Kottayam - Vennimala Perumal Jayam

The Vennimala Sri Rama Lakshmana perumal temple, which is more than 1000 year old, is located in Puthuppally village in Kottayam District and can be approached by bus in the Kottayam-Puthupally-Payyappadi route. It is believed that Lord Sri Rama and Lakshmana during their period of exile visited this hillside. At that time, numerous sages meditated in the caves of Vennimala. Upon the request of the sages, Lakshmana killed many demons who were a constant threat to the sages. Thus the place came to be called Vijayadri which means ‘hill of victory’ or Vennimala (Venni literally means Victory), as Lakshmana won the battle with demons. 

Cheraman Perumal Bhaskara Revivarma, the ancient ruler of Kerala built the temple. The legend goes that Cheraman Perumal constructed this temple as per the direction of sage Kapila. The king who reached this place by canal route as per astronomical directions, was shown the idol in this hill by a hunter named Iravi and hency the place was at first called as 'Iravipuram'. Cheraman Perumal was attracted by the beauty of this place and stayed here and built a palace. Cheraman Perumal accepted Lord Rama as his Lord and he called the deity with much devotion as Vennimala Perumal. 

Later on, the temple came under the Thekkumkoor kings who ruled many parts of Kottayam and Vennimala was once the Capital of Thekkumkoor Kingdom. Unnuneeli sandesam written in 14th century AD describes about Thekkumkoor Vennimala. In AD 1749 King Marthanda Varma, emperor of Venadu, captured Thekkumkoor and there after it became a portion of Travancore. 

Even though the main idol is that of Lakshmana Perumal, Sri Rama is also present in the srikovil by conviction. Reinforcing this conviction, there are two bronze flagmasts in the front yard. Previously the temple had five poojas and three sreebalis daily. Now, only three poojas are performed. Earlier there was a 28 day festival from Rohini in Makaram to Rohini in Kumbhom culminating in the Aarattu festival. For the aarattu, during the forward journey Lakshmana will go in front and is closely followed by Sri Rama while on the return, after the arattu, Sri Rama used to come in front. 

Famous sopana musician Shadkala Govinda Marar, contemporary of Swathi Thirunal was born near the temple in Pulikkal house. Aiythihyamala written by Kottarathil Sankunni details the legend behind the Venniamala temple and historical importance of this place.  All the 28 days were punctuated by Chakyar Koothu. The koothambalam is part of Valiambalam. Pothiyil Chakyars had the hereditory rights of performing Koothu in this temple. Only Ramayana story used to be played here. Koothu for 16 days followed by Koodiyattom for 12 days was the routine. Vennimala Koothu has been an integral part of the cultural scene of Kerala for centuries. At present, the festival goes on for reduced duration of ten days.

The temple is facing West and the entrance to the temple is through a gopura built in Kerala style followed by an Aanappandal (elephant portico where elephants are made to assemble before and after procession). Then come the two flagmasts followed by the Agrassala or Balikkalpura. This is followed by the Valiambalam with an inbuilt koothambalam. The Nalambalm is of wood and tile and on the exterior there is a Vilakkumaadam as well.

The Valiambalam leads to the inner praasada (courtyard) containing the Srikovil (Sanctum sanctorum) and the Namaskara mandapa. The Namskara mandapa is of medium size which contains four pillars and has been reconstructed in teak quite recently with tiled roofing. Beyond the namaskara mandapa comes an unique srikovil only one of its kind in South India. It is the Ghata Praasada type with a pot shape, a typical circular form with a neck shaped mukha mandapa in front. The srikovil has been constructed in stone and the mukha mandapa has ornamented wooden panels in between stone pillars. Both are roofed over by an integral copper roof supported by rafters. The exterior of the srikovil has beautiful wooden idols at intervals along the periphery. Sopanam as well as pillars in the mandapa have been enclosed by brass membrane. Of the wooden idols special mention can be made of Shiva, Venugopala, Ravana, Sri Rama and Mahalakshmi. 

Among the subsidiary shrines one that is of Lord Sri Krishna is unique. Located in the North-West corner of the outer prakara, it is a small square srikovil abutted in front by a square mukhamantapa. The inside of the srikovil is hexagaonal shape. The srikovil and mukhamantapa are surrounded by pillars enclosing a small walk-way around and tile over. There is a namaskara mandapa and a balikkal in front of the shrine. Other upadevatas are Ganapathy, Nagaraja and Yakshi. The Sastha shrine is located on the south-west side while Bhagavathi, Nagaraja and Yakshi are accommodated on the north-west side of the outer prakara. 

The tantric rights of this temple are vested in the Thazhaman Mutt. There are a number of small wells and ponds around the temple. The hill had more than sixty large and small ponds scattered throughout the forest. Even today about a dozen such ponds are remaining with sparkling fresh water even in hot summers. Balikarmas take place during Thulam and Karkidagam vavu days in the temple tank nearby with rocky outcrops. The temple pond is located about 100 m from the temple and it is said that the sacred channel of the temple opens to this pond. There is a huge cave on one side of the hill located barely one kilometer from the temple. It is said that the cave runs up to the banyan tree in front of the temple, but it is closed today by big boulders fallen in place. The cave can accommodate nearly ten people at a time. It is believed that sages meditated in these during the threta yuga when Sri Rama and Lakshmana came this way.

Vennimala temple is on a hill 1500 feet high from sea level. After getting down at Payyappadi, about 1 km distance has to be climbed to reach the hill top temple. Occassional bus service is also available to negotiate this ascent by covering a distance of approximately 2.5 km. The distance from Kottayam to Payyappadi is 15 km. Bus can be boarded at Sastri Junction in the heart of Kottayam Town. The temple comes under the administrative control of the Uranma Devaswom Board.