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About Payyannur

This temple at Payyannur in the Kannur district. It  was established in 1974. The main prathishta is Vittoba Rukmini. The temple and prathista are facing the west. There are sila vigrahas and panchaloha vigrahas of  Vittoba and Rukmini   installed in the srikovil. The sila vigrahas were made by the famous sculptor Karkal Sriranjal Gopalakrishna Shenoy.

It is believed that Sree Vittal or Vithoba is Naada Murthi and is fond of bhajans and He does not need other poojas. So, bhajans are conducted regularly in the temple. Vaisakha Pournami festival, Ashada Ekadashi, Bhajana (recital of slogans of gods’ likings), Karthika Ekadashi Bhajana, Karthika Panchami, Uthana Dwadasi, Sree Varamahalaxmi Vritham (fast) are the festivals and major ceremonies conducted.

The divine “Shami Vriksha Katte” in the temple premises is a great craze for devotees. The worship of this tree fulfils the wishes and remove obstacles encountered, the devotees testify. It is believed that the Raksha Charadu (safety thread) worshipped at the feet of the Lord Vithoba and goddess Rukmai ensures solace and prosperity to the devotees who wear it.

History

The gsb members in Payyannur formed a Bhajan group in 1924 and installed pictures of Vittoba and Rukmini in a room offered by Sri. Anantha Shenoy above his business establishment at Payyannur.

An old pic Weekly bhajans was offered on every Saturday and on Ekadashi days. Later, a common Bhajan Mandir was constructed by the community and poojas started installing idols of Vittoba Rukmini. Sri Vaijappa Narayan Bhandari, a business man from Mangalore, donated a marble statue of Sri Krishna (about 1.5 ft) to the Mandir for worship. 

In 1951, during his visit to Payyannur,   Srimat Sudheendra Tirtha Swamiji stressed the need for constructing a community temple at Payyannur. Since the location of the present Bhajan Mandir was not suitable, Swamiji directed that a suitable location has to identified for construction of the temple. A committee headed by Vasudeva Shenoy was formed and they raised fundsby way of monthy subscriptions and donations from community members and businessmen. It took about 18 years to materialise the dream. The land for construction of temple was purchased from Sri. Anantha Prabhu in 1970 and the construction work started under the leadership of Sri. Upendra Shenoy. A marriage hall (Sukrathindra kalamandir) was constructed next to the temple and was inaugurated in 1975 by Srimat Sudheendra Tirtha Swamiji.

The concrete roofing of the sanctum sanctorum has been changed to copper sheet roofing in 1998.

The temple governance is by a committee elected locally from the community members. There are  about 100 gsb families in payyannur.

Story of Vittoba-Rukmini

Vittoba is a form of Krishna, the name Vittoba means Father Vittala. The Vithoba-Rukmini are the Divine couple. Of  Krishna's eight wives, Rukmini is considered to be his most favourite and beloved because of her satvic character and her devotion to Him. The story of   Rukimini's marriage to Lord Krishna is a very interesting love story. Rukmini's father, the king of Vidarbha, decided to give away Rukmini in marriage to Shishupala, the king of Chedi. Her brother also consented to the marriage and the wedding preparations were in full force. Rukmini, however was in love with Krishna even from her younger age because she heard so much of His virtues. To escape her pre-arranged marriage to Shishupala, she sent one of her confidants to Krishna with a message. Krishna along with Balarama came down to Vidarbha and took away Rukmini in a chariot and killed Shishupala in the battle followed. On reaching Dwaraka He married Rukmini.

One day it so happened that Lord Krishna, while feeling lonely, was reminded of his early days in Mathura. He particularly remembered his love, Radha. Though she was dead, he longed to see her again. By his divine powers he brought her back to life and seated her by his side. Just then his queen, Rukmini, entered the room. When Radha did not rise to pay her respect, Rukmini left Dwarka in anger and hid herself in Dandirvan forest.

Lord Krishna set off in search of Rukmini. He first went to Mathura, then to Gokul. He met the cowherd boys and they too joined in the search. They went to Mount Govardhan in her search and reached the banks of the river Bhima in the Deccan. Krishna justify his companions at Goplapura, and he entered Dandirvan forest alone in search of her. At last he found her and managed to calm her.

Krishna and Rukmini came to Pundalik's ashram. But at that time Pundalik was busy attending to his parents. Though he knew Lord Krishna had come to see him, he refused to pay his respect to the god before his duty towards his parents was done. He, however, threw a brick outside for lord Krishna to stand upon. Impressed by Pundalik's devotion to his parents, Lord Krishna did not mind the delay. Standing on the brick he waited for Pundalik. When Pundalik came out and begged God's pardon, Lord Krishna replied that far from being displeased, he was pleased with his love for his parents.

Lord Krishna then ordered His worship on Vithoba, or God who stood upon a brick. An imposing temple was built at the place (Pandharpur in Maharastra) where Krishna and Pundalik had met.  Inside the temple stands Krishna's image on a brick with image of Rukmini on his side.

About Payyannur   click for Kannur district map

payyannur railway stationPayyanur is situated in the Kannur district of Kerala. The place derives its name from the renowned Sri Subrahmanya Swami Temple located here. 'Payyan' is an appellation of Lord Subrahmanya and ‘Ooru' means the place. Thus Payyanur means the land of Lord Subrahmanya. Payyanur is also well known for Pavithra Mothiram, Astrology, Art forms like Theyyam and Poorakkali.

 

Subrahmanya temple

subramanya templeSree Subrahmanya Swami Temple of Payyanur is believed to be constructed by Lord Parasurama, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. In Brahmanda Purana the temple and its town is being mentioned while Muni Garga explains about Kerala to  Pandavas during their exile. This temple was destroyed two times. Once due to a fire and then during the attack of Tipu Sultan of Mysore The temple was reconstructed in the present form in 1792 AD. The two-storied sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) is in the shape of “Gajaprishta” (back of an elephant). The idol of the main deity Lord Subrahmanya is about 6-ft tall . The “Ilanji” tree in the front-yard of the temple remains a surprise to all devotees since this tree always flowers but never fruits.

Hanumarambalm

Shree Raghavapuram is situated in the valley of Cheruthazham village near Payyanur town, opposite to the hills of 'Ezhimala'.  Though the place had been named as Sree Raghavapuram, it is  popularly known as 'Hanumarambalm'.  There is a small beautiful Sree Rama temple here which is one of the most ancient and famous Vaishnava temples of northern Kerala.  The original temple is believed to have been built by Mooshaka dynasty centuries ago and later Sri Udaya Varma Kolathiri during his rule had renovated the temple in the 8th Century. The main temple where idol of Sree Ramachandra was originally installed was east facing.  As per the ancient annotation the original idol of Sree Ramachandra was depicting the mood of the Lord as was during the Rama-Ravana battle.  It was felt that, the population residing on the Eastern side of the temple were experiencing lot of hardship due to this mood of the prathista. 

hanumanambalamOn conducting 'prashnam' it was decided to open a doorway for the temple on the western side facing 'Ezhimala', and to shut the doorway facing eastern side and also to reinstall Sree Ramachandra with Sita Devi along with brother Lakshman. It is believed while Sree Hanuman was carrying the Mountain with Mridhasanjeevani to Lanka, a piece of the mountain broke and fell down at this place (where the temple is located) and thus the 'Ezhimala' was formed. Sree Hanuman's temple is located inside the 'Naalambalam' at the 'Vaayu moola'  (Northwest corner). It is believed that Sree Rama had devoted the name of His temple itself in the name of His Baktha, as 'Hanumarambalam'.