Thiruvazhiyad Sree Narasimhamoorthy Temple

Thiruvazhiyad, Nenmara, Dist. Palakkad.

Thiruvazhiyad Sree Narasimhamoorthy Temple, located near Nenmara in Palakkad district, is considered one of the oldest Narasimha temples in Kerala. The main deity is Lord Narasimha, the fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. With its ancient traditions and long-standing beliefs, the temple has remained an important place of worship for devotees for centuries.

The history of the temple is closely associated with the former Kingdom of Cochin. It is believed that Thiruvazhiyad was once part of the Cochin kingdom and that the temple was built by the Maharaja of Cochin at the request of a prominent Brahmin illam in the area. Based on the design of the Sreekovil, the style of the idol and the large Nalambalam, the temple is estimated to be over 500 years old. From the earliest days, the thantri (chief priestly) rights of the temple have been entrusted to the renowned Parappookkara Illam of Thrissur district. The shrine of Pazhayannur Bhagavathy within the temple is regarded as an important indication of its historical connection with the Cochin royal family. After the end of royal rule, the ownership and administration of the temple were taken over by the Cochin Devaswom Board. Today, it is maintained as one of the Board’s major temples.

According to legend, an elderly head of a prominent Brahmin illam in the area was no longer able to visit the temple because of old age. It is believed that, moved by his sincere prayers and unwavering devotion, Lord Vishnu appeared before him here in the peaceful form of Lord Narasimha. This is believed to be the reason why Lord Narasimha, who is usually worshipped in his fierce form, is worshipped here in a calm form. The four-armed idol, holding the conch and discus, is therefore revered by devotees as the peaceful form of Lord Narasimha. Another legend says that the presence of Pazhayannur Bhagavathy, the family deity of the Cochin royal family, was felt at this place. As a result, the Maharaja of Cochin is believed to have ordered the consecration of the Goddess here as the guardian deity of Lord Narasimha.

Instead of a large entrance tower, the temple welcomes devotees with a traditional Kerala-style gateway (Padippura) topped with a tiled roof and surrounded by laterite stone walls. Beyond the gateway is a spacious natural sand courtyard, shaded by large green trees and a calm atmosphere. Further ahead are the large Chuttambalam (inner courtyard) and Oottupura (dining hall), featuring red tiled roofs and wooden lattice walls. Standing directly in front of the Nalambalam is the tall flagstaff, one of the temple’s most notable features.

The temple’s main architectural feature is its large circular Sreekovil (sanctum), which is one of the few circular sanctums found in Kerala. Built of laterite stone, it is topped with a conical tiled roof. In front of the Sreekovil stands a square Namaskara Mandapam supported by wooden pillars. Inside the sanctum is a standing stone idol of Lord Vishnu with four arms, holding the conch, discus, mace and lotus. The deity is worshipped here as the calm form of Lord Narasimha. Wooden lamp stands line the walls around the Sreekovil, where oil lamps are lit on festivals and special occasions. Shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Ayyappa and Goddess Lakshmi, along with other deities, are located both inside and outside the Nalambalam.

The temple’s main annual festival is celebrated over seven days during the Malayalam months of Medam and Edavam, usually in May. The festival begins with the ceremonial flag hoisting and concludes with the Arattu ritual. The Temple Vela held during the festival is one of the major celebrations of the local community. It is said that, in earlier times, the festival was conducted on a grand scale under the patronage of the Cochin rulers, with traditional art forms such as Kathakali and Chakyar Koothu. Other important occasions observed at the temple include Narasimha Jayanthi, Sree Krishna Jayanthi (Ashtami Rohini), Navaratri and Vijayadashami, the Mandala season, and the temple’s consecration day. In addition, the Thiruvonam star day and Ekadashi are observed with special importance every month, with special poojas and offerings performed on these occasions.

The temple’s main offerings include Panakam Nivedyam, Palpayasam, Tulsi Mala and Purusha Sukta Pushpanjali. Offering Panakam to Lord Narasimha is believed to bring peace of mind and calm anger. Palpayasam is offered for family prosperity and the blessing of children. Devotees also offer a Tulsi garland to seek the fulfilment of their wishes, while Purusha Sukta Pushpanjali is performed for relief from illness and protection from enemies. Important offerings to the other deities include Neerajanam for Lord Ayyappa, Lalitha Sahasranama Archana for Goddess Durga and Dhara and Koovalam Mala for Lord Shiva. In addition, devotees can offer Niramala, Vilakku and Koottu Ganapathi Homam on their birth star day.

The temple opens daily at 5:00 AM. This is followed by Usha Pooja at 6:00 AM, the morning Seeveli at around 6:30 AM, Ethirettu Pooja at 7:00 AM, the second Seeveli at around 7:30 AM and Ucha Pooja at 10:00 AM. The temple closes at 10:30 AM after the Ucha Pooja. It reopens at 5:00 PM. Deeparadhana is performed at sunset, followed by Athazha Pooja at 7:30 PM and the evening Seeveli at around 7:45 PM. The temple closes for the day at 8:00 PM. The pooja schedule may change on special occasions such as the annual festival, Vela and Narasimha Jayanthi.

Key highlight :-

• Located 5 km from Nenmara, 13 km from Alathur and 30 km from Palakkad.
• The nearest railway station is Palakkad Junction, about 33 km away.
• KSRTC bus services are available up to Nenmara. From there, local bus services are available to the temple.
• Private vehicles can be parked in the temple’s parking area.
• Accommodation and food facilities are available in the nearby towns.