Durga Sanctum

When the Panniyoor Sukapuram conflict was at its zenith the Samudayam of the Panniyoor temple Chittoor Namboodiripad tried to bring the Panniyoor faction who was intent on self destruction to their senses regarding the Panniyoor Temple. When he found that it was impossible to do so he took a decision to distance himself from the fight. Consequently he removed the Goddess Durga, from the temple premises and relocated the deity to a nearby place called Koottupuzha. 

Recently the Durga was brought back to the temple under the initiative of the temple committee with the support of Chittoor Vasudevan Namboodiripad under whose management was the Koottupuzha temple. The present spiritual head of the Chittoor Mana, Shri Chittoor Narayanan Namboodiripad took part in the consecration rites.

Varahamurthy Sanctum

Temple Complex

Beautiful Locale

Panniyoor Mahakshetram is situated in Palakkad district of Kerala on the banks of the River Nila(Bharathapuzha) at a place called Anakkara. It is a scenic locale, set among paddy fields, calm and serene, so the devotee feels all the stresses and stains of daily life slipping away quietly.

The temple is off the Edappal - Kumbidi Road. You can reach the temple by road from Thrissur by taking the Kozhikode highway and turning right into the Pattambi Road at Edappal. A few kilometers down take a left turn at Neeliyad. Go around two kilometers on the narrow road, past Pottur and Anakkara Junction and you can espy a board indcating the road to the temple on the right.

The nearest railway station is Kuttipuram which is around 12 km away and the temple is on the Kuttipuram-Trithala route.

Legend of Panniyoor Temple

Legend has it that Parashurama built this temple around 4000 years ago. Soon Kerala which he had brought up from the depths of the sea with a throw of the axe started becoming a great civilisation.
Panniyoor was the greatest among the 32 Gramams of Malanadu. Naturally the people of the place wanted to convert the temple complex into one that would rival the ones even in heaven!
The onus of this fell on a team of renowned carpenters. But legend has that they could not complete it because the calculations were wrong.
That is until the master carpenter Perumthachan entered the picture. He completed the main building after which he kept his chisel in the temple and went on a pilgrimage never to build a temple again in his life. There is a mark on the temple wall which stands to this day, in proof of this occurence.

There are two stories for the reason of the mistake in calculations. One legend claims that Lord Indra became jealous of the exquisite temple coming up that he deliberately changed the figures without the carpenters being aware of it. The other version goes that the carpenters did not give due respect to Perumthachan and it was he himself who made the changes covertly. And that he later relented. But even now there are portions of the temple which stand partly completed. 
PS: When we talk of a temple rivalling those in heaven it is not in terms of size but in terms of perfection. Especially in keeping with the philosophy of temple building and accuracy of the architectural calculations. And of course the grandeur and aesthetics.

Varahamurthy

Varahamurthy is the third among Mahavishnu's Dasavatharas who saved the world by raising the earth on His tusks from the bottom of the ocean. In Panniyoor He, with Bhoomidevi at His side is ever ready to protect and bless His devotees from evil.

Picture Source: karma2grace.org

Hi Folks

Panniyoor Varahamurthy has been blessing devotees for hundreds of years. But not many people know about one of the greatest temples of Kerala, nay India. It will be my earnest, but humble quest to try and bring to you information about the temple so you can also visit and receive his benign blessings. Happy reading!