Manganam Sree Narasimha Swami Temple is situated at Manganam, a village lying South-East of Kottayam Town, in Kottayam District. It belonged to Kadamuri Grama, one of the sixty four traditional 'Brahmanic villages' famous in Kerala history. The main temple of the traditional Grama is Kadamuri Narasimha swami temple, which is thought to be more antique. According to historians and epigraphists, who had examined the inscriptions on the basement of the sanctum sanatorium, the temple was renovated by reconstructing the sanctum sanctorum in granite in the eleventh century AD.
The idol is that of '
Chathurbahu Vishnu' (Lord Vishnu with four arms) facing the west. The disposition of the deity is traditionally believed to be that of Lord Narasimha
who got pleased with Prahlada for his ardent
devotion. Though Narasimha is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu with extreme fierceness, the deity here is extremely benevolent
and eager to bless his devotees. People affectionately praise the deity as
'Manganathappan' (Lord and Protector at the village
of Manganam).
The origin of the temple is attached to Perunthanathu Unni, a Brahmin
boy, undergoing the Brahmanic discipline after the sacred karma, of Upanayana. Unni, the Brahmin Boy, in the course, first
consecrated a Chathurbahu Vishnu idol on the inner doorstep of his neighbouring family, namely Cheruvally Nairs, who had done much for the extinction of Unni’s family. So, this
consecration can be seen as a mild and intelligent revenge. Unni, with
his impressing personality and sublime quantities, became a good friend
of the then King of Kerala, ruler who belongs to Chera dynasty. It was this king
who had given him the divine idol. A land-plot near the temple,
known as Perunthanathu, and some rituals still conducted in the temple,
are supporting factors to the legend. Cheruvally Nair and his family
had to leave the village when the temple was constructed.
There were some seventeen or eighteen Brahmin families who became the trustees (Ooralans) of the temple. The existing Brahmin Families that have trusteeship of the temple are Plappally, Chempakanalloor, Kaippally, Varathara and Parappally.
There were some seventeen or eighteen Brahmin families who became the trustees (Ooralans) of the temple. The existing Brahmin Families that have trusteeship of the temple are Plappally, Chempakanalloor, Kaippally, Varathara and Parappally.
The Manganam temple has got all the salient features of a big temple such as beautiful
sanctum sanctorum which is circular in shape, Namaskara Mandapa,
Chuttambalam,
Balikkalpura, bronze flag mast,
Nadappanthal etc. The roofs of the sanctum sanctorum and Namaskara Mandapa are
covered with copper plates. Manganam temple is also acclaimed for its marvelous mural paintings which are very old and not seen elsewhere in Kerala.
Lord Siva, Lord Maha Ganapathi and Lord Sastha
are worshiped in a single sanctum sanctorum at the
south-west side of the temple compound. Serpent God is also
seen near it. About two centuries ago, Manganathu
Devaswom had to take up the responsibility of a Devi Temple 200 m.
away on the south side.
‘Thrikarthika’ in Vrischikam is an important festival there.
The important offering to the deity is 'Ada' or 'Valsan' a different type of pudding made by mixing rice flower, jaggery, coconut kernel, ghee and
powdered dried ginger covered in plantain leaves and cooked in
steam. 'Charakilada', the offering at its full scale, is believed to be
highly pleasing for the deity. 'Palpayasam' and 'Pizhinju payasam' are
also important offerings. Other offerings like 'Archana', 'Neyvilaku' etc. common in other Lord Vishnu Temples, are also conducted here. Members of Kavanattu Amellor Mana from Eringalakuda are having the tantric rights of the temple.
