Call to protect historically significant structures at Thirunelly temple

Source: The post is based on the article “Call to protect historically significant structures at Thirunelly temple” published in The Hindu on 27th April 2023

What is the News?

Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has urged the government to conserve the historically significant structures, including the 600-year-old ‘Vilakkumadom’, at Sree Mahavishnu Temple at Thirunelly in Wayanad,Kerala.

What is Thirunelly Temple?

Thirunelly Temple is an ancient temple dedicated to the Lord Maha Vishnu.

Located in: It is located on the sides of Brahmagiri Hill, a part of the Sahyadri Mountain Ranges in the Wayanad district of Kerala.

It is also known as the Sahyamala Kshetram and Kashi of the South.

Architecture: The temple is a fine specimen of classical Kerala temple architecture.

– The inner sanctum is surrounded by a tile-roofed structure and there is an open courtyard around the sanctorum. 

– Along the outer wall of the temple is a cloister made of granite pillars cut in cubical style. This part of the temple architecture is slightly unusual for a Kerala temple. 

Significance: Thirunelli is also the only temple in the world where devotees can perform all the rituals related to one’s life, starting from birth to death and life after death.

– The rituals in this temple are performed on the banks of stream Papanashini, which originates from the Brahmagiri hills.

– There is also a sacred rock near the river called Pinnappara where ritual offerings to the spirits of the departed are made (known as bali).