Panangattri
Overview
In the Panangattiri Venkatachalapathy Temple, Perumal is in standing position with Chadhur-buja.
Location
Location: The Panangattri village is located about 30 Kms from the Palakkad railway station and off the Vadakkancherry Pollachi road.
Address:HMV9+2HG, Gramam, Panangattiri, Panangattiri, Kerala
Temple Timings:
5.30AM TO 8.30AM
5.30PM TO 7.00PM
History
The deity was brought from Tirupathi. Only a few homes exist in the agraharam and most of them are from a single family. The family is related to the founders of Hotel Bhimas of Tirupathi. The Navaratri festival is the most famous here with the Ammanai aadal being the unique feature of the festival.
Deities
Primary deity: Venkatachalapathy
Separate temple for : Sri Ayyappan (Naga Roopam)
Videos
Photo Gallery
Utsavams
Navarathri
Pradhishta dinam Edavam Rohini
Vahanas
-n.a-
Adimakkavu
Manapully Kaavu
Perungottu Kaavu
Other Agraharam Information
Total homes in the Agraharam: 13
Number and % of Brahmin homes: 4 or about 30%
Number and % of homes retaining traditional look: 5 or 40%
Does the village have a brahmana samooham: -na-
Does the village temple have a temple car (theru): Yes, one small sized commissioned in 2024
When was the last ashtabandhana kumbabhishekam done: 2018
Contact Information
S.SHANKER - 9539005552
ARAVIND.S - 9656750111
Well Known Elders from the Agraharam
Gopalakrishnan - first ICS Palakkad district
Food and Catering
None available inside the agraharam - Nearest is Kollengode
Hall for functions and Lodging
Nearest in Kollengode
Bank Accounts for sending Kanikkai, donation or vazhipadu
- na-
Author's Notes
Panangattiri Agraharam - 100 Agraharams Project
There is another agraharam called Paingattery in Mananthavady, Wayanad. The elevation of that place is nearly 2500 feet. However the Panangattiri agraharam is only about 350 feet above MSL. This is amongst the Palakkad Agraharams
Panangattiri is famous for the Iravan temple. The temple here is dedicated to Iravan, son of Arjuna in the Mahabharata. It is believed that this is the only Iravan temple in Kerala and is well known for the festival Koothanda vela.
2.5 Kilometers away from the Iravan temple and about 30 Kilometers from Palakkad is the Agraharam of Panangattiri. It is scenic with the backdrop of Nelliyampathy in the western ghats.
'Panangattiri ' -The name literally means 'land of Palm groves'.
I read that 'Iravan is the family deity (kula devata) of ten families who took refuge here from Kaveripoompattinam. The families include Moothan, Tarakan, Mannadiyar, Vadhyar, Panickar, Chettiar and Guptan.' I read that the Pathukudi or the PathuMadakkar were a "Arya Brahmin community, who later adopted Vaishya tradition, and accepted Tamil as their mother tongue. In their heyday ,during the reign of the tiger flag imperial cholas ,they had the merchant guild, king, army ,and lion flag and land in the Chola empire. Due to the difference with mighty Cholas they left the Chola kingdom and met Zamorin of Malabar. Zamorin gave Panangattiri(ThenPanasai Nagara) to this community which is a part of Palakkad kingdom. The community got the right to rule this land and termed this land as classical Tamil land."
I also read that the "PathuKudi community is found mainly in Panangattiri village of Kollengode sub district, of Palakkad district and spread across Vallanghy, Nemmara, Alathur, Vadavannur and Vithanassery. Other names used to refer to this community are PathuMadom and Dashagotram."
The rains add magic to this quiet agraharam which is much away from the bustle of the highway and also a cul-de-sac.
The energy of Sri Shankaran who spoke about the temple, the festivals and its residents (which is mostly a single family) is infectious. He is so upbeat and positive about the place and about life in general. It comes with a life that is filled with gratitude. My cousins in-laws are the Bhimas of Tirupati and I see that this village folks are related to them and thus establishing a Tirupati-Panangattiri-Kumarapuram connection. Many Vishnu temple agraharams I have been to say their Idols were brought from Tirupati.
I delight in agraharams that still retain wells in the middle of the road. I also like them when the mud roads exist.
I wonder if there is any kinship between the founders of this Agraharam and Pathukudi.
Radhe Krishna
Sriram(Hari), 100-Agraharams Project
Rama Bhagavathar Charitable Trust
July 6, 2024