Navamukunda Temple, Thirunavaya, Malappuram – History
The famous and ancient Thirunavaya Temple, known
throughout the country as an ancient teaching-centre of the Vedas. The
Vaishnava sect of Hindus have 108 Divya Desams (most holy temples) and eleven
of them are now in Kerala and Thirunavaya is one among them. The temple was the venue of the Mamankams, a festival celebrated once in 12 years from at
least the 8th century AD. Thirunavaya was once the capital
of Perumpadapu Swaroopam. It is indeed the cradle of culture in northern
Kerala. Holding immense historical importance, this is the place where
'Mamangam', a grand assembly of the rulers of Kerala was held once every 12
years, in olden times. This extravagant festival was held for the last time in
1755 AD.
The temple and the surrounding region were under the
rule of 'Cheraman Perumals' and later under 'Vettathu Rajas' who owed allegiance
to Perumals. After demise of the last Vettathu Raja in 1793 AD, The British
East India Company who, by this time became the rulers of this region, handed
over this temple to Kozhikode Samoothiri Raja (the King Zamorin of Calicut) for
its administration as 'Ooraalan'. For unhindered availability of lotus flowers,
one of the Maharajas of Travancore had constructed a vast pond of lotus plants
nearby, and donated it to this temple.
The temple building was attacked and destroyed during
the invasion of Kerala by Sultan of Mysore Tipu (18th century AD), and later attacked in 1921
during the Mappila Rebellion. Presently, the Tirunavaya temple (Malappuram
Division, Grade: Sp) is administered by Samutiri of Kozhikode (Zamorin of Calicut) as the Managing Trustee under
Malabar Devaswom Board, Government of Kerala.
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