VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Thirumittakode Anchumoorthi Temple/ തിരുമിറ്റക്കോട് അഞ്ചുമൂർത്തി ടെമ്പിൾ, Bharathapuzha River Shoranur, Thirumittacode, Palakkad District, Kerala.

Friday, 29 August 2025

Thirumittakode Anchumoorthi Temple/ തിരുമിറ്റക്കോട് അഞ്ചുമൂർത്തി ടെമ്പിൾ, Bharathapuzha River Shoranur, Thirumittacode, Palakkad District, Kerala.

The visit to this Sree Uyyavandha Perumal Temple at Thirumittakode was a part of the Malai Nadu Divya Desams visit from 10^th to 14^th June 2025, organized by Mantra Yatra (website). Thanks to Mr. Balaji Davey and his team of Mantra Yatra for the excellent arrangement and personal care.

Vishnu sannidhi installed by Arjuna

This temple is also called the Anchumoorthi/ Anjumurthy Temple on the banks of the Bharathapuzha River. This place mentioned in the pasurams as Thiruvithuvakodu is locally called Thirumittakode. This is one of the 108 Divya Desam of Maha Vishnu, and Mangalasasanam was done by Kulasekara Alwar (Pasurams 688-697).

தரு துயரம் தடாயேல் உன் சரண் அல்லால் சரண் இல்லை

விரை குழுவும் மலர்ப் பொழில் சூழ் வித்துவக்கோட்டு அம்மானே

அரி சினத்தால் ஈன்ற தாய் அகற்றிடினும் மற்று அவள்தன்

அருள் நினைந்தே அழும் குழவி அதுவே போன்று இருந்தேனே

…. குலசேகர ஆழ்வார்

Moolavar : Sree Uyyavandha Perumal

Thayar : Sree Vithuvacode Valli, Padmapani Nachiyar

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east. Since the complex consists of Shiva and Maha Vishnu temples, two balipeedams and two metal lamps are installed in front of the temple complex. Garuda’s and Rishabam’s images are on top of the metal lamps.

Kasi Viswanathar temple is immediately after the east side entrance. The Sri Uyyavandha Perumal temple is on the back side of the Shiva temple. A wall with a door is between the two temples.

The 4 Maha Vishnu Sannidhis, Ganapati sannidhi with Vishnu sannidhi installed by Nagula & Sahadeva, Ganapati, Dakshinamurthy, Bheema Sannidhi, and Nagars with Sasthavu are in the thiruchuttambalam.

Garuda and Rishabam images on the metal lamps
Sasthavu

ARCHITECTURE

The temple complex consists of Shiva and Maha Vishnu temples / Sree Kovil's with a common nalambalam. A namaskara mandapam with a pyramidal roof is in front of the Maha Vishnu temple. Shiva and Maha Vishnu temples are square on plan, built in a combination of Dravidian and Kerala architecture. The adhistanam is of pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, vrudha kumudam, and pattikai with madhalai. The pranala is like a canon, which emerges through the mouth of yazhi. The pilasters are of Vishnukantha pilaster with kalasam, kudam, palakai, and vettu pothyal. The prastaram consists of valapi with bhuta ganas, and kapotam with nasi kudus. Both temple walls have mural paintings of Shaivam and Vaishnava deities and stories.

Both temples have pyramidal Kerala-style two-tala vimanas. The vimana over the Maha Vishnu Sree Uyyavandha Perumal temple is called Thathwakanchana

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Based on Kulasekara Alwar’s pasuram, the original temple might have existed before the 9^th Century CE. Later received contributions from Cheras, Chozhas, Pandyas, Venadu Kings, Travancore Kings, etc.

The inscription on the door frame in vattezhuthu & Grantha belongs to the Chera king Ravi Goda’s 8th reign year (1028 CE), which corresponds to the reign of Chola King Rajendra I (1012-1044 CE), records a donation of gold to the temple by a Chola official, Chekkizhan Shakthinjayan, from Thondai Nadu.

This is considered a rare inscription of Chozha’s found in Kerala.

LEGENDS

Maha Vishnu gave darshan to Ambareesha Maha Raja. This place is called Thiruvithuvakodu, which means a beautiful place. Ambreesha Maha Raja was an ardent devotee of Maha Vishnu and wouldn’t ask anything from anybody, and would ask only Maha Vishnu, that too not for his personal needs. Maha Vishnu wants to test him and takes the form of Indra. Maha Vishnu came to Ambareesha on Indra’s vahana, Airavata Elephant. Maha Vishnu asked him what he wanted. Ambareesha said that he does not want to get anything other than Maha Vishnu. So Maha Vishnu showed his thirukolam. It is believed that Maha Vishnu, in the form of the 4 vyuga murtis as Para Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha, blesses the devotees in this temple.

This temple is also called Nankumoorthy sthalam, where the main deity was installed by Dharmaputhra, also known as Yudhishtira. The other Maha Vishnu murtis are installed by the west Arjuna, left side Beema, and right side Nakula & Sahadeva.

In another legend, a Brahmin from the Kasi Viswanathar temple came to the south on pilgrimage. On reaching this place, he kept his umbrella near the dwajasthamba and took a bath in the Bharathapuzha. After bathing, he tried to take the umbrella, but couldn’t do so. When taken out forcibly, Kasi Viswanathar appeared before him, blessed, and stayed in this temple itself at the Brahmi’s request.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are done on Vaikunta Ekadasi, Rama Navami, Thiruvonam, Vishu, Maha Shivaratri, the annual 10-day festival in the month of Medam (April-May), etc.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept open from 05.00 hrs to 10.30 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

The mobile number 085472 07202 may be contacted for further details.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Thirumittakode-Anjumoorthy-Temple-100064328154390/

HOW TO REACH

Thirumittakode Anchumoorthi Temple is on the banks of Bharathappuzha River, about a km away from Cheruthuruthi – Perumpilavu Road, ie, the Village, 7 km from Pattambi Railway Station, 37 km from Thrissur, 63 km from Palakkad, 91 km from Kozhikode, and 121 km from Kochi.

The nearest Railway Station is Pattambi.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE