadi Theertham(water from the 7 holy rivers - Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswathy, Sindhu, Narmmada, Godavari and Kaveri).A beautiful idol of Lord Subrahmanya was also kept in his kamandalu. He waseagerly waiting for the Darshan of Lord Sree Rama in his return journey toAyodhya after killing Ravana. Sree Rama was accompanied by large number of devotees likeVibhishana, Sugreeva, Hanuman and Angada in the Pushpaka Vimana. So Maharshi Gauna could not see Lord Sri Rama and Sita Devi properly. So the angry Gauna threw the kamandalu away and the idol ofSubrahmanya Swami came out. These incidents occured on a hill and since thenthe hill is known as Kudamuruttimala. This flow of water became a river and thus the present Gauna nadi wasformed. Along withthe flow of the water, the idol was carried away to the Vishnu temple inKidangoor and was later installed in a new sreekovil. This is thepresent Kidangoor Subrahmanya Swami Temple. So, the water in Gauna river is asholy as the Sapthanadi Teertham. Architecture The sculptural work inside the 'Koothambalam' (templetheatre) is exceptional because of its adherence to Bharata Muni's concept ofNatya Shastra. Perumthachan,the legendary master carpenter, is believed to be the architect behind theconstruction of this theatre. Scenes from the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata are carvedbeautifully here. A huge pillar fashioned from the wood of 'Kurumthotti', arare and valued medicinal plant is another speciality of Subrahmanya SwamiTemple. Chief deity-Subramanyan Subrahmanya is worshipped in Brahmachari/boyhood Bhava. Lord considers all women who enters inthe temple as His mother (Goddess Sree Parvathy). When mother comes to see her son,he has to bow and worship her by leaving the Sreekovil. In order to avoid thisdifficulty, women are not permitted to enter inside the nalambalam. Women can worship the lord by entering into theValiyambalam through Balikkalppura. When Lord Muruga comes out of the temple nalambalamduring Utsavam for ezhunnallathu, pallivetta,sheeveli etc there is norestriction for women to worship Him. History The temple is estimated to be at least 1500 years old, makingit one of the oldest temples in the region. Temples Twin Temples: The temple is a twin complex, withshrines dedicated to both Subramanya and Vishnu. Koothambalam:The temple features a Koothambalam (templetheatre), known for its beautiful sculptures depicting scenes from the Ramayanaand Mahabharata. Unique Idol:The temple's idol of Subramanya is in the form ofa Brahmachari (celibate), which is why women over ten years old are not allowedinside the inner sanctum (Nalambalam). The Kidangoor Subramanya Swami Temple features several upa devathas (subordinatedeities) in addition to the main deity, Lord Subramanya. These includeBhagavathi (Bhuvaneshvari), Sastha, Vishnu (Vadakkumthevar), and Ganapathi.Bhagavathi faces south, Sastha is in the southwest corner, and Vishnu is to thenorth of the Subramanya sanctum. Ganapathi is in a separate temple on thesouthwest side, facing east, though this temple is a relatively recent addition(1995). Chief deity- Vishnu: Lord Vishnu has equal importance in the temple. He presideshere by the name 'Vadakkumthevar' and the shrine is placed to the north ofSubramanya sanctum. It isbelieved to be older than the Subramanya temple. Other temple deities Bhagavathi: (Bhuvaneshvari) faces south. Sastha: Sastha shrine is placed in thesouthwest corner. Ganapathi: Ganesha is installed in a separatetemple on the south-west side of the temple, facing east. This temple is asub-temple of Kidangoor Temple, though constructed very recently in 1995. Some important offerings(Vazhipadu) Amount (Rs) Subrahmanya Swami AallVilakku 1 000.00 Subrahmanya Swami Aranazhy 1 800.00 Subrahmanya Swami Ashtabhishekam 3 000.00 Ashtadravya Ganapathy Homam 800.00 Subrahmanya Swami Avalpara 150.00 Subrahmanya Swami BhagavatSeva 300.00 Subrahmanya Swami CHATHUSSATHAM 20 000.00 Chuttuvilakku (Nadapanam) 1500.00 Chuttuvilakku enna thiri etc 8000.00 Subrahmanya Swami Impara 1 500.00 Subrahmanya Swami Kadumpayasam 100.00 Subrahmanya Swami Karukahomam 120.00 Mruthyunjaya Homam 800.00 Subrahmanya Swami Muzhukappu 6 000.00 Subrahmanya Swami NamaskaraOottu 120.00 Namaskkara Oottu Sadhya 4000.00 Subrahmanya Swami Navakam 1 000.00 Subrahmanya Swami NelPara 120.00 Subrahmanya Swami NEYYABHISHEKAM 250.00 Subrahmanya Swami NEYYAMRUTHAM 100.00 Subrahmanya Swami Niramala 200.00 Subrahmanya Swami OruAhasu 4 000.00 Subrahmanya Swami OruNeram Pooja 600.00 Subrahmanya Swami Palabhishekam 80.00 Subrahmanya Swami PALPAYASAM1/2 Ltr 100.00 Subrahmanya Swami Panakam 100.00 Panchamrutham Abhishekam 800.00 RENAMOCHANA ARCHANA 30.00 Sarkkara Panthirunazhi 3000.00 Subrahmanya Swami ShashtiVaaram 1 000.00 Subrahmanya Swami SHASHTTIPOOJA 300.00 Subrahmanya Swami SubrahmaniaPooja 300.00 Subrahmanya Swami HoneyABHISHEK 200.00 Thidappally Nivedyam 150.00 Thidappaly Rakshasinu Nivedyam 150.00 Thilahomam 120.00 Subrahmanya Swami Thirumukham 2 500.00 Subrahmanya Swami Thrimadhuram 30.00 Udhayasthamana Pooja 60000.00 Subrahmanya Swami UlsavaPayasam 600.00 Subrahmanya Swami Valiavilakku 150.00 Sasthavu Ada Nivedyam 3 000.00 Sasthavu Appam 120.00 Sasthavu Chirappu 2 000.00 Sasthavu Koottupayasam 70.00 Sasthavu Neerajanam 40.00 Sasthavu NEYYABHISHEKAM 200.00 Sasthavu Niramala 200.00 Sasthavu PALPAYASAM 1/2Ltr 100.00 Sasthavu SasthaMuzhukkappu 3 000.00 Sasthavu Sastha Pooja 150.00 Sasthavu SasthaThirumukham 1 500.00 Sasthavu Valiavilakku 100.00 Mahavishnu Appam 120.00 Mahavishnu Kadumpayasam 100.00 Mahavishnu LAKSHMINARAYANA POOJA 300.00 Mahavishnu Muzhukappu 6 000.00 Mahavishnu Navakam 1 000.00 Mahavishnu Oru NeramPooja 600.00 Mahavishnu Palabhishekam 80.00 Mahavishnu Thirumukham 2 500.00 Mahavishnu VishnuPooja 300.00 Bhuvaneswari Devi 108Guruthy 46 000.00 Bhuvaneswari Devi Appam 120.00 Bhuvaneswari Devi Guruthy 400.00 Bhuvaneswari Devi Kadumpayasam 100.00 Bhuvaneswari Devi Niramala 200.00 Bhuvaneswari Devi Vara-nivedyam 150.00 Festivals Utsavam (Annual Festival) The 10-day annual festival begins in the Karthika Nakshatraof Kumbha with the ‘Kodiyettu’ (flag hoisting), which is a very grand occasion.Each day of the utsavam is rich with different cultural activities andcelebrations, apart from the special religious rituals and poojas performed inthe temple. The utsavam ends with the ‘Pallivetta’ on the 9th day, and finally‘Aarattu’ on the 10th day. The temple hosts its annual festival in theMalayalam month of Kumbham (i.e. February/March) which lasts 10 long days. Asin many temples in Kerala, the festivities start-off with the ceremonial flaghosting (Kodiyettu) on the Karthika day. The Aarattu (holy bathing) is held at ChembilavuPonkunnathu Mahadeva temple on the banks of Meenachil river. Lord Shiva who presides at this temple is considered as the fatherof Thrikkidangoorappan. Thaipooyam is celebrated annually in the monthof Makaram, during which devotees resolve to follow special rituals andpractices, and visit the temple with ‘kaavadi’ as an offering. Thrikarthika is the birthday of Lord Subramanyan.Devotees light small diyas (earthen clay lamps) in the night and visit thetemple. There are special rituals and poojas performed on this day as well.Thrikarthika is also an annual festival. Shashti is a monthlyfestival, which occurson the 6th day after a new moon. On this day too, devotees follow severalrituals and religious practices. Women especially visit the temple on Shashtito be blessed with children, and for the wellbeing of their children. Administration Earlier the temple wasowned and managed by 13 Namboothiri Brahmin families in Kidangoor: Now the temple is under theadministration of Travancore Devaswam Board. CONTACT numbers Manager: +91 94477 82795,Asst. Manager : +91 81138 43144,Office: +91 48222 57978 For Vazhipadu (Offering)Bookings +91 48222 54478,+91 94961 61884 Location The temple is located on Manarcaud - Kidangoor state highway,near the banks of Meenachil river. It is about 1.5 km from Kidangoor Bus stop and 5 km from Ayarkunnam. By Rail-Kottayam Railway Station, about 18 km By Air-Cochin International Airport, about 93 kms Temple timings 5:00 AM - 12:00 PM 5:00 PM- 8:00 PM Specific PoojaTimings: Nada Thurakkal: 4:30 AM Nirmaalya Darshanam: 4:45 AM.GanapathiHomam: 5:45 AM Ushapooja: 6:15 AM Ethrutta Pooja: 6:45 AM Sheeveli: 7:00 AMPantheeradi: 7:30 AMNavakam Pooja: 10:00 AM Uchapooja (Vishnu)10.30 A.M Navakam Abhishekam11.00 A.MUchapooja, Sheeveli11.30 A.M Nadayadakkal12:00 Evening Nada Thurakkal5.00 P.M Deeparadhana6.15 P.M (Vishnu & Subramanya)to 6.45 P.M Athazhapooja (Vishnu)7.15 P.M Athazhapooja (Subramanya),7.30 P.M Sheeveli Nadayadakkal8.00 P.M Pillar made ofKurumthotti wood The Kidangoor Subramanya Swami Temple is known for its uniquepillar made from the rare medicinal plant, Kurumthotti. This pillar is not justa structural element but is also believed to possess medicinal properties, withlocal lore suggesting its extracts were used for healing. Here's a more detailed look: Kurunthotti Pillar: The pillar is carved from the wood of theKurunthotti plant, which is known for its medicinal properties. Medicinal Properties: Local beliefs and traditions attributehealing abilities to the plant's extracts, which were once used in conjunctionwith the pillar. -- 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/85645043.1011080.1751376329026%40mail.yahoo.com.
