MAHAVISHNU TEMPLE

My ancestors used to say that the ‘Vaishnavite’ Brahmins of this Island keenly cherished the idea of constructing a temple for Mahavishnu. They spotted an area in Devaswom land as per ‘Thatchusastra’, the indigenous architecture.  The initial preparations for building the temple were done. The foundation was laid; a well to take water to the ‘Sri-kovil’ was also erected. The idol of Mahavishnu was completed by the Viswakarma men, who even performed the ‘Jalasamadhi’ of the idol, which is the holy immersing of the idol in water.  Unfortunately, the construction could not be completed. The adage goes that the deity was not pleased to stay there. Therefore, before infusing life into the idol by chiseling the grooves and placing the eyes on the idol; it was shifted to the Devaswom Kacheri building, where it was kept in the granary for a long time. In 1934, Sree Sankara Vilasom Nair Sangham represented by the then President, Shri. Narayana Kaimal of Pulluvalli constructed a UP School in the very same place where the main foundation of the proposed Mahavishnu temple was laid. He was not only the caretaker of the school, but also a teacher at the U.P. School. This school started with a Preparatory Class taught by Madhava Kaimal Master Chala and Form I (Std. V) with Narayanan Master Pazhayakolil as the class teacher. The well, situated in front of the present Raghava Panicker Memorial Higher Secondary School, was originally erected to take water to the ‘Sri-kovil’ of the abandoned foundation of the Mahavishnu temple.

In November 1961, the deity of Mahavishnu was consecrated by the ‘Thanthri’, Kunchu Nambuthiripad of Pulayannur Mana on the southern side of the Kumbalam Siva temple premises.

The faithful among the Islanders pointed out that, in order to give more reverence and significance, the deity of Mahavishnu required shifting from the present situation at the Siva temple compound to a better place. The devotees suggested that the deity of Mahavishnu be consecrated in a new temple to be built in the Devaswom Kacheri Paramba situated on the southern side of the Siva temple at Kumbalam. I sincerely hope that the Kochi Devaswom Board and concerned authorities would consider the matter favourably.

Excerpts from

MEMOIRS

An autobiography

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com