Kerala can boast of innumerable ancient temples. Among them Purandareswarath Sree Mahadeva Temple is unique. Located at about a kilometer to the east of Thuravoor Junction, the newly proposed Thuravoor Pampa road lies in front of this temple junction, this temple is the lone Siva temple in Thuravoor village consisting of four desoms. It is one of the ancient Siva temple in Cherthala Taluk – the erstwhile Karappuram.
The incarnation of Lord Shiva at Purandareswarath Sree Maha Deva Temple believed as a form of “Sarabha Murthy”. The incarnation of lord Sarabha is that mellowed Lord Vishnu’s ominous form of the breast-bursting, blood-sucking Narasimha. He is the heavenly deliverer of mental bliss. Praying him can make anyone “calm of mind, all passion spent”. So, Purandareswarath Sree Maha Deva Temple has a primordial relation to the legendary Narasimhamoorthy Temple, Thuravoor. As Mammiyoor Siva Temple is to Guruvayoor Sree Krishna Temple, so is Purandareswarath Maha Deva Temple to Thuravoor Narasimhamoorthy Temple. Of these different deities ‘Ceremonially arriving’ at Thuravoor on the holy Deepavali Festival Day for the ritualistic ensemble called “Kootti Ezhunnellath”, Lord Purandareswara is the lone Siva deity among the other deities. So, every devotee who goes to Thuravoor temple is supposed to go to Purandareswaram temple also, as the ritual goes.
Legend has it that a holy Brahmin bound for Vaikom to participate in the “Vaikathashtami” and to have “Ashtami Darsan”, could reach only up to Purandareswarath. Heart –broken at the thought of is failure to reach Vaikom in time and to have Ashtami – Darshan, he cried and prayed Lord Siva in penitence. Lord Siva heard his passionate prayer and emerged before him in all his charismatic grace. Later that Siva grace was identified by Sri. Vilvamangalathu Swamiyar, the seer and saint of ancient Kerala and he enshrined it in the round-shaped abode of the temple. The temple is empowered by the eminent thanthry family of the famous Tharananalloor mana, who got the blessings of Parasuraman.
The area where the temple is located, in ancient times was believed to be a brahmin village inhabited by brahmin families. Purandareswara was the patron deity worshipped by the prominent brahmin families of the area like Nedumpurath, Thevalapozhil, Kainikkara, Pallikkeezhil, Naranath, Vadakke Narayana Mangalam etc.. The ownership of the temple was bestowed on the priestly family of Puthanchira Mekkali Mana of Thrissur district. In 1977 April 7th, the owners of the temple entrusted the temple administration with the Valamangalam North NSS Karayogam No.759.
Harnessing the unstinting support of the community around, efficiently managing, the day to day affairs of the temple and the special poojas and services during the Festivals and co-ordinating different developmental and temple renovation initiatives, the Karayogam administration has succeeded in providing a face- lift to the temple. All possible steps are taken to make the temple the spiritual head quarters that provides spiritual and mental sustenance to generations of devotees.
Renovation Works
A temple Renovation committee formed and under the aegis of the committee, various penitence rituals were performed in the temple, supervised by the temple head- priests and astrologers. The ceremonial ereclun of the deity’s flag-post, construction of the compound wall and ornamental gate, paving stones round the temple pond and in the holy courtyard, were some of the construction works carried out. Construction of the temple dining hall at an estimate of Rs.16 lakhs is nearing completion. Paving the roof of the Sanctum and the temple with copper sheets, construction of the Aana Pandal, bathing ghat of the temple pond etc.. are the works to be taken up with the providential help of Lord Purandareswara, Karayogam committee hopes to accomplish everything in a time bound manner.
