Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada, popularly known as Peruviruthy Malanada or Malanada is the one and only one Duryodhana Temple in South India. (It is believed that the 'Sankalpa Moorthy' at Malanada is 'Duryodhanan'). It is located at Edakkad Ward (Kara) of Poruvazhy village in Kunnathoor Taluk of Kollam district (Kerala State), India. This place is the northern border of Kollam district which Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts share the boundaries. The temple is located equidistant from Adoor (M C Road) to the Northeast and Sasthamcottah to the Southeast. It is also reachable from Kayamkulam and Karunagappally on the NH 47 and Kottarakkara (via Puthoor or Enathu) on the MC road (approximately 25 km from each centre).
Malanada - There is a Temple (Nada) on the Hill (Mala). Unlike other temples, there is no deity, nor a âÂÂSreekovilâ as such in Malanada. Down the hill on the south and west we see vast low lying paddy fields and on the east and north inhabited agricultural land. In place of Sreekovil and deity we could see only a raised platform called âÂÂAltharaâ or âÂÂMandapamâÂÂ. In the absence of an idol, devotees submit themselves to a divine power (of their imagination/understanding) through a mental process of âÂÂSankalpamâÂÂ.
It is believed that the âÂÂSankalpa Moorthy âÂÂat Malanada is âÂÂDuryodhananâÂÂ, the Great Epic character of Mahabharatham. The concept is unique in Indian history in as much as âÂÂDuryodhananâÂÂ, the Kaurava King known for his âÂÂThamogunaâ driven thoughts and actions, being adored as the principal deity in a temple. Enduring beliefs assimilate into personal value system. The myth unravels: as part of his efforts to trace out the âÂÂPandavasâ in exile, Duryodhanan traversed the forests in the Malanada hill. By that time he was much tired and went to a nearby house on the north west of Malanada and asked for drinking water. It was Thazhethil Kaduthamsserry Kottaram, where Malanada Appoppan, the priest and ruler of the land was staying. An elderly woman gave him toddy which was customary at that time as a mark of respect. The king enjoyed the drink, but realized after seeing the âÂÂKurathaliâ worn by the woman that she belonged âÂÂKuravaâ clan. The king appreciated the divinity of the place and its people who possessed supernatural powers (Siddha). Thereafter, in furtherance of his âÂÂRajadharmaâÂÂ, the king sat on the hill and worshipped Lord Siva, praying for the welfare of his people (the prajas). As an act of charity he gave away hundreds of acres of agricultural land and paddy fields as freehold to the âÂÂDevasthanamâÂÂ. Even now the land tax of the above property is being levied in the name of âÂÂDuryodhananâÂÂ.
The king also ensured that Gandhari, the Royal Mother, Dussala, his sister, Karnan, his close associate and Karna, Dronar, his âÂÂGuruâ and the other members of his family were properly and adequately aboded and worshipped in the nearby places and members of the âÂÂKuravaâ caste are poojaris in all such places.
The temple administration at Malanada is vested in a committee elected by members of 7 âÂÂKarasâÂÂ, supposed having Malanada AppoopanâÂÂs territorial jurisdiction. Kunnathoor Taluk N S S Union and S N D P Union have their representatives in the committee by having 2 members each. âÂÂKaduthamsserry Kudumbayogam among Kurava caste and âÂÂKettungal Kudumabayogamâ among Ezhava caste enjoying special status in the administration of the temple.
The annual festival at Malanada is known as âÂÂMalakkudaâÂÂ(Mala means hill â the temple and Kuda, umbrella â an ornamental one used by Oorali, the priest, during ceremonial occasions.). It is celebrated during the summer, during the second half of March every year - an interval, when the terrestrial agricultural activities are over and before starting paddy cultivation in the wet land (paddy fields). The second Friday of the Malayalam month âÂÂMeenamâ is reckoned for celebrating âÂÂMalakkudaâÂÂ( Meenam starts in the middle of March and ends in the middle of April) with toddy. The arrival of the festival is proclaimed by âÂÂKodiyettuâ (the temple flag hoisting ceremony by Oorali after due observance) on the first Friday of Meenam. Presently, although there is festivity for 8 days from Kodiyettu to Malakkuda, there is no change in the rituals connected therewith.
On the festival day afternoon Oorali accompanied by his aids visits âÂÂGurukkalssery Bhagavathy Templeâ and invites Devi to Malanada. Bhagavathy arrives Malanada in a procession and occupies her reserved seat (Mandapam in front of Malanada Temple). Thereafter Oorali goes to his abode at Kaduthamsserry Kottaram and gets ready with âÂÂKachakettuâÂÂ(wearing his priestly attire) with the help of his aidis, viz. âÂÂThalikkaranâÂÂ, âÂÂKalassakkaranâ and âÂÂNaluveedarâÂÂ. The team led by Oorali first worships at Malanada and thereafter proceed to âÂÂMuravukandamâ via âÂÂAdaipadâ to witness and bless the most spectacular and colourful event of the day known as the âÂÂKettukazhchaâÂÂ.
Kettukazhcha is a pageantry. It is the most splendid part of the Maha Malakkuda Maholsavam. It involves a spectacular display of craftsmanship in the form of âÂÂEdupu kalaâ and âÂÂEdupu kuthiraâÂÂ. The orderly display of hundreds of such pieces, big and small, either as offering by believers for favours received or to be received or as customary by the 7 âÂÂKarakalâ (7 divisions of Malanada AppooppanâÂÂs territorial jurisdiction) in the vast stretch of the dry paddy fields surrounded by thousands of spectators viewing from far and near in the descending sun, renders a panoramic view. This is the essence of the festival. Oorali after having an overall view of the scene from his designated spot, visits and blesses each and every such display item. By around sunset the âÂÂKettukazhchaâ one by one moves up the Malanada hill, rounds the temple 3 times and thereafter returns or parks on the hill for the night. There will be cultural programmes during night. "Kathakali" based on the story âÂÂNizhalkuthuâ is customary.
Next Malakkuda Festival is on 28-Mar-2025
It is one of the most popular traditions followed in Malanada. The right to do the thookkam iis reserved for Gurukkalsserial family. At present, the thukam is done by gurukkalsseril family.
Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada Devaswom very proudly keeps under lock & key a Gold Flag(Swarnakkodi). It is the status symbol of Malanada Appooppan, the symbol of power and authority. It is the privilege of the Mannan â The Ruler, The King to own such a flag! Made in pure gold, it is a precious show piece of excellent workmanship.
Public âÂÂDarshanâ of Swarnakkodi is permitted only on auspicious days like âÂÂKodiyettu DayâÂÂ, âÂÂMalakkuda Maholsavam DayâÂÂ, etc. It is believed that the âÂÂDarshanâ of the Swarnakkodi brings home goodness and prosperity.
It is believed that Lord Mahavishnu with the help of Lord Subramanian found that he was afflicted by âÂÂAsura DoshaâÂÂ. People belonging to âÂÂVelanâ community are the right ones to perform the corrective rituals to get rid of the âÂÂDoshaâ which was inflicted by practicing witchcraft against the Lord. âÂÂVelanâ community could not be found anywhere in the three worlds. At last Shri Parameswaran, who knows everything, appeared as âÂÂVelanâÂÂ, Shri Parvathy as âÂÂVelathyâÂÂ, Shri Mahaganapathy and Shri Subramanian as âÂÂBhoothaganangalâÂÂ. They came over to Palazhy and performed the âÂÂMahakarmaâ which is known as âÂÂPallippanaâ and relieved Bhagavan of his evil afflictions. It was the first âÂÂPallippanaâ ever heard in the history of mankind.
âÂÂPallippanaâ is thus believed as a ritual capable of eliminating the evil spirits afflicting a deity and its land and people. At Malanada this ritual is performed without fail once in 12 years. It is believed that this observance elates the divine power of âÂÂMalanada Appooppanâ and makes the people of the seven âÂÂKarasâ rich and prosperous.
About 50 members of the âÂÂVelanâ Community as performers and an equal number of "Purangadiâ community members as antiperformers take part in this function. It lasts for 11 days to complete 18 âÂÂMahathkarmangalâÂÂ. The conduct of the function is very costly. The main âÂÂKarmasâ performed are Kappukettu, Idupanabali, Kuzhibali, Pattadabali, Ninabali, Panchabhoothabali, Aazhibali, Kidangubali, Marukubali, PeedâÂÂabali, Dikbali, and Koombubali.
Last Pallipaana Date: 24-Feb-2023 to 07-Mar-2023.
Next Pallipaana is on year 2035.