Perunna Subrahmanya swami temple is more than 1200 years old; and is the one and only Muruga Temple in this world where Lord Muruga holds his Vel upside down, ie pointing downward; as he is killing "Tharakasura".
History. Some 500 years back, there was a village called Umbizhi, near Perunna. ( This is the place where Changanacherry railway station now situates). This village , like Perunna; was a Brahmin settlement. Although both the villages where Brahmin settlements, Perunna Brahmins were 'SATWICS' ( those who perform only good karmas and not negative), but Umbishis were more ugra tantrics- who also performed some black magic related works Perunna Brahmins were SIVA Devotees at that time and they had a small but powerfull siva temple for their worship. ( which is the Keezhkulangara mahadeva temple on the east nada of perunna temple.). As their prosperity increased because of the blessings of this Siva; Umbizhi Brahmins became jealous and they have started performing some tantric rituals against perunna. They also attacked the keezhkulangara temple and destroyed the temple complex; but fortunately, perunna Brahmins were able to save the idol or vigraha. (This is the same Vigraha present in the keezhkulanagara temple). Perunna brahmins and other hindus were shocked by the incident and a person from Idamana Illam, ( A nampoothiri from perunna padinjattumbhagam) started a pilgrimage seeking the remedy for their problems. He had travelled all the way to "Pazhani Muruka Temple" in Tamil nadu, stayed there in the temple and started a special bhajan, seeking a solution. After some weeks, he had a vision of Lord Muruga of Palani. Lord Muruga advised the nampoothiri to go to Kodunthura river in the Pathanamthitta Dist; and take the idol ( Vigraham) from the river. This idol was built in the time immemorial and was originally worshipped by the munis and rishis of various yugas. Immediately idaman Namboothiri went to kodunthura and found the idol in the river. On the day of prathishta ( Consecration) itself, villagers of umbizhi smelled their defeat. They have done a very rare and secret tantric ritual and send a very powerful moorthy (deity) to destroy the Perunna Temple. When edamana nampoothiri heard about this incident he started a walk toward east ( towards umbishi illam) and on the way found a very bright ball of fire coming toward their direction. His companion, a nair karanavar offered himself as 'bali' (Sacrificed his Life) to the moorthy and edamana nampoothiri suddenly performed some rituals and was able to control the moorthy ( deity). He made some avahanas and made a moorthi pratishta ( which is the famous Maranathu Kavu Temple at NSS HeadQuarters, perunna Changanacherry) of the Maranam( God Kali). After all these events Umbizhi Villagers were totally destroyed and the place where the said village where situated; become dense forest.Upto some 55 years back; Lord murugas ( Perunna Subrahmanya Swamis) Arattu; at the time of festival; was performed at that place. Later the Govt of Kerala took control of that place and constructed a Railway Station. K RAJARAM IRS 11825 On Mon, 11 Aug 2025 at 13:13, 'gopala krishnan' via Thatha_Patty < [email protected]> wrote: > PERUNNA SUBRAMONIA SWAMY TEMPLE- KOTTAYAM DISTRICT- KERALA-COMPILED > > Dear friends, > > Perunna Sri Subramonia swamy temple is located in the large town of > Kerala called Changanaserry which is *23 km south from Kottayam > Muncipality.* The temple is a pilgrim centre which has its own glory and > greatness, mainly because of the divinity enshrined in the sanctum > sanctorum of the temple and the unique charm of the idol installed in it. > This temple is one of the most famous Muruga temples in the state, and is > a classic example of the Kerala style of architecture, having many > decorative murals and pieces of art. This is the venue of the world-famous > Thai Pooya Kavadiyattam ( Kavadi) festival celebrated annually from January > to February. The temple is visited by Mahatma Gandhi. > > *Perunna is the Headquarters of Nair Service Society in Kerala.* While > travelling from Trivandrum, *Perunna is before Chenganassery. I had my > education in NSS Modern High school Pandalam and NSS College, Pandalam, * > > Today my posting is about the Subramanya temple in Perunna. Hope a > divine reading. > > Gopalakrishnan 11-08-2025 > > Legend > > There is a story behind this temple. It seems in a village called > Uppizhi in Kerala there was a great Subrahmanya devotee called Kumaran > Namboodiri. Like all other Keralaites he was a great devotee of Palani > Murugan. Once when he went to the Palalni temple, it seems he felt home > sick. It seems Lord Muruga came in his dream and told him that “You can > find my statue in the river Kodumthurai. You recover that and consecrate it > in Perunna”. Kumaran Namboodiri obeyed the order of God and the > Perunna temple was established. > > History > > The idol was consecrated in the year 753 AD in the tenth day of Meenam > month. It seems that as soon as the idol was consecrated, it was > completely covered in Sun light. Every year this day is celebrated as the > Consecration Day . Every year the same miracle of Sun covering the statue > happens. > > Architecture > > This 1200-year old temple has an idol of Lord Subramanya with unique > charm. The temple also fascinates devotees and pilgrims with its charming > Kerala style architecture. Many decorative murals and other pieces of arts > are on the walls of this temple. > > Perunna inscriptions > > Inscriptions in Vatteshuthu alphabet can be seen at the west gate of the > temple. These are believed to be written in the 10th century, during the > rule of Kulasekhara Koyiladhikari. > > Temple tank > > There is huge tank in this temple which is believed to contain large > number of Saligrama stones. > > Chief Deity > > The Form of Subrahmanaya is that of furious Deva Senathipathi with the Vel > placed in downward direction .*People believe that this form was assumed > immediately after the Lord Subrhamana killed Tharakasura*. The idol is > five feet tall and is consecrated on a lotus platform. It is made in black > stone. > > No similar idol is known to exist elsewhere. *Therefore, the Perunna Sree > Subramanya Swamy Temple becomes a temple that is separate and of utmost > importance from other Subramanya temples*. It is also believed to be a > very special and enemy-killing . > > This is the only temple where Subrahmanya Swami or Lord Murugan is seen > in furious form. > > The idol of Lord Subrahmanya is five feet tall made in black stone and is > consecrated on a lotus platform. In the temple, the furious form of > Subrahmanya Swami is worshipped. He faces east as seen in most of the > temples. > > Sub deities > > The sub-deities of the temple are Lord Krishna, Mahadeva, Mahaganapati, > Sastha, Naga gods, and Rakshas. > > Poojas and Nivedyam > > Poojas are performed to t*he God five times a day*. The God is anointed > with milk every day. The pooja (rituals) are done by Nambudiri Brahmin > priests. Five Edangazhi(A measure of Kerala-one edangazhi slightly more > than one kg ) rice is cooked every day and is offered to the God. Aravanai > Payasam is offered to the God. > > Tuesday is considered as a special day to worship God here. > > Festivals > > Annual festival- The temple is famous for a festival named Pallivetta > which is celebrated in the month of November/December. > > Karthigai festival, Thai poosam , Skanda Sashti , Sura Samharam etc are > celebrated in this temple. During Kartigai festival which is celebrated for > thirteen days. > > “Thypooyam festival occurring in the Malayalam month Makaram > (January-February), the day of the star Pooyam around Pournami (Full Moon) > is celebrated as Thypooyam. There was a demon named Tharakasuran who was > troubling the Rishis and Saints. Lord Muruga was called by his parents Lord > Shiva and Parvati and given the job of destroying the asuran. Lord Muruga > set off with the blessings of his parents, to destroy the demon. He carried > twelve weapons, eleven of which were given by his father Lord Shiva and the > 'Vel' given by his mother Parvati. Lord Muruga destroyed Tharakasuran on > the Pooyam Nakshatram day in the Tamil month of Thai and hence Thypooyam is > celebrated in all Murugan temples. > > Generally, people take a vow to offer the Lord a Kavadi for the sake of > tiding over a great calamity. No doubt, the worldly object is achieved > for the devotee who takes the Kavadi. After the ceremony he fells that his > inner spiritual being gets awakened. This is also a method that ultimately > leads to the supreme state of devotion. > > The Kavadi has various shapes and sizes, from the simple shape of a > hawker's storehouse (a wooden stick with two baskets at each end, slung > across the shoulder) to the costly palanquin structure, profusely > flower-bedecked and decoratively interwoven with peacock feathers. > > The two baskets hanging at each end of the Kavadi contain milk, rose > water, chandanam, tender coconut water, bhasmam, Sesame oil(Enna)etc that > the devotee has vowed to offer the Lord. *The more devout among them, and > especially those who do it as a Sadhana, collect these articles by begging > (bhiksha). They travel on foot from village to village, and beg from door > to door. The devotees conduct pooja for Idumban before starting the > bhiksha.* > > Some keen devotees undertake to walk barefoot from home to one of the > shrines of Lord Subramanya, bearing the Kavadi all the way and collecting > materials for the offering. > > The Kavadi-bearer is required to observe various rules between the time he > takes up the Kavadi, and the day of the offering. He has to perform > elaborate ceremonies at the time of assuming the Kavadi, and at the time of > offering it to the Lord. He wears saffron-coloured cloth and carry a > conical scarlet cap and a cane silver-capped at both ends. The > Kavadi-bearer very often observes silence. He observes strict celibacy. > Only pure, vegetarian food is taken; he abstains from all sorts of > intoxicating drinks and drugs. He thinks of God all the time. > > Many of the Kavadi-bearers, especially those who do it as a spiritual > Sadhana, used to impose various forms of self-torture earlier. Now it is > banned > > The Kavadi-bearer enjoys a high state of religious fervour. His very > appearance is awe-inspiring; there is divine radiance on his face. Devotees > often experience the state of feeling united with the Lord. > > *From the time immemorial, the thaipooya kavadi of perunna temple has > become the place for miracles*. As the kavadi festival has competitive > spirit ( two areas namely padinjattum bhagam and kizhakku- west and east) > both groups are trying their very best to make their kavadi better. The > major competitive events in this kavadi festivals are chenda melam and > decorated elephants raising heads. > > Opening to all Hindus > > In the year 1936, for the first time in Kerala , this temple was opened > for all the devotees by the Travancore king. > > Hearing this incident Mohandas Gandhi during his first visit to Kerala > came to the temple and worshipped the Muruga. A grand ceremony and meeting > were conducted at the east gate of the temple then. > > > > Address and phone number of the temple > > Perunna Subrahmanya Swamy Temple > > Changanassery-686102 > > Phone : +91-0481-2424994 > > My note- About seven years back the MC road has been widened so that > buses up and down to Trivandrum can run in separate lanes. I am not sure > about divider other than at important locations. > > How To Reach > > By Bus-Perunna Private Bus Station, about 1.5 km away > > By Flight-Cochin International Airport, about 111 km > > By Train-Changanassery Railway Station, about 2 km away > > Frequent buses pass through Perunna in the MC road with in a frequency of > 10 minutes maximum. > > -- > 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/2033976438.2616900.1754898229176%40mail.yahoo.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/2033976438.2616900.1754898229176%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. 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