Overview

Sree Visalakshi Sametha Sree Viswanatha 

Sree Meenakshi Sundareswara Swamy

The temple has a dual prathista in a single platform which is unique

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

Kollengode - New Village - 100 Agraharams Project

Kollengode - PuduGramam

Sree Visalakshi samedha Sri Viswanatha Swamy Temple

and

Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple

My aunt was from Kollengode, and so was my maternal Grandpa. The place has three agraharms Kollengode Kizhakke Graamam, Kollengode Padinjaare Gramam (Perumal Kovil street) and Kollengode Puthu Graamam

Today we are at the Kollengode Pudugramam (New Village)

Kollen means Blacksmith. I wonder if this was a place of metal work a very long time ago. This is a very fertile place and In the Royalty of Palghat, Maddy writes "The two ruling clans of Palghat were established when the lands were once upon a time split along the Bharathapuzha with the more productive south ruled by the Nambiati’s from Kollengode and the lands North by the Palghat Achans."

The Special Studies book on Kerala mentions this temple thus:

"Datable to the sixteenth century, the legend says that the old temple was formerly known as Sree Meenakshi-Sundareswarar temple. Later when a Siva-linga was brought from Kasi (Varanasi) an L-shaped granite structure of height of 6.45 m, was built and over it two sreekovils of equal size were built (west and south entrances) with granite stones and copper sheet covered roof." " Earlier the temple belonged to Kollanköt Rajas. But now the temple is owned by a Trustee Board consisting of five members. The Managing Trustee looks after the day-to-day affairs of the temple. The H.R.&C.E. has had overall control since 1989."

"The temple has some association with Sree Purattiyil Bhagavati temple. An interesting thing is that on the first Friday of Karkkatakam a katum-payasam offered to Sree Bhagavati is mixed with the payasam prepared in this temple and distributed to all devotees. The belief is that Purattiyil Bhagavati is the sister of the Goddess Visalakshi of this temple."

"The structures thereon are L-shaped seekovil complex, sub-shrines, chuttambalam, valiya-balikkalls, dhwajam, deepastambham, sadyalayam, well and tank. The other deities are Sree Ganapati in sitting pose, Sree Subramanyaswämy, Sree Valli and Sree Devayani in standing pose, Sree Kãla Bhairavan in standing pose with a dog, Sree Chandikeswarar sitting and Sree Soorya on standing pose and Sree Dakshinamoortty in sitting posture"

A blog on the temple mentions that the earliest residents were migrants from Kadambakudi, Ganapathy Agraharam, Mannargudi and Mayiladuthurai villages in Thanjavur Dist,Tamilnadu. They migrated from Thanjavur at the time of Islamic invasion due to persecution and unrest. "The earliest settlers in Pudugramam were Narayana Pattar and Raghunatha Pattar from Kadambakudi.They were very religious Brahmins and they were honoured by Samoodiri Raja with lands to cultivate paddy."

"At the time of migration they had carried with them the idols of Sri.Sundareswara Swamy, Sri.Meenakshi Ambal, Nandikeswarar, Ganapathy and Chandikeswarar whom they were worshipping in Kadambakudi. Because of the troubled times,they preserved the idols under the soil, in the eastern bank of river Gayatri under a banyan tree. A small Kali temple was also there. During a Deva prasnam it was found that the Goddess Kali had protected these deities and pujas are done to propitate the deity."

"One of the residents from the Narayana Pattar family, who had accepted Sanyasaasramam,

went to Kasi. On his return, he brought three Sivalaingam from Kasi one each one was

installed in Kalpathy, Palakkad, Koduvayur and Pudugramam. Siva Lingam in Pudugramam was installed facing west, so Sri Viswanathaswamy is known as Mrithyujaya lingam. It has proved by facts that Sri Viswanathaswamy has saved the lives of devotees who were in distress and danger to life." A Brindavanam is located adjacent to the temple campus which is attributed to the Sanyasi.

The Kalpathy Kasi Viswanatha swamy history mentions a Lakshmi Ammal who brought the Bana Lingam and installed it with the help of the Raja ItiKombi. So I wonder if the above narration about Narayana Pattar bringing the lingam which I assume could be the Gangadhara swamy installed in the rear side of the temple corridor or he must be related to Lakshmi Ammal. It is only my assumption.

Sri Ganapathy,Kalyanasubramanian,Bhairavar,Chandikeswarar,Suryan and Dakshinamurthy  are the parivara devas. "Deva prasnam says that Sri Viswanathaswamy and Sri Sundareswarar are of equal importance and all pujas should be done equally."

"A small idol of Anjaneya was found about 70 years ago in the temple campus.It was installed as a deity and puja is done everyday.An Anjaneya Utsavam is held for a week in the month of May every year."

"There are a number of instances where Lord Viswanatha has saved the lives of individuals, as Mrithyujaya. Prayer to Sri Visalakshi with Swayamvara Parvathi mantraM has brought marriage to girls."

The article also mentions "The Temple is under the control of Malabar Devaswom Board(MDB). Day-to-day administration is done by trustees nominated by MDB after proper inquiry. Puja is done by Sivacharya. The present Sivacharya is the fourth generation of earliest Sivacharya.We do not know much about the earliest Sivacharya, who was known as Patta Kurukkal. His son Sri Rama Kurukkal,according to Deva prasnam was a Mahan, an ardent messenger of Siva. His steadfast devotion was incomparable.His son Sri Viswanath Kurukkal was a devoted priest. Now his sons Ravi,Sankaran,Manju and Guhan are now continuing the puja in the same manner."

"Temple had vast landholdings and its revenue was sustaining the expenses of the temple.After the land legislation in Kerala, the temple lost all its revenue."

The sivachariar mentions about Maampal மாம்பால் being offered during Vaikasi Visakam (which is the Avataram day of Lord Muruga). A few temples around Kalpathy offer the same. The Mampal from what I have read is prepared by a mix of Jackfruit Mangos Coconut milk or regular milk and sometimes with rice flour.

Gayathri river flows near the temple and like all agraharams along the riverfront, The Kollengode Pudugramam is magical.

Radhe Krishna

Sriram(Hari) 100-Agraharams Project

Rama Bhagavathar Charitable Trust

July 18, 2024