Overview

Sri Annassery Thevar Siva Temple 

  (Lord Akhileswara)

Location

History

Deities

Photo Gallery

Utsavams

Vahanas

Adimakkavu

Other Agraharam Information

Contact Information

Well Known Elders from the Agraharam

Food and Catering

Hall for functions and Lodging

Bank Accounts for sending Kanikkai, donation or vazhipadu

Author's Notes

Agraharam 56 in the 100 Agraharams Project

Ayilam

When I think of Ayilam, several illustrious names come to mind.

One is Sri A.S. Panchapakesa Iyer, or ASP Iyer, who transitioned from being a Madras High Court judge to a civil servant. His more renowned son, Sri A.P. Venkateswaran, was a distinguished Indian diplomat and was considered one of the most capable Foreign Secretaries of India in his time. It is unfortunate that the then Prime Minister failed to recognize the wisdom in Sri A.P. Venkateswaran's observation to a journalist, where he remarked that the IPKF operation in Sri Lanka was a mistake.

I was heartened to learn that the village remembers its valiant hero, Major A K Ramaswamy, who sacrificed his life for the nation and was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India’s second highest military honor.

Another name associated with Ayilam is Sri Krishna Josier, whose name I frequently heard mentioned in my Palakkad home. My grandmother’s side of the family had several astrologers, and I recall the qualities of a true astrologer as described by Sage Parasara:

_"Satyatam Yaati Tasya Vaakyam Na Sanshayah,

Ganiteshu Praveeno, Shabdshastrey Kritshramah,

Nyayvid, Buddhimaan, Deshdikkalagyo, Jeetehdriyah."_

This translates to:

"The words of a true astrologer are always truthful and without doubt. He should be skilled in mathematics, proficient in language, just, intelligent, knowledgeable about the socio-economic context of the region, and have control over his senses."

Sri Krishnan Swaminathan fondly recalls his grandfather, Sri Krishna Josier, as embodying all these qualities, along with the wisdom of a Vedic scholar and the expertise of an Ayurvedic practitioner. This speaks volumes about our Dharma, which is deeply interconnected and never stands in isolation.

One particular observation by Sri Venkatachalam of Ayilam stood out to me: that all agraharams should feel part of a larger collective of migrating Brahmins and work toward preserving the structures and traditions created by our forefathers across Palakkad.

Sri Krishnamani and the villagers beautifully rendered the Swasti Mantra, "Sangrahnayeshtya Yajate," which bestows auspiciousness. A highlight was Sri Sivanarayanan, a Sanskrit student, who narrated his observations in chaste Sanskrit—a moment of pride for the village, which rightfully celebrates the achievements of its sons and daughters. My namaskarams to all of them!

I was particularly moved by Sri Shankaranarayanan’s recollection of Sri Krishna Josier’s belief in continuing traditional practices rather than starting new ones when it came to managing the agraharam and its temple. This is a significant and wise observation that underscores the importance of preserving continuity in tradition.

We were fortunate to jog the memory of Smt Rasamma who is 92 and continues to inspire her vast family and the agraharam folks with her stories.

A quiet longing lingers in everyone’s heart for the structured and purposeful living of bygone days, yet there is a collective resolve to reclaim and restore that lost glory.

I do my own editing to help me learn about each agraharam. Overall, editing the video of Ayilam has been a delightful experience. The richness of information and the respect for tradition reflected in the speeches I reviewed made this a memorable task.

Radhe Krishna

Regards,

Sriram (Hari)

Trustee, Rama Bhagavatar Charitable Trust

+91 9840773410

100 Agraharams Project

Itihasapurana Project