Complete Guide about Thirunelli Temple
Thirunelli Temple
About Thirunelli Temple
The only temple in the entire world where devotees can carry out all the rituals associated with one’s life, from conception to death and life after death, is Thirunelli Temple.
One of Kerala’s oldest temples is this one. It is thought that Lord Brahma performed Lord Vishnu’s prathishta here. Other names for it include “Sahyamala Kshetram” and “Kashi of the South.”
Travelers come to the Thirunelli Temple from all over, mostly for ancestral rites. On the banks of the stream Papanasini, which flows from Mount Brahmagiri, the rituals are carried out.
This stream is said to have the divine ability to wash away everyone’s mortal sins. The holy rock at the temple, where visitors can offer prayers for their ancestors, is another significant draw.
The cave temple Gunnika, which is devoted to Lord Shiva, is located on the temple’s western side. As a result of the holy trinity’s singular presence, Thirunelli is blessed.
The stunning Brahmagiri hills and the surrounding, verdant forests have transformed the temple grounds into a tranquil valley. Everyone is therefore completely at ease after spending time in the temple’s sanctum. The temple is a physical representation of earlier temple design. A witness to centuries of history is the aquaduct that supplies water to the temple.
Thitunelli Temple Official website Link
www.thirunellitemple.com
History
The word nelli, the Malayalam/Tamil name for the Indian gooseberry (Amla) tree, is where the name Thirunelli originates. When Lord Brahma was travelling the world and came across an idol of Lord Vishnu in the valley resting on an amla tree, he gave the place the name Thirunelli. There is mention of a stunning Vishnu temple in the Padma Purana, which was penned by Veda Vyasa, that is situated in the picturesque Sahya valley, smack dab in the middle of the forest. Amalaka and Sidha temples are other names for the Thirunelli temple.
The Chera king Kulasekharan is credited with founding this temple.
Between A.D. 767 and A.D. 834, he lived. He held the throne for a brief period before abdicating and beginning his missionary work to spread the Vaishnava order. He is credited with authoring the Sanskrit poem Mukundamaala, in which he earnestly begs Lord Vishnu to instil devotion in him.
From a stylistic standpoint, this looks like a typical temple in Kerala. A building with a tile roof surrounds the inner sanctum. Additionally, the sanctum is surrounded by an open courtyard. A granite lamppost is located in front of the entrance on the east side. Strangely, the flag post isn’t there, but there is a hole where it should be on the floor.
A cloister made of granite pillars with cubical cuts runs along the temple’s exterior wall. For a temple in Kerala, this aspect of the architecture is a little out of the ordinary. And it appears that the cloister project was never finished. According to legend, the King of Coorg once attempted to renovate this temple. The Vellattiri King, who owned the temple, objected to the same when he was halfway through. As a result, the renovation was stopped. We can still see evidence of the partially completed renovation project today.
Unquestionably, Thirunelli was once a significant town and centre for pilgrimage located in the middle of an inaccessible valley covered in jungle and surrounded on four sides by mountains. At least from the 10th century onward, Thirunelli was an urban centre in South India, according to copper plates from that era and a few books from later centuries. The ruins of two old villages can also be found in the temple’s surrounding dense forest.
Coins from the ninth and tenth centuries have been discovered in recent digs during the time of road construction. Two copper plate inscriptions about the Thirunelli Temple’s past can be found. They originate from Bhaskara Ravivarma’s reign as the Chera kingdom’s king, which lasted from the 10th century until the present. The first inscription is dated to the year 999 A.D. (the 37th year of Bhaskara Ravivarma’s rule), and the second inscription to the year 1008 A.D. (46th year of the rule of Bhaskara Ravivarma). The first one concerns the allocation of Thirunelli’s royal land to the temple in order to cover its costs for daily poojas. The second inscription addresses the protocol that must be followed when the king of the Puraikeezhar Kingdom visits a temple.
The first inscription names Kurumbranad’s ruler Kunhikutta Varman VeeraKurumpurai as the donor. The second inscription’s donor is Purakeezhar dynasty member Sankaran Godavarman. Both inscriptions provide insight into the prevalent social mores and customs at the time.
The Legend :
There is an intriguing legend surrounding the Thirunelly Temple. These lovely hills are said to have been discovered by Lord Brahma during his travels around the globe. These hills are now referred to as Brahmagiri Hills. He made the decision to descend because he was so moved by this location’s beauty. An idol was perched on a gooseberry tree, which he noticed. He made an effort to set up the idol there after realising it was a representation of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu made sure the Papanashini stream’s source, whose waters could wash away all sins, at Lord Brahma’s request.
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