Thuravoor
Encyclopedia
Thuravoor is a gram panchayat
Gram panchayat
Gram panchayats are local self-governments at the village or small town level in India. As of 2002 there were about 265,000 gram panchayats in India. The gram panchayat is the foundation of the Panchayat System. A gram panchayat can be set up in villages with minimum population of 300...

 in the Pattanakkadu Block of Cherthala
Cherthala
Cherthala is a town located in the district of Alappuzha, in the state of Kerala, India. It is located 30 km south of the city of Kochi and 22 km north of Alappuzha town, on the Kochi-Alappuzha streatch of both the National Highway 47 as well as the costal Rail-route.lt is 85 km from the...

 Taluk of Alappuzha
Alappuzha
Alappuzha , also known as Alleppey, is a town in Alappuzha District of Kerala state of southern India. As per 2001 census Alleppey is the sixth largest city in Kerala with an urban population of 177,029. Alleppey is situated to the south of Kochi and north of Trivandrum...

 District in the South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...

n State of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

. Thuravoor lies exactly between Kochi
Kochi (India)
Kochi , formerly Cochin, is a major port city on the west coast of India by the Arabian Sea. Kochi is part of the district of Ernakulam in the state of Kerala. Kochi is often called by the name Ernakulam, which refers to the western part of the mainland Kochi...

 and Alappuzha. A four lane National Highway 47 passes through the village, which along with a railway station gives it excellent connectivity with the rest of the state. Thuravoor is famous for the 'Narasimha Swamy' temple which is dedicated to the fourth incarnation (avatara) of Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....

, the Narasimha
Narasimha
Narasimha or Nrusimha , also spelt as Narasingh and Narasingha, whose name literally translates from Sanskrit as "Man-lion", is an avatar of Vishnu described in the Puranas, Upanishads and other ancient religious texts of Hinduism...

. The temple has two main deities, the Vadakkanappan (Lord Narasimha
Narasimha
Narasimha or Nrusimha , also spelt as Narasingh and Narasingha, whose name literally translates from Sanskrit as "Man-lion", is an avatar of Vishnu described in the Puranas, Upanishads and other ancient religious texts of Hinduism...

) and the Tekkanappan (Lord Sudurshana), which is rare in the temples of Kerala.

Thuravoor Mahakshethram


Thuravoor Mahakshethram, an ancient Devasthanam located by the side of NH-47, approximately 25 km south of Kochi city, is the sacred abode of Lord Sree Narasimhamoorthy
Narasimha
Narasimha or Nrusimha , also spelt as Narasingh and Narasingha, whose name literally translates from Sanskrit as "Man-lion", is an avatar of Vishnu described in the Puranas, Upanishads and other ancient religious texts of Hinduism...

 and Lord Sree Mahasudarsanamoorthy. The entire temple complex can be seen from the road.

Two separate Sanctom Sanctoroms in close proximity - within the same compound - reflect the synthesis of a unique and mysterious divine power. The idol of Sree Narasimhamoorthy is said to have originated in the holy city of Kashi (Varanasi). Swami Padmapadar (8th century AD), the principal disciple of Adi Sankaracharya, had worshipped the very same idol at Kashi.

Distinctive in its architectural and artistic grandeur, Thuravoor Mahakshethram is one of the most venerated places of worship in Kerala. Twin Sreekovils (Sanctom Sanctoroms) - one square and the other circular shaped- in a single Nalambalam, two gold-plated flagmasts that tower into the skies, a majestically tall Anapandhal (elephant rostrum - the largest in Kerala) and a strict regimen of observances of vrathas for the priests, days after days of rituals and festivals, chanting of Vedic hymns and presentation of learned discourses on Puranas throughout the year ... all these attract streams of devotees to the temple from within and outside the State.Vedi - vazhivadu is one of the popular vazhivadu or offering in the temple.

Of the two temples here, it is believed that the one dedicated to Sudarsanamoorthy was the first to come into existence. Though there is no record of its origin, the temple is estimated to be over 1300 years old. There are scholars who hold that the circular-shaped Sreekovil belongs to the Thretha Yuga; according to others, its origin dates back to the Dwapara Yuga. Some palmleaf texts on the temple do exist; but nobody has yet been able to understand or decipher them.

As for the Narasimhamoorthy temple, records do show that it came into being sometime in the 7th century AD, during the reign of a Chera king named Keralendran. His guru was the great Muringottu Adigal, a well-known Tulu Brahmin priest and scholar.

Geographically, the temple site belongs to the formerly Princely State of Cochin. However, it subsequently came under the purview of Travancore State for certain political reasons. But this transition was subject to an important proviso: If a Travancore king were ever to set foot on the Mahakshethra soil, the temple would be immediately restored to Cochin. Therefore, for a long time, no Travancore king visited the temple. In 1951, with the merger of Travancore and Cochin and coronation of Sree Chithira Thirunal, the Maharaja visited the temple - the first time for a Travancore king to do so. He walked to the temple over a carpet to avoid stepping directly on the ground.

Daily routine/rituals like puja, kazhagam are entrusted to some designated families. Even now also puja has to be carried out by five vaishnava Tulu Brahmin families, say Adukathaya (Adukkam), Kubanuraya (Konoor), Padakannaya (Parakode), Khajanaya (Kasha)and Nalluraya/Kadamannaya (Nallur) of Kasargode District of Kerala.


Great seers and saints such as Jagadguru Sankaracharya of Sringeri - Sree Bharathi Theertha Swamigal, Jagadguru Sankaracharya of Kanchi - Sree Jayendra Saraswathy, Sankaracharya of Puri - Sree Adhokshajananda Swamigal, Uduppi Pejavar Math head - Sree Visweswara Theertha Swamigal and the Jiyar of Ahobilamath - Sree Sadagopa Narayana Yatheendra Swamigal - have all visited and experienced the spiritual and devotional grandeur of this fabled Devasthanam.

Thuravoor Mahakshethram is now one of the important Transit-camp (Edathavalam) for the Ayappa
Ayyappan
Ayyappan is a Hindu deity worshiped in a number of shrines across India. Ayyappan is believed to be an incarnation of Dharma Sastha, who is the son of Shiva and Vishnu . The name "Ayyappan" is used as a respectful form of address in the Malayalam language, spoken in the Indian state of Kerala...

 devotees during the Sabarimala
Sabarimala
Sabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimage center located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. It is the largest annual pilgrimage in India with an estimated 45–50 million devotees visiting every year. Sabarimala is believed to be the place where the Hindu God Ayyappan...

 pilgrimage season.The temple is administered by Travancore Devasom Board. The Devasom guest house and a large spacious hall for conducting religious discourses, marriage functions are also located just near the southern gate of the temple.

Temples and churches

  • Thuravoor Mahakshetram
  • Thirumala Devasom Lakshmi Narashimha Temple
  • Sree Bhoothanilam Temple, Valamangalam South
  • Puranthareswaram Siva Temple, Valamangalam
  • Mannath Sreekrishna Swamy Temple, Valamangalam
  • Pattathalil Sreekrishna Swamy Temple, Thuravoor South
  • Thiru Venkitapuram Sreekrishna Swamy Temple, Valamangalam South
  • Kainikaramana Sreekrsihna Swamy Temple, Thuravoor
  • Nalukulangara Devi Temple, Parayakad
  • Kalarikakkal Devi Temple, Thirumala Bhagaom
  • Puthankavu Devi Temple, Puthankavu
  • Pechi Amman Kovil, Thuravoor South
  • St. Joseph Church, Thuravoor South
  • Sri Mahadeva Temple, Thirumala Bhagom
  • Arthikulangara Bhagavathi Temple, Thirumala Bhagom
  • Ponnpuram Jamat Mosque,Chavady
  • St.George Church, Manakodam
  • Sacred heart church valamangalam.

Personalites

  • Thuravoor Viswambharan
    Thuravoor Viswambharan
    Thuravoor Viswambharan is a renowned vedic scholar, active social worker and writer from the Thuravoor village in the southern state Kerala in India. He is an expert Professor on Hindu epics Ramayana, Mahabharatha and Vedas. He is a professor in Malayalam, Sanskrit, Indian Mythology and Vedic...

      - Professor Viswambaran is a well known Vedic Scholar. Also presents the vedic discourses on Amrita TV
    Amrita TV
    Amrita TV, launched in 2005, as a 24-hour Malayalam, general entertainment & news satellite channel with a global footprint, has been honoured with 54 State Awards for Excellence in Television—the only channel in India to be bestowed with such a recognition in just two years since inception...

  • Late Cherthala Salim - Well known Malayalam Film writer

Educational Institutions


One of the oldest and reputed educational institutes in Cherthala
Cherthala
Cherthala is a town located in the district of Alappuzha, in the state of Kerala, India. It is located 30 km south of the city of Kochi and 22 km north of Alappuzha town, on the Kochi-Alappuzha streatch of both the National Highway 47 as well as the costal Rail-route.lt is 85 km from the...

 is run by Alappuzha Ananthanarayanapuram Thuravoor Thirumala Devasom (AATTD) belonging to the Goud Saraswat Brahmin community. The TD School campus, situated west of Sree Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Thirumala Bhagom comprise a Teachers' Training Institute (TDTTI) with an Upper Primary (UP) Section,and a Higher Secondary School (TDHSS) with High School (HS) and Higher Secondary Section (HSS). The Government run TD Lower Primary School (TDLPS) is also nearby. The school has hosted the Inter-District school level sports and Cultural meet many times.Smt K R Gowri Amma the Former Revenue Minister and Agriculture minister of Kerala state was the student of TDHSS.The campus is located 2 km West of Thuravoor-NH47 junction.
  • SNGM Institutions,Valamangalam,Thuravoor

The Sree Narayana Guru Memorial Charitable and Education (SNGM) Trust offers MEd., BEd., TTC, Hotel Management, Pharmacy and other Professional courses at PostGraduate and graduate level. The campus also has an Art & Science college offering Degree courses affiliated to Kerala University. Professional courses are approved by AICTE,New Delhi. It is located at Valamangalam 4 km east of Thuravoor - NH 47 junction. The K.R. Gowri Amma Engineering college for Women started in 2008 under SNGM Trust, is situated in the same campus.
  • SCS High School, Valamangalam
  • Thuravoor Govt. West UP School,Thuravoor
  • Government LP School,Thuravoor, Manakkodam
  • Panchayath LP School, Puthanchanda
  • St.Joseph's ITI, Thuravoor South

Other Public institutions

The SILK (Steel and Industry limited of Kerala) plant, Higasimaru Feeds, The Primary Health Center, Thuravoor Educational Sub-district Office, ICDS office, Thuravoor Post office, Panchayat office with a Library,Primary Health Center with mini hospital, Reliance
Reliance Petroleum
Reliance Petroleum Limited was set up by Reliance Industries Limited , one of India's largest private sector companies based in Mumbai. Currently, RPL is subsidiary of RIL, and has interests in the downstream oil business...

 Fuel station, Aswathy HP fuel station, Bank of India
Bank of India
Bank of India is a state-owned commercial bank with headquarters in Mumbai. Government-owned since nationalization in 1969, It is India's 4th largest bank, after State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank and Bank of Baroda. It has 3415 branches, including 29 branches outside India...

, Thuravoor South Service Co-operative Bank
Co-operative Bank
The Co-operative Bank plc is a commercial bank in the United Kingdom and Guernsey, with its headquarters in Manchester.The bank markets itself as an ethical bank, and refuses to invest in companies involved in the arms trade, global climate change, genetic engineering, animal testing and use of...

, Thuravoor Railway Station, Saral Auditorium, SS Kala Mandir, Thuravoor KalaKethram, Panchayat Market complex are some of the public institutions around Thuravoor.
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