Thirunavaya Navamukunda Temple

Thirunavaya Temple
Tirunavaya Navamukunda Temple
Tirunavaya Navamukunda Temple
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictMalappuram
DeityNavamukunda (Vishnu)
Location
LocationTirunavaya, Tirur, Kerala
StateKerala
Country India
Thirunavaya Navamukunda Temple is located in Kerala
Thirunavaya Navamukunda Temple
Navamukunda Temple, Thirunavaya, Malappuram, Kerala, India
Geographic coordinates10°51′49″N 75°58′54″E / 10.863719°N 75.981761°E / 10.863719; 75.981761
Architecture
TypeKerala Temple Architecture
Specifications
Temple(s)One
Elevation28.8 m (94 ft)

Tirunavaya Temple (in full Tirunavaya Navamukunda Temple) is an ancient Hindu temple at Tirunavaya, central Kerala, India, on the northern bank of the Bharatappuzha (River Ponnani), dedicated to Navamukundan (Narayana-Vishnu).[1]

The temple is glorified in Divya Prabandha, an early medieval Tamil collection of hymns by the Vaishnava Alvars. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to god Vishnu, who is worshipped as Navamukunda Perumal at Tirunavaya. The temple has no pond or well, and water from the river is used for all rituals. The presence of Cherutirunavaya Brahma - Siva Temples across the River Ponnani at Tavanur makes it a Trimurti sangama. The river bank in the temple are considered as holy as Kasi and the ritual offering practices for forefathers (bali tarpana/sradha puja) are similar to the ones done there.[2] Ganapati (Adi Ganesa/Gajendra), Lakshmi ("Malarmangai Nachiyar") and Ayyappa Swami are the associated pratishthas. Goddess Lakshmi has a separate sri kovil in the temple, unlike most of the other Narayana-Lakshmi temples.[1]

The temple was the venue of the Mamankams, a festival celebrated once in 12 years from at least the 8th century CE.[3][4] The temple building was attacked and destroyed during the invasion of Kerala by Sultan of Mysore Tipu (18th century CE), and later attacked in 1921 during the Mappila Rebellion.[5][6][7] The present temple building is constructed in the indigenous Kerala Temple Architecture style.

Presently, the Tirunavaya temple (Malappuram Division, Grade: Sp) is administered by Samutiri of Kozhikode (Zamorin of Calicut) as the managing trustee under Malabar Devaswom Board, Government of Kerala. The temple is open from 05.00 am to 10.00 am and 04.00 pm to 07.00 pm on all days leaving festive days.[8]

  1. ^ a b "Thirunavaya Temple". Indian Temples Portal. Retrieved 13 October 2006.
  2. ^ Varma, R. Sreejith; S., Rangarajan (2016). "The possibilities of a river and a ritual dance". In Alex, Rayson K.; Deborah, S. Susan (eds.). Ecodocumentaries: Critical Essays. Springer. p. 178. ISBN 9781137562241.
  3. ^ Kerala Tourism - Pilgrim Centres - Thirunavaya
  4. ^ "Thirnavaya temple". Chennai Live News. 13 October 2006. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  5. ^ "Malappuram Tourist Attraction - Pilgrimage Centres". Mallapuram District administration. Retrieved 13 October 2006.
  6. ^ Balakrishna, Sandeep (2015). TipuSultan- The Tyrant of Mysore. RARE Publications. p. 101. ISBN 9782765908326.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference info was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Sri Navamukunda temple". Dinamalar. 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2017.