Introduction.

"SWAMIYE SARANAM AYYAPPA".

It is very difficult to give a short description about Neervilakom Ayyappa Temple and I'm not enough to describe about this temple. But I think this blog will be hepful to all ayyappa devotees and the intention is to give a picture about this temple to the devotees from Tamil Nadu & Karnataka who arrives at Chengannur at the time of sabarimala pilgrimage. As chengannur is the destination place for those sabarimala pilgrims those arriving by train, this is the first ayyappa temple on the way to Sabarimala from the destination place. It will be nice to start your journey from chengannur by taking a bath at the holy Pampa river, having your prayers at Mahadeva kshethram and then have a visit at this temple which is in one of the most beautiful villages in Kerala. As this temple and village is away from township the atmosphere there is very calm and quiet and feel the beauty of nature where the god has shown his artistic ability.

NEERVILAKOM SREE AYYAPPA TEMPLE is one among the most prominent ayyappa temples in kerala. This temple is located, 5 kms away from Chengannur Mahadeva temple & 7 kms away from Aranmula Parthasarathy temple.

The main festival celebrated is ‘UTHRAM MAHOLSAVAM’; annually during March/April. 11 days of festival starts with KODIYETTAM followed by many cultural & traditional programs in subsequent days. The main attraction of this festival is ‘KAAVADIYATTAM, PALLIVILAKKU, PALLIVETTA & AARATTU’.

The second main festival is SREE BHAGAVATHA SAPTHAHA YAGNAM, during Jan/Feb. This includes detail description of Bhagavatham followed by religious speeches, cultural & traditional programs. 7 days of festival ends with AARATTULSAVAM.

SREE BHAGAVATH GEETHA JNANA YAJNAM is another important festival in this temple. The geetha jnanan yajnam is conducted in the first week of May.

PANTHIRUNNAZHI is the main VAZHIPADU of this temple .

During Mandala kaalam "VILAKKUKOLUTHU" is conducted for 41 days in the temple.

"SWAMIYE SARANAM AYYAPPA"

Melshanthi of Neervilakom Ayyappa temple . Shri Reghupathy thirumeni.

Governing body.

The Neervilakom Ayyappa Temple is governed by an elected group from the 1741 NSS karayogam members residing in Neervilakom. The karayogam committe is the authorized body which is responsible for looking the day to affairs of the temple. The current Karayogam committe is headed by

President
Mr.T.R. Vasudevan Pillai

Secretary
Mr. M.P Gopakumar Nair

Tresurer
Mr. A.N. Vijayakumar

Taluk Union Representative
Mr. A.V. Govindankutti Nair

Electroral role member
Mr. M.K. Venugopal

Committe Members

Mr. K.N. Radhakrishnan Nair
Mr. Ravindran Nair
Mr. K.P. Radhakrishnan Nair
Mr. P.K. Muralimanohar
Mr. Ajikumar
Mr. M.N. Sasidharan Pillai

Palli Vilakku

This fiesta of lights is part of the Pallivilakku ritual, held as part of the annual Uthram festival of Neervilakom Ayyappa temple. Thousands of lamps will be lighted on the intricate wooden chariot-like lamp post, which can be moved with the help of thousands of devotees. The shells of Marotti (Hydnocarpus pentandra) fruit will be filled with natural oil to light lamps on these huge lamp post. They will be lighted and the huge lamp post is then carried by hundreds of devotees from the 'Kizhakke Aalthara' to the 'temple entrance' along with the 'Jeevitha'. Touching the 'Paalli Vilakku' during the procession is considered to be divine and is believed to neutralise the misconducts.To add to the splendor of the ritual, the post will be rotated fast, with the lamps still shining on them. The festival is one of those rare events in which such a large number of lamps are featured.

Anpoly

Anpoly is an important offering to Ayyappa at the time of festival. Ayyappa is brought towards a specially erected pandal (Anpoly pandal) to offer five "paras"(old conventional device to measure paddy) filled with paddy, rice, avil, malar, and plantain fruit. Pandal is decorated with flowers. Flowers in large quantity are spread and fifteen nilavilakku are placed in a specially arranged manner. Ayyappa placed in Jeevatha on shoulders of priests dance the tune of orchestra like Chenda, Thavil, Nadaswaram etc is brought in procession. People in large numbers assemble to witness this procession between 10 pm and 3 am. Firing crackers are part of this vazhipadu.

Thirumunpil Vela

The ritual Velakali is performed in the temple courtyard. It is begun with the deity taken out in a procession on a Jeevitha. This is called Thirumumbil Vela which literally means that the performance is in front of the deity. If this ritual is performed near the temple pond, it is called Kulathilvela. The dancers numbering fifteen or more are dressed up like traditional soldiers with colourful shields and shining swords. Sometimes the swords are replaced with long canes. They go through war like steps in a line to the accompaniment of martial music with vigour and force. They display fighting techniques by coming forward from the line. The musical instruments like Thavil, Suddha Maddalam, Elathaalam, Horns and Trumpets are used for this art. Thirumunpil Vela starts from Parakkoodu (Beautiful paddy field near temple) around 2 pm in the after noon and after kulathil vela it ends in the courtyard of temple around 7 pm just before Thirumunpil seva.

Ammankudam

The devotees of Bhagavathy perform a ritual dance known as Ammankudam. It's also known as karagatto or karakam thullal. They place pots on their heads and do a fine balancing act as they dance. The name Ammankudam comes from the words "Amman" as in "Mother" or “Goddess" and "Kudam" meaning pots. These pots are generally filled in with sacred substances used for the worship such as water, turmeric, sandal, flowers and neem leaves. Ammankudam is the main attraction of Uthram festival at Neervilakom Ayyappa temple. It conducts along with kavediyattam and thirumunpil vela.