Karppillikkavu Sree Mahadeva Temple

The Karppillikkavu Sree Mahadeva Temple is a Hindu temple to Shiva located in Manjapra, a village in the Ernakulam district of the Kerala region of India.

There is an important festival associated with the temple called Karpillikkavu Pooram. It lasts eight days during the month of Makara, a period corresponding to late January and early February. During this time, Shiva is believed to be in a pleasant mood and willing to grant all of the requests of his devotees.

History of the Temple

The Karppillikkavu Sree Mahadeva Temple is one among the 108 eminent siva kshethras in India and the specialty of this temple is that siva prathishta have been done giving dharshan to western side. This temple is situated in Manjapra village in Ernakulam District of Kerala. The legend has it that this temple was existing even before 2000 B.C and as such one can see that this temple is one among the oldest temple in India. The prathishta of the Siva is in the Sankalppa of Kirathamoorthy that is Vettakkaran. It is also the legend is that the Prathishta have been done by Karthyaveerarjuna.

The Legend also goes in this line that this temple first was having the Prathishta of Sri Devi ( Parvathy ) but when Karthyaveerarjuna came to temple to do dharshan of Sri Devi’s ( Parvathy ) sannidhaya was not there and so he conducted Prathishta of Siva in the temple and he staid in the cave constructed by him in the northern side of the temple and he spend in the cave much of time doing Siva dhyanam.

In an Ashtamangalaprasna conducted by Daivanjan Kaimukku Parameswaran Nambudiripad, he came to the conclusion that there is a connecting invisible very huge tunnel in between the well and the pond of the temple and this tunnel extends from the pond about 30 k.m east of the pond and at the end of the tunnel there situated a very old temple and a pond having trees, plants of high medicinal value.

Vyapthi of the Temple

In the Prasna Daivanjan Kaimukku Parameswaran Nambudiripad enlightened that the prathishta of this temple that of the Kirathamoorthy worshiped by Kirathas and tribes in the very spread up forest area extending up to Boothathankettu in the East, Kidangoor in the West, Ezhattumugham in the North and Kadayirippu in the South side.

All Matters connected with the management and administration of this temple is situated under a Venkuttakkuda where are conducted by the group of people, who are the inhabitance of this area based on mutual discussions and decisions taken in their Nattukkoottam that is public assembly and by this assembly the area was later known as Nattukkottam kara which later became known as Naduvattom.

Administrative changes

By the pass of centuries the group strength of the Nattukkoottam got step by step diminished and in their place Ten Eminent Nambudiri family took over the administration of the temple and by the pass of time they quarrel each other and Shapas and Prathishapas arose and resultantly the deva chaithanya from temple got lost. Ultimately all the Nambudiri families are got perished. No nambudiri family left alive in this area now.

Ownership under Trust

It is the Panayil Pazhoor Mana of Manickamangalam village, all most closed to the temple premises have renovated and reconstructed the temple about 400 years back and started poojas and sevas in the temple. Systematically Devachaithanyam arose in the idol and naturally Panayil Pazhoor Mana became the owner trusty of the temple.Connections with other Temples. It is well known that the Vaikkom Siva Temple as well as Udhayanapuram Subramanyan Temple were closely associated each other and like wise this temple has get close connection with Kumarakkulam Subramanyan Temple of Angamaly.

Devi Chaithanya

This also a finding of the Astrologer Kaimukku Parameswaran Nambudiripad when did Ashtamangalya prasna is that there is an existence of Devi Sannidhya in the temple and so doing poojas and sevas for Devi ( parvathy ) in the temple. On making Archana in Padma is very divine act for getting abhisttasidhi.

Important and auspicious days

All the Pradhosha are very important days to the temple. Thiruvathira day in Dhanu, Vidhyarambam, Mandala days and Thiruvathira Nakshthram in Makara month is the Aarattu day after 8 days festival. The festival days are very important days in which Siva remains very joyful and to do dharshan at that time and kanickka offering before his lotus feet is very good for Abhishtasidhi and Aiswaryasidhi. Further more the Vishuday, Uthram Nakshathram in Medom month which is the Prathishta day of the temple. Niraputhari and Ramayana masacharanam are the other important occasions and days. The Festival of the Temple conducted in a very grand style with the co-operation and assistance of Hindus, Christians and Muslims. The Specialty of this festival is that all persons whether belonging to Hindu religion or other considers it as a local festival of all concerns. The festival prolongs to 8 days and religious celebrations are carried out in the strict thanthric ways but for enjoyment and assembly of all concerns cultural and other programmes which fits with the Achara of the temple is also conducted in the temple. On the 7’th day of festival idol is brought out from the temple and accompanied by seven eminent elephants of Kerala and well known artist for Panchavadhyam and Chendamelom procession is conducted through the Manjapra town and later possession ends at the temple and idol will be take in.On 6’th of the festival day Utsavabali is conducted in the temple in a majestic manner accompanied by Vadhyamelom, Marappani, Nadaswaram and other temple instrumental equipments. Sreeboothabali has got very much importance just because it is the pooja feast provided for Bhoothagana that is soldiers of Siva along with the feast to Bhoothagana Annadhanam is also provided to all the local assembly.

At the time of Utsavabali there will be Kanickka samarppanam that is offering devotees in large to the lord to meet expenses of Utsavabali , Utsav as well as celebrations.

The main offerings to the lord are
# 1000 Kalasabhishekam ( Sahasra Kalasabhishekam )
# Dressing idol with Sandal
# Sreerudhram Dhara
# Tulabharam
# Navagrahapooja

Pooja timings

Morning session
* 4.30 am Palliyunarthal
* 5.00 am Nirmallyadharshanam, Abhishekam
* 7.00 am Ushapooja
* 7.30 am Ehtrithapooja
* 10.30 am Uchapooja

Evening Session
* 5.30 pm Nadathurackal
* 6.30 pm Deeparadhana
* 7.30 pm Athazhapooja

Administrative setup

As a part of social reforms the Kerala government introduced land Reforms Act. As a result of the said enactment the temple income come down to roughly 6% of the total income. The ownership of the lands of the temple having in Manjapra and surrounding area coming in total 1000 acres where all got transferred to tenants. The fall in income created complete dislocation in the daily routine of the temple. The trustee was unable to carry on the affairs of the temple and so handover the temple management to K.U.D.B. They too crupts in the 6% income, cutting all routines, poojas sevas and festival celebrations etc. . Later the local public after feeling that all of them are irrespective of the religion they belong is facing reverses after reverses and so they assembled together and decided to conduct an Ashtamangala Prasna. The findings of the Astrologer was that the reverse in the locality is due to lack of sannidhaya of Siva and suggested to improve the temple and if otherwise the astrologer also told that more reverses even the questioning of the existence of public may arise, hence a samithy was constituted belonged to Hindu religion for the purpose of improving the temple, reconstructing and repairing the temple and for re-establishment of pooja, sevas, festivals and other celebrations. The samithy was registered under the Kerala Charitable Institutions Act. The samithy with the co-operation and assistance of all local persons irrespective of religion is now getting the assistance from all sections of the people.Samithy was able to conduct Naveekarana Kalasa ( Mahakumbhabhisheka ) in 1992 from April 8 to April 18 ( 1167 Meenam 26 to Medom 5 )

Renovations completed by the Seva Samithy

The entire structure around the Sreekovil including Sreekovil, Naalambalam, Thirumuttom,Sopanam, Pond of the Temple were all reconstructed thoroughly adopting the very style of Tachu sasthra and without allowing to destroy in any way the originality of the temple. Pradhakshina Path inside and outside of the temple were all laid down by designed black stone containing artistic engravements connected with the siva mahathmyam. Collection counter out side the chuttambalam was constructed recently for receiving offerings and the counter was inaugurated on Kodiyattu day of the festival 2002 by the temples trustee Bhramasree Ravi Narayanan Nambudiripad of Panayil Pazhoor Mana.

Future Projects

Samithy has so far completed renovation work in various matters involving a cash expenditure about 25,00,000/- in total and now the samithy have programmed to do the following work at the earliest possible.
# Rectification involved if any in the Dwaja in consultation with the Thanthri who designed this dwaja and covering the dwaja with gold, this involves an expenditure of about 20 lakhs.
# Completion of Alangaragopuram, it involves an expenditure of another Rs.20,00,0000
# Reconstruction of Valiyambalam strictly adopting the Kerala Vasthu silp but a new style of construction in R.C.C
# Covering of Sreekovil with copper sheets. These two works will cost an estimated expenditure about 20 lakh each.
# Kallyanamandapam with all modern facilities , which will cost an expenditure of 25 lakhs.

Sree Rudhram Dhara

One of the most important offering to the lord is Sreerudhram dhara. This is dhara conducted by thanthries who belong to regveda group. The dhara is conducted using all important sukthas in regveda. The cost charged by devaswom is 251/- per dhara.

Another important offering is 1000 Kalasabhisheka to be performed by thanthries. This may cost about Rs. 3000/- or above according to the style prescribed by the devotees.

About the Samithy

Mainly the samithy has two parts, one is Sevasamithy and other is Bharanasamithy. The Bharanasamithy consists of manager, convenor and two members, who have the full authority to make administration in inside the Temple and they take charge in the daily affairs of the Temple. Sevasamithy is an excecutive samithy which has got wide power to regulate the affairs of Bharanasamithy. The Sevasamithy has got 120 Lifetime members, persons who are completed the age of 18 years and belonged to Hindu religion and was residing in Manjapra is also entitled to take a membership in the Sevasamithy. The executive body of sevasamithy consists the following posts, convener, joint convener, secretary, joint secretary, treasurer and 6 members. The Members to Sevasamithy are to be elected from the Annual general body of the temple and who holds their office for a period of 3 year. Besides the above samithy there was an Advisory samithy also, it includes 4 persons, they are generally two from the public, one from the trustee of the temple and one from the Thanthri of the temple.

External links

* [http://www.karppillikkavutemple.org/history.htm The history of the temple]
* [http://www.india9.com/i9show/57337.htm Description of Karppillikkavu Pooram]