VASUDEVAN BHATTATHIRIPPAD Vs. MALLAPALLY THIRUMALIDA MAHADEVA TEMPLE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE issue involved in this appeal is regarding the Tantriship in Thirurnalida Mahadeva Temple at Mallappally. The deity is believed to be Swayambhoo.

(2.) EARLIER the area where the temple is now situated was a thick forest. The temple is believed to be more than 300 years old. In the thick forest, there was a mound and on the either side of the mound ran the Manimala river. An ascetic took up penance on the mound. The legend is that the extreme penance invoked Lord Siva's pleasure who appeared before the ascetic. Thereafter the ascetic began to worship Lord Siva. Time passed by.

(3.) ADMITTEDLY the temple fell within Edappally Swaroopam. With the waning of princely rule the affairs of the temple fell into disarray and temple came to be neglected. As King's resource depleted, so also the affairs of the temple. The theory is that members of seven Karas formed what is now termed as Mallappally Thirurnalida Hyndava Seva Sangam. The said Sangam is in administration and management of the temple.