The visit
to this Sree Navai Mukundan Temple at Thirunavaya was a part of the Malai Nadu Divya Desams visit
from 10th to 14th 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.
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This
temple is on the banks of the River Bharathapuzha. This place, Thirunavaya, is one
of the 108 Divya Desam of Maha Vishnu, and Mangalasasanam was done by Nammalwar
(3634-44) and Thirumangai Alwar (1520 & 1856).
தூ
வாய புள் ஊர்ந்து வந்து துறை வேழம்
மூவாமை
நல்கி முதலை துணித்தானை
தேவாதிதேவனை
செங் கமலக் கண்ணானை
நாவாய் உளானை நறையூரில் கண்டேனே.
(1520)
……
திருமங்கை ஆழ்வார்
அறுக்கும்
வினையாயின ஆகத்து அவனை
நிறுத்தும்
மனத்துஒன்றிய சிந்தையினார்க்கு
வெறித்தண்மலர்ச்
சோலைகள்சூழ் திருநாவாய்
குறுக்கும்வகை
உண்டுகொலோ கொடியேற்கே? (3750)
….நம்மாழ்வார்
Moolavar : Sree Navai Mukundan
Thayar : Sree Malarmangai Nachiyar
: Sree Maha Lakshmi (Thanikoil
Nachiyar)
Some of the salient
features of this temple are….
The temple faces east
on the banks of the Bharathapuzha River. Dwajasthambam and balipeedam are after the
entrance mandapam. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. The murti
of Navamukunda is in a standing posture facing East with only the body of Maha
Vishnu above the knee visible, and the legs below the knee are concealed
underground. Maha Vishnu is holding Shankha and Chakra in the upper hands and
Gadha and Padmam in the lower hands. The idol is made of stone, covered in
panchaloha, and is 6 feet tall.
In pradakshinapatha, Saptamatrikas, Ashtadikpalakas, Shiva Linga, with a Rishabam, etc.
In Thiruchuttambalam,
Maha Lakshmi is a separate temple and Ganapati. This is the only temple where
Maha Lakshmi is in a separate sannidhi as Thani Kovil Nachiyar. Paintings are
around the walls of the sannidhis.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists
of Sree Kovil, Namaskara mandapam, Nalammbalam, and Thiruchuttambalam. The Sree
Kovil is square in plan on an elevated level with a stepped sobanam. The
Sree Kovil is on an elevated pada bandha / prati bandha adhistanam with
jagathy, and muppattai kumudam. The prastaram consists of valapi with bhuta
ganas, kapotam with nasikudus, and vyyalavari. A two-tier pyramidal Kerala-style
vimanam is on the Sree Kovil. The Vimana is called Veda Vimanam.
An elevated namaskara
mandapam is in front of the Sree Kovil. The Nalambalam, with entrances on the front
and back sides, forms the enclosure to the Sree Kovil.
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HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTIONS
Based on the Nammalwar
and Thirumangai Alwar’s pasuram on Maha Vishnu of this temple, the original
temple might have existed before the 06th - 9th Century CE.
Later received contributions from Cheras, Chozhas, Pandyas, Venadu King,
Travancore kings, etc. The temple was damaged during the invasion of Tipu Sultan and by the rebels during the Moplah Rebellion. The temple was
reconstructed and brought back to worship.
The temple is
proposed to replace the existing kodimaram with a new teak wood kodimaram. The
new kodimaram has been immersed in oil for the past 6 months, called Thailadivasa. The
old primarily consists of sesame oil, with over 35 unique ingredients. A
display board requests donations for the required funds.
LEGENDS
It is believed that
Nava (9) Yogis worshipped Maha Vishnu of this temple, hence called Nava
Yogis sthalam, which has been corrupted to Thirunavai. Lakshmi, Gajendran, and
Nava Yogis worshipped Maha Vishnu at this temple.
Moolavar is visible
above the knee level. There is a legend behind this. Nava Yogis installed Maha
Vishnu, one by one. The eight Yogis installed Perumal Murti, and it was not visible the next day. The ninth Yogi installed the 9th Vigraha. When he
opened the door after three days and found that the Vigraha had gone inside up
to knee level. The 9th Yogi requested Maha Vishnu to stay as it is and
bless the devotees.
In another legend, Gajendra wishes to worship Maha Vishnu with lotus flowers. Before it plucked
the flowers, Maha Lakshmi plucked the flowers and offered them to Maha Vishnu. Due
to this, the elephant had only a few flowers. So the elephant complained to
Maha Vishnu. Maha Vishnu advised Maha Lakshmi to sit along with him and accept
the flowers offered by the Elephant.
It is believed that
taking a bath at the place in Bharathapuzha is equivalent to taking a bath in the Ganga
at Kasi.
POOJAS AND
CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular
poojas, special poojas are conducted on Thiruvonam, Ekadasi, and Vishu, and the annual
10-day festival of the temple is held during April. In addition
to the annual celebration, once in 12 years mamangam festival is conducted for 28
days.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be
kept open from 05.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
Thirunavaya Devaswom
Mobile number +919497188647 and landline number +914942603747 may be contacted
for further details.
Email: navamukundatemple@gmail.com
HOW TO REACH
The temple is about
400 meters away from Tirur to Kuttipuram Road, 7.3 km from Kuttipuram Railway Station, 55 km from Kozhikode, 60 km from Thrissur, and 80 km from Palakkad
Railway Station.
The nearest Railway
Station is Tirunavaya.
LOCATION OF THE
TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
---
OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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