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Thiruvegappura Temple – Vavu Bali - Dedicated To Shankaranarayana – Shiva – Vishnu - Festival

Thiruvegappura Temple is located at Thiruvegappura Temple on the Valanchery – Koppam road in Palakkad district, Kerala. The main deities worshipped in the temple are Shankaranarayana, Shiva and Bhagavan Vishnu. The shrine is a Maha Kshetram. The shrine is also famous for observing Vavu Bali rituals especially on the Vavu or Amavasya day in Karkidakam month. Hundreds of devotees perform Bali Tharpanam and other rituals for dead ancestors.

Shankaranarayana is worshipped in the middle, Vishnu in north and Shiva in south. Although the main prathishta in the temple is that of Shankaranarayana, the biggest sreekovil is that of Shiva. All the three deities face east.

Shankaranarayana has Gaja Prishta Sreekovil (sanctum in shape of elephant back), Shiva has Vatta sreekovil (circular sanctum) and Vishnu has square sanctum (Chatura sreekovil).

The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Ganapathy, Dakshinamurti, Vettaikaran, Erinjupuran, Ayyappan, Bhagavathi, and Nagam.

A unique offering the temple is Adakkari.

The temple is noted for its exquisitely built Koothambalam (temple theatre).

All the three deities have separate kodimaram – flag post. The annual festival is held for 8 days and it begins on Uthrattathi nakshatra in Kumbham month. The three deities have separate festivals during the period.

Some of the other rituals in the shrine include Oushada Seva on Karkidakam 16th (which falls during July-August), Theeyattu on the first Saturday in Edavam (May), Aanayoottu on Karkidakam first week (July mid week), and Erinju Puranpattu on the first Sunday to the next 13 days in Medam (April).

As per history, the prathishta of Shankaranarayana was performed by Adi Shankaracharya. The temple earlier belonged to Vazhakunnam, Nariparambu, Padijarepattu, Vadakkepattu and Azhakpra manas.

Poonthanam Namboothiri had performed vratam in the temple for 12 years to beget children.

Erinju Puran, Upa Devata, in the temple is associated with Dharmothu Panicker, who was a Kalari Guru of Samoothiri.

The no moon day in Kumbha Masam is observed as Kumbha Vavu - hundreds of people offer Bali and Tarpan to dead ancestors on the day here.

Naga Chaturthi in Karkada Masam is an important ritual in the temple and it is dedicated to serpents.