Panniyur Sri Varahamurthy Temple , Kumbidi, Palakkad

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The Panniyur Sri Varahamurthy Temple is an ancient Hindu temple complex situated at Kumbidi, Palakkad district of Kerala, India. This Temple is believed to be the first temple in Kerala consecrated by Parasurama nearly 4000 years ago.For around 3000 years since its inception, this temple was considered as the prime temple of Kerala. it was given the status of "Maha Kshetra". this temple is presently under the Zamorin of Calicut.

This temple is the only one in Kerala to worship the ‘Varaha’ avatar of Shri Vishnu. Here in the sanctum, Sri Varaha murthy is worshipped with Bhumi Devi as his consort, sitting on his lap.

The ‘Devaprashnangal’ held here since 1983 indicate that within the next two revolutionary periods of the Saturn, this temple shall enhance in prestige and prominence to be at par with great temples like Guruvayur and Shabarimala. It is clear that Shri Varahamurthy has reincarnated himself at this temple to bless one and everyone. Many a devotee has claimed that he/she has already felt the blessing and glorious presence of Shri Varahmurthy. It is said that all devotees of Shri Varahamurthy shall be blessed with ‘Abhishta Karya Sidhdhi’. And hence the number of devotees of Shri Varahamurthy is increasing day by day. it is said,everyone who believes in Shri Varahamurthy would be blessed with ‘Abhishta Karya Sidhdhi’ (i.e. the realisation of everything that one had prayed for). Devotees believe that when in peril, if one utters the words ‘Varahamurthy Rakshikane’ (save me, Varahamurthy) thrice, Shri Varahamurthy would rescue one from all impending perils and dangers.

Significance of Varaha:

Varaha  is the avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu in the form of a boar. Varaha is listed as third in the Dashavatara, the ten principal avatars of Vishnu. When the demon Hiranyaksha stole the earth (personified as the goddess Bhudevi) and hid her in the primordial waters, Vishnu appeared as Varaha to rescue her. Varaha slew the demon and retrieved the Earth from the ocean, lifting it on his tusks, and restored Bhudevi to her place in the universe.

Varaha may be depicted completely as a boar or in an anthropomorphic form, with a boar's head and human body. His consort, Bhudevi, the earth, is often depicted as a young woman, lifted by Varaha.

Temple History:

It is said that for an approximate period of 1300 years ranging from 800BC (when the Brahmanas ruled Kerala) to 600 AD (around the end of Peranakan rule), Sri Varaha Murthy, the reigning God of Kerala’s renowned village Panniyur, was worshipped as the supreme god of Kerala. Some recently found stone engravings at Panniyur reveal that 1200 years ago there was an active organisation by the name ‘Panniyuraayiram’, which as its name suggests had 1000 members who were devoted towards carrying out the various cultural and religious activities of the temple. This again stands to emphasise the prominence that this temple enjoyed in those days.

Following his victory over the Kshatriyas, Parashuram had donated all that he had won to Kashyap. He had then sought a piece of land to carry out his meditation, and so he had pulled out a small fragment of land from the sea for the purpose. History claims that this small fragment of land is what exists now as Kerala. Eventually Parashuram’s piece of land had begun rising and expanding. Disturbed, Parashuram had sought Narada’s help. Narada had advised him to pray to Lord Vishnu. And so Parashuram had begun his meditation in order to propitiate Lord Vishnu. Finally Vishnu had appeared before him and had said, "Once I had assumed the form of Varahamurthy to save the world. Worship that form of mine and this place will have the blessings of ‘Thri Murthy’."

As per Lord Vishnu’s advice, Parashuram had established Shri Varahamurthy at the centre of his land fragment and had built a temple to house it. He had also duly initiated all worship activities there. It is that divine temple which is the Panniyur Mahakshetram of today.

Story of Perunthachan:

According to the legend,Perunthachan, meaning the master carpenter or the master craftsman, was the third one of  Parayi petta panthirukulam or literally, the twelve castes borne out of the pariah woman and the great scholar Vararuchi.

Following the demise of his beloved son, for which he held himself responsible, a mentally disturbed Perunthachan, the great carpenter, through the course of his wanderings had reached Panniyur. Weighed down by fatigue, hunger and thirst he had sought relief from the carpenters who had been then carrying out rejuvenation work at the Mahakshetram. Having had failed to identify the ‘Master’ of their profession the workers had quite conspicuously neglected him and afterwards had broken for having lunch without having had uttered even a single word to him. Quite shocked and angry by such behaviour from their side, the ‘Master’ had decided to teach them a lesson. He had moved inside the sanctum sanctorum where the carpenters had kept blocks of wood ready to be converted into columns. The ‘Master’ had made some marks on those wood blocks before resuming with his journey. When the workers had returned, they had quite unwarily sawn along the marks made by the ‘Master’; just imagine their embarrassment and frustration when they had discovered that all the columns just fell short of their appropriate lengths. Their careers and professions at stake, they had suddenly realised that the ill-dressed man they had so criminally neglected at lunchtime had been the master carpenter Perunthachchan himself, and that it had been him who had caused all this turmoil. Having had repented for their behaviour, they had decided to seek him the following day and beg for his forgiveness; and so decided they had settled down for the night. They had been woken up in the middle of the night by the sound of hammering and chiselling from inside the Sree Kovil. They had rushed inside to find that the old man had come back and that he had just finished adding the final touches to their pending work. Amazed and thrilled, they had sought his forgiveness. They had said, "Oh Master! So many of us have been deriving our livelihoods out of the work we used to do here. Now that you have completed the work we’ll be rendered jobless.

Perunthachchan had replied, "Do not worry, friends! Panniyur temple will never ever be short of work to offer members of our profession. Anyway I will never touch my chisel and measuring rod ever again."

So saying he had dropped down his chisel and rod, which have been ever carefully preserved by his followers at Panniyur Mahakshetram and are still available for everyone for see.

Upa-devathas:

This temple also houses and worhips Updevtas like Sri Shiva (‘Vadakovil’), Sri Ayyappa, Sri Durgabhagavathy, Sri Ganapathy, Sri Subramanya and Sri Lakshmi Narayan. This temple is also said to have the blessings of Chitragupta and Yakshi. 

This temple also has a stage and a huge ground to accommodate spectators. The legendary ‘Panniyur thura’ is located just to the North of the Mahakshetra. It is believed that the fishpond constructed by Parashuram used to be located just a little south of the temple.

Special pujas:

1."Abhishta Sidhdhi Puja":

deity: Varaha Murthy

Among the different pujas conducted here the most important one happens to be the ‘Abhishta Sidhdhi Puja’. This puja costs Rs.200- and is believed to pave way for ‘Abhishta Karya Sidhdhi’or fulfilment of one's wishes.

This puja is booked in advance till a long time into the future. Yet with due consideration to those who visit this temple, 3 days in a week have been earmarked for the conduct of this puja immediately or as soon as can be managed for all such devotees.

2. "aiswarya pooja":

deity: Varaha murthy

this is conducted for the well-being and prosperity of the family once in every year. the charge for this pooja is 501/- and it has to be paid in advance. the prasadam will be sent to the devotee.

3."bhumi puja":

deity: bhumi devi

i is done to to avoid any disputes over one's land and to remove all evil spells that would have affected the land. a little soil has to be brought to the temple for puja, and it will be returned to the devotee after the puja, to be dispersed in the affected land for removing all obtacles. it costs 300/- rupees.

4. "Lakshmi Narayana Puja":

deity: Lakshmi Narayana- upa devatha

conducting this puja for 3 consecutive months in one's birth star is said to be beneficial for removing all obstacles that cause delay in getting married. it costs 150/- per puja and has to offered after an Abhishta Sidhdhi Puja to Varaha murthy.

Darsan Info:

Panniyur Sri Varahamurthy Temple is open from 6 AM to 10 AM and from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM .

'Sandhya Deeparadhana'(Pooja during evening time) is considered as the most auspicious time to seek the blessings of Sri Varahamurthy.

Temple Route:

This temple is situates at Kumbidi n Anakkara panchayath in Palakkad District border area, 40 kilometers away from Guruvayoor Temple and also 5 kilometers near to Kuttippuram railway station (Southern Railway). 

Routes by Road (National Highway)

TRICHUR - Kunnamkulam - Edapal - Beofore reaching Kuttinppuram turn to right at the point of Keltron corner to Kumbidi.

CALICUT - Valanchery - Kuttippuram after two kilometers away from Kuttippuram - Keltron Corner then turn left to Kumbidi.

PALAKKAD - Ottappalam - kulappully - Pattambi - Thrithala - Kumbidi.