Kerala Temple - Arangotukara Thrikkol (Thirukovil) Ambalam Narasimha Swamy Amabalam (temple)

There is a temple in Arangotukara on the north side portion of the village known as the Thrikkolambalam (Thiru kovil). The principal deity is Lord Narasimha (Lord with lion head and human body) the 4th incarnation of Lord Mahavishnu. The legend is that the Astavakra (person with 8 bends) Muni (maharishi) had done pooja here.  The main festival is Narasimha Jayanthi. The temple and tank are not in good condition due to poor maintenance.The people around the area formed a committee and has done some repairs and renovations. There is regular poojas done 2 times every day. This temple is in Arangotukara, Desamangalam Panchayath, Thalapilli Taluk, Thrissur District, Kerala State. It is about 1/2 km inside through paddy fields from the Shornur - Koottanad and Thrissur Arangotukara bus routes.There is also a motorable path from the bus route. As can be seen from the heading the main deity of this temple is Lord Narasimha Swamy the 4th incarnation of Lord Vishnu. But the pooja procedures are done as if the deity is Lord Vishnu.

It is said that the Ashtavakra  muni for the convenience of taking bath and for doing pooja wanted a source of water. With this intention he pressed his palm with force on the earth near the temple. The depression caused by the pressing of the palm became the temple theerth pond (tank) which was about 2 acres in area.Now the tank is reduced to about 1/4 of its original size. Since the tank is made by pressing the palm of Ashtavakra Muni, it is known as Thrikai Kulam.

Kerala Temples - Ezhumangad Siva temple

Ezhumangad Siva temple - Ezhumangad, Arangotukara

In Ezhumangad village there is an old temple dedicated to Lord Siva. Ezhumangad is on the Shornur - Kunnamkulam route under the Thirumittakode Panchayath.  The idol is a Siva linga good height and circumference. The temple is facing East side.  In addition to the Linga mentioned, there is another Swayambhoo Lingam (natural lingam existing of its own). Sub deity is Lord Ayyappa. No other idols or shrine are there. But there is a place for Ganapathi without idol and for the goddess there is only Sankalpa (belief of having the goddess presence). There is no utsavam. Sivarathri is observed in this temple. 

The temple is on the Shornur - Kunnamkulam bus route. Get down at Ezhumangad stop. The temple is near to the stop.  

Kerala temples - Mullakkal Devi Temple. Ezhumangad

Mullakkal Devi Temple is a Durga Devi temple in the Arangotukara - Ezhumangad twin village. This temple is in Ezhumangad side, though it is known as Arangotukara Mullakkal Temple. This temple is private temple owned by Kannathu Nair. The present owner is C P Sathyaseelan (Kuttan), a retired employee of Air India. The temple is small. It is on the left side to the village road - Puthan Patha while going from the main road to Kadukasseri Village, just about 50 yards from the main road.

Main Festival of Mullakkal Temple

Thaalapoli is the main festival of the temple. Which is on the completion of 41 days' Chuttu Vilakku (light lamps around the temple) starting from the 1st of Vrischikam month of Malayalam Calendar. During the chittu vilakku period the velichappadu will go around the houses in the village and around for 'parayeduppu', where people offer paddy and money as contributions to the festival. Usually this will be during the end of December. The pooram/thalappoli is a procession of ladies traditionally dressed carry a plate with a lighted lamp and other items. There will be 2 rows of the ladies carrying thalapoli. The procession of the ladies follows caparisoned elephants with one of them in the center carries the idol of the deity. The procession starts from the the main temple of the village, the Karthyayani Devi Temple of the village. The procession will start with a Thayampka( a long drum played to produce rhythmic sound)  and Panchavadyam (an orchestra producing rhythmic sound). It will end at the Mullakkal temple. There also there will be chenda vadyam with an oracle (Velichapaadu - a male with long hair dressed with auspicious red color dress carrying a sword in right hand and chilambu - a brass hollow oval shaped ring with small balls inside which makes sounds when the balls move) beleived as the representative of the goddess, who perform dance jumps to the rythem of the chenda. For the pooram there will be about 15 to 30 elephants participating in the procession.After the procession reaches the Mullakkal temple The velichappadu dances and after that the ladies will keep the thaalams (plate with lamps) in front of the goddess. After that the pooram will have other performances by pootham, theyyam and other fold arts.