About the Temple & Location:
This sthalam is situated 1 mile away from Edakkulam railway station in Kerala. We can also reach this place by traveling by bus from Shoranur to Kuttippuram. This sthalam is a small village and as such, there is no proper lodging facility available. This sthalam is on the shore of Bharathappuzhi river which is 1 mile away from Edakkulam along the south direction.
Specials:
The specialty of this sthalam is the thaayar Periya Pirattiyar Lakshmi devi are in a separate sannadhi and it is one of the specialty among the Malayala Naatu Divya Desam
Thirunavaya Temple (in full Thirunavaya Navamukunda Temple) is an ancient Hindu temple at Thirunavaya, central Kerala,India, on the northern bank of the Bharathapuzha (River Ponnani), dedicated to Navamukunda (Narayana-Vishnu).
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 Thirunavaya. 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 is considered as holy as Kasi and the ritual offering practices for forefathers (bali tarpan/shraddha puja) are similar to the ones done there. 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.
The temple was the venue of the Mamankams, a festival celebrated once in 12 years from at least the 8th century AD. The temple building was attacked and destroyed during the invasion of Kerala by the Sultan of Mysore Tipu (18th century AD), and later attacked in 1921 during the Mappila Rebellion. The present temple building is constructed in the indigenous Kerala Temple Architecture style.
Presently, the Thirunavaya 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.
The Vishnu is called "Navamukunda Perumal/Tevar '' as it is believed that the idol was the ninth one to be installed in the temple by a group of nine Hindu yogis known as "Navayogis' '. The first eight idols sank into the Earth as soon as they were placed there and the ninth sank to its knees before it was forcibly stopped. As the location of the sunken idols were not known, devotees used to make pradakshina on their knees. Even Alvancheri Tamparakkal and Tirunavaya Vaddhyans were not exempted from this practice. Thirunavaya is also known as "Navayogisthala".
According to the legends, goddess Lakshmi and Gajendra, the king of the elephants, worshiped god Vishnu here with lotus flowers from a lake nearby; with the two devotees using flowers from the same source, its supply dwindled, and Gajendra appealed to Vishnu, who took Lakshmi by his side on the same throne and accepted worship offered by Gajendra.
Architecture
The present temple is built in Kerala Temple Architecture style, which is almost common in all temples in Kerala.
A rectangular wall around the temple, called kshetra-matilluka pierced by the gateways, encloses all the temples within the temple. The metal plated flag-post (dhwaja stambha) is located axial to the temple tower leading to the central sanctum and there is a deepasthambham, which is the light post. Chuttambalam is the outer pavilion within the temple walls. The central temple and the associated hall is located in a rectangular structure called nalambalam, which has pillared halls and corridors.
Between the entrance of nalambalam to the sanctum, there is a raised square platform called namaskara mandapam which has a pyramidal roof. Thevrapura, the kitchen used to cook offerings to the Navamukunda is located on the left of namaskara mandapam from the entrance. Balithara is an altar used for making ritualistic offerings to demi-gods and the festive deities. The central temple called Sri kovil houses the idol of the Navamukunda. It is on an elevated platform with a single door reached through a flight of five steps. Both sides of the doors have images of guardian deities called dwarapalakas. As per Kerala rituals, only the main priest called tantri and the second priest called melsanthi alone can enter the sri kovil.
The central temple has a square plan with the base built of granite, superstructure built of laterite and conical roof made of terracotta tile supported from inside by a wooden structure. The roof projects in two levels to protect the inner structure from heavy rains during monsoon. The roof of the temple and some of the pillars have lavish wood and stucco carvings depicting various stories of epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata. The outer walls around the sanctum have a series of wooden frames housing an array of lamps, which are lit during festive occasions.
The idol of Navamukunda is portrayed only from above the knee, the rest of the idol being concealed within the ground. There is believed to be a bottomless unexplored pit behind the idol in the sanctum. The idol of the Navamukunda is 6 ft (1.8 m) tall, and is made of stone and covered with pancha loha. The idol is in a standing posture, with four hands carrying Panchajanya conch, lotus flower, Kaumodaki mace and the terrible Sudarshana discus. The idol is facing east.
Goddess Lakshmi has a separate sri kovil in the Thirunavaya Temple. The sri kovil is in the north-west of the nalambalam, to the left of Navamukunda, and the idol is facing east. The idol only has two hands, with varada abhaya mudra.
Pitru Tharpanam or Thithi or Pinda pradhanam
This temple is famous for pitru tharpanam. Like most of the temples in Kerala, One has to pay charges at the ticket counter which is hardly less than 100 rupees, And dip in the river(clothes the male needs to wear is mundu or dhoti or veshti) and in the wet clothes offer the tharpanam. All the ritual pooja items will be provided by the temple. After the ritual is complete, the wet clothes have to be changed. The temple strictly does not allow pants or other non Indian wear. Strictly men have to be in dhoti and their shirts removed.
Accommodation
Accommodation is provided by the temple administration. Affordable accommodation is provided here. Rooms and common dormitories are available. One can contact the temple administration for advance bookings.
Festivals
Mamankam festival celebrated in the temple was the most prominent festival in Kerala in the Middle Ages.
Devotees perform prayers for their separated souls (pitrs) in the banks of the River Ponnani in the temple.
The major religious practices are Naivilakku, Thamara mala, Palpayasam, Malar pala and Thali Charthal
Sthalapuranam :
The sthala Perumal, Naavaay Mugundhan is in Nindra Thirukkolam along the shore of Bharathapuzha river. The specialty of this sthalam is the thaayar Periya Pirattiyar Lakshmi devi is in a separate sannadhi and it is one of the specialties among the Malayala Nattu Divyadesam.
Opposite to the Bharathapuzha river, a separate temple for Lord Shiva and Brahma devan are found. So, we can get the seva of all the Tri-Moorthies in this Thiru Naavaay divya desam.
The piratti, Lakshmi devi and Gajendran (the elephant) worshipped the perumal and dedicated him with the Lotus flowers from the Lake. But, Lakshmi devi was jealous and angry at the Gajendran since he also dedicated the flowers to his perumal, who thinks that the perumal is only for him. But, perumal who knows all about this, wanted to make clear to his wife, Lakshmi devi that she is wrong.
Lakshmi devi daily plucked all the flowers from the pond before its being plucked by Gajendran, the elephant. Seeing the action of Lakshmi piratti, Gajendran felt sad and worried about it. It cried for this and prayed to the perumal. Hearing the voice of Gajendran, the perumal orders Lakshmi piratti not to dedicate the flowers that is plucked from the pond and instead she has to sit beside him and should accept the flowers that’s being dedicated by Gajendran. Accepting the words of the perumal, Lakshmi piratti seated along with the Naavaay perumal and accepted the flowers of Gajendran.
By performing this Leelai (action of the perumal), the perumal explains that all the aathmaas in the world should be taken care of. And at the same time, if anyone doesn’t give respect (or) interfere in the bhakti dedication towards him, they should be taught a lesson and thereby make them understand their fault. Likewise only, the perumal gives the respect for the bhakti of Gajendran and at the same time he teaches a lesson for Lakshmi Piratti by making her accept the bhakti of Gajendran.
In this sthalam, the perumal Naavaay perumal is treated as the father, Lakshmi piratti as mother and Gajendran is treated as their son. Thus, this sthalam explains the relationship between the perumal (father) and Lakshmi (mother) and between the perumal (father) and Gajendran (son).
Since, the thaayar, Lakshmi piratti doesn’t want Gajendran to dedicate the Lotus flowers (Malar), the thaayar is named as “Malar Mangai Naachiyaar”.
This sthala perumal also gives prathyaksham for Nava yogi. The Nava yogis are Sathuvanathar, Saaloga nathar, Aadhinathar, Arulithanathar, Madhanga Nathar, Macchendira Nathar, Kadayanthira Nathar, Korakkanathar and Kukkudan Aadhar. They are so great and are capable of doing lots of Yaagams. Since, because of this, this sthalam is also called as “Thirunavayogi”. And as the time passed, the name Thirunavayogi is changed to “Thirunaavaay”.
Since the perumal is also found with Lord Shiva, this sthalam is said to be equal with Kasi.
Moolavar:
The Moolavar of this sthalam is Naavaay Mukundhan. Also named as “Narayanan”. Moolavar is found in Nindra Thirukkolam facing Thirumugham towards the East direction. Pratyaksham for Lakshmi, Gajendran and Nava yogis.
Thayaar
The Thaayar of this temple is Malar Mangai Naachiyaar. She is also named as “Sirudevi”.
Mangalasasanam:
Nammalwar – 11 Paasurams.
Thirumangai Alwar – 2 Paasurams.
Total 13.
Pushkarani:
The pushkarani is named as “Sengamala Saras' '. Since the pushkarani is found full of Senthamarai (Lotus), it is named so.
Vimanam:
Veda vimaanam. Since, the sthala perumal is worshipped by Nava yogis and they are said to be great in their Vedic Knowledge, the vimaanam is named as “Veda Vimaanam”.
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