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Puliyoor Temple History - Information – Thripuliyoor Mahavishnu Temple Kavadi And Annual Festival

Puliyoor Temple, also known as Thripuliyoor Mahavishnu Temple, is located 4.5 km west of Chengannur at Puliyoor on the Mavelikara – Kozhencherry road in Alappuzha district, Kerala. The 10-day annual festival in the temple is observed in such a way that it ends with Arattu on Thiruvonam Nakshatra in Makaram month. Thripuliyoor Makara Sankramana Kavadi festival is annually held on January 14.

The Makara Sankramana Kavadi festival in the temple is famous. People participating in the festival observe vratham for 41 days. And during 7 days of the 41 days those observing Vratam should participate in the day to day activities of the temple.

Thripuliyoor Mahavishnu Temple is one among the 108 Divya Desams or 108 Vaishnava Tirupati. In the Nalayira Prabandham, this temple is referred to as Kuttanad Puliyoor. The temple is also known as Bheeman Kovil as it is believed that the murti of Vishnu in the temple was installed Bhima of Mahabharata.

The main murti in the sanctum sanctorum is 4 feet tall and the peedam or stand is 3 feet tall. The Vishnu worshipped in the sanctum has four hands (Chatur Bahu). The murti is in standing posture and is known as Mayapiran. The deity faces east. Chatushatham is the main offering in the temple.

The Azhwar poets, Thirumangai Azhwar and Nammalvar, have sung glory of the temple in their works.

The sreekovil of the temple is round in shape and it is believed that it was renovated in 500 CE.

The Upa Devatas in the temple are Sastha, Ganapathy, Shiva, Yakshi Amma, Nagaraja, Nagayakshi, Rakshas and Koovalathappan.

The Yakshi Amma in the temple is given a unique offering made from tender coconut and roasted rice flour.

In ancient times, the temple used to observe 28-day festival beginning with Thiruvonam Nakshatram in Kanni month and ending with Thiruvonam in Thulam month.

It is believed that in ancient times the temple belonged to 27 Namboothiri families and one Naduvazhi or local ruler. There is a story that the local ruler invited the 27 Namboothiri families for sadhya or traditional food in the temple and then killed them to usurp the temple.

The temple later was under the possession of Naduvile Madam of Thrissur. Edappally king is also associated with the temple.