Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy Temple

Getting there

• By train

  Angadippuram station is on the Shornur-Nilambur railway line, on the eastern side of the village.

• By road

  Angadipuram lies on the Kozhikode to Palakkad National Highway 966, and the temple is in the heart of the village.

Why devotees come here

Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy Temple stands in the heart of Angadipuram, three kilometres west of Perinthalmanna in Malappuram district, Kerala. Angadipuram was once the capital of Valluvanad, and the temple's deity was the official deity of its kings.

Thirumandhamkunnu is a historically significant Hindu temple in Angadipuram, once the capital of the Valluvanad kingdom. Its deity, Thirumandhamkunnilamma, was the paradevatha, the official deity, of the Valluvanad kings. Legend says King Mandhata received a Shiva lingam from Shiva, which Parvati used to worship. Parvati then sent Bhadrakali with a host of bhoothas to take the lingam back from the king.

The Chaver warriors of the Valluvanad king set out from this temple for the Mamankam festival at Thirunavaya. A memorial called the chaver thara, the platform of the martyrs, stands in front of the main entrance. The main shrine, the sreemoolasthanam, has no roof, which is taken as evidence that it was once a kavu. The wall paintings of the mathrusala were executed in 1944.

Thirumandhamkunnu Pooram is the temple's annual festival, an 11-day celebration held in the temple premises. During Aaraattu, the bathing ceremony of the deity, the holy idol is carried on the tallest elephant, with five other elephants, to the lake near the temple.

Festivals

• Every yearThirumandhamkunnu Pooram

  An 11-day temple festival in the temple premises. It includes Aaraattu, the bathing ceremony, when the idol is carried on the tallest elephant to the lake near the temple.

Tips for your visit

• The village has two well-known temples, so ask for Thirumandhamkunnu by name.
• Look for the chaver thara memorial in front of the main entrance before you go in.

Questions people ask