Navamukundan Vishnu Temple and Mamankam,Thirunavaya,Malappuram Kerala

Navamukundan Vishnu Temple and  Mamankam,Thirunavaya,Malappuram Kerala

Located at Thirunavaya. This 6000-year old temple is known as Kashi of the South. The deity of the temple, on the banks of Bharatapuzha, is Lord Vishnu. It is very famous and popular for the performance of last rites for the departed. The temple became ideal for the rites as Bharatapuzha flows over the temple steps, making it very convenient to flow the rites’ remains in the water. The exquisite sculptures carved around sanctum sanctorum are splendid. Ten avatars of Lord Vishnu are carved on the top row against the wall as below the slopped roof. Just below the row sculptures depicting Lord Shiva, in his kirata (tribal) avatar, blessing Arjuna with Pashupati Astra neatly placed. There is a structure left side of the gate which was built for the Samuthiri (Zamorin) kings to watch the cultural mega event called Mamankam once in every 12-year on the sprawling banks of Bharatapuzha. The Mamankam was originally initiated at Ponnani port as a trade fair. The event used to witness by all the rulers under Samuthiri. The people of Malappuram insist that the Mamankam was originated by a Valluvanad king who ruled that region and the Samuthiri was in fact wresting the right to conduct it. The rivalry between the two was a historical fact. There is a stage called Nilapadu Thara where the Samuthiri used to sit. His soldiers used to position around him. Valluvanadu king on his part will send his soldiers to challenge Samuthiri. The fight always was a losing one to the king. To humiliate the king, bodies of the soldiers were dumped into a well nearby. When the well overfilled with corpses an elephant was ordered to foot them down. Today this notorious well is known as Mani Kinar (Kinar in Malayalam means Well). The remains of Nilapadu Thara is reduced to a slab of stone which too is not noticeable as the weeds rest on it.

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