Thirumanikkara Sree Guruvayoorappan Temple, Manjeri

  Please visit http://thirumanikkaratemple.in/ for more info.

Thirumanikkara Temple Front view

Thirumanikkara Sree Guruvayoorappan Temple, Thrikkalangode Devaswom is an ancient and famous Vishnu Temple in Malappuram district. In its fame, this temple was at par with the erstwhile Sree Guruvayoor Temple. The presiding deity here is Sree Guruvayoorappan and the offerings and poojas are similar to the Guruvayoor Temple.It is said, devotees who could not make it to the Guruvayoor Temple for their pending offerings or vazhipadu, can fulfill the same by offering it at the Thirumanikkara temple, and Guruvayoorappan will accept it happily.This temple is presently under the trusteeship of the Samoothiri Raja of  Kozhikkode. This temple is situated at  the scenic Thirumanikkara  village in Manjeri – Nilambur Route, near to Marathani.

The temple has a beautiful pond nearby among lush greenery, which is a treat to the eyes.

Legend:




As per legend, there was an old Brahmin,called Moossathu Namboodiri at Idinjimmal Illam near to Thirumanikkara, who was an ardent devotee of Sree Guruvayoorappan. He used to walk to the Guruvayoor Temple situated far away, for every Guruvayoor Ekadashi to seek the Lord's blessings. As he got old, he found it very difficult to travel to Guruvayoor all alone. On that day of Guruvayoor Ekadasi,after coming back from Guruvayoor, he sat tired and famished under an old banyan tree (Arayal tree), and started venting out his woes to his dear Lord that he won't be able to do any more Ekadasi darshans at Guruvayoor due to his ailing health. Then there was a divine ringing sound of bells ( mani kilukkam) from above the banyan tree and a voice from above told the pious Brahmin, that Guruvayoorappan had come to where he was at present and he doesn't have to go to Guruvayoor to see the Lord. The happy Brahmin informed all about his divine experience, and the Thirumanikkara temple was built to house Lord Guruvayoorappan. Sine the bell or "mani" sound informed the lord guruvayoorappan's presence, the place came to be called Thiru "mani" kara.

Festivals:

Guruvayoor Ekadasi:

Of the 24 Ekadasis in a year, the Vrishchika Ekadasi also called "Guruvayur Ekadashi" has got special significance in Guruvayur and Thirumanikkara temples. It falls in the Mandala season. Thousands of devotees throng the thirumanikkara temple on this auspicious day seeking the blessings of Lord Guruvayoorappan.All the ekadasi rituals are similar to Guruvayoor temple.  Special chuttu vilakku on the previous day, dasami vilaku is done as the Desa Vilakku.On Ekadasi after night pooja the famous Ekadasi Vilakku with elephant procession takes place and provides a fitting finale to the festival.

Sree Krishna Jayanthi/ Ashtami Rohini:

Ashtami Rohini in Chingam (August-September) is the birthday of Lord Krishna. Appam and Palpayasam are considered to be important offerings on this day. It is celebrated with great rejoicing with various cultural programmes to commemorate the incarnation of Lord Krishna at Ashtamirohini . Thousands of devotees attend the celebration every year.

Route:

This temple is situated on  Manjeri – Nilambur Route, 7 kms  from Manjri town . At Marathani junction, turn left to Thirumanikkara.