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.
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.
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.
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