Padanilam

Template:Infobox Indian jurisdiction Padanilam is a small town located near Nooranad in the Alappuzha district of Kerala. The word Padanilam means "land of war" (pada means "war" and nilam means "land").It is located on the banks of river Achankovil. The Padanilam temple is one of the important centres of worship in Kerala. The place witnessed war between the Kayamkulam kingdom and the Pandalam kingdom.

The Nooranad Grama Panchayath office is situated in Padanilam.

Geography

Padanilam is located at 9°N 76°E. It has an average elevation of Template:M to ft.Padanilam(Nooranad)is bounded by VenmonyPanchayath on north,Pandalam&Palamel on east,Mavelikkara thamarakulam on south and Chunakkara&Thazhakara,Kerala on west.

How to reach Padanilam

Padanilam is situated on Para-Edapppon-Pandalam road. It is about 17 km away from Kayamkulam Town and about 7 km from Pandalam Town. There are many private and KSRTC buses that run along this route. The buses through Padanilam are plying from the private and KSRTC bus stands of Kayamkulam and Pandalam. There are buses from Pandalam, Kayamkulam, Pathanamthitta, Konni, Mavelikkara, Oachira, Karunagapally, etc., passing through Padanilam. Padanilam is situated on the Kayamkulam-Kattanam-Vetticaud-Charummood-Padanilam-Edappon-Pandalam-Pathanamthitta bus route.

Padanilam Parabrahma Temple

Padanilam Parabrahma Temple is one of the major temples in Kerala. The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Parabrahma. The temple is very much like the Oachira Parabrahma Temple.The temple has no compound wlls and roofs. This is one the few temples in Kerala where a large number of festivals are being conducted. The temple is one of the idathaavalam of sabarimala Dharma Sastha temple. There are KSRTC buses from Padanilam to Pamba during the Mandalam-Makaravilakku season. The temple has mainly 13 karakal, who conduct the annual Sivarathri Festival. This is the biggest Nandikesha (ox vehicle of Lord Siva) kettulsavam in Kerala.
Temple Website:http://padanilamparabrahma.org

History

Padanilam Temple and its surroundings witnessed many historical wars.Once there was a war between the south and the north.During the war,many soldiers of both the sides died in large numbers.They were buried in the chira near the temple.Even from very earlier timrs ,this temple is a blessing for the people in the surrounding areas.Nooranad Padanilam has a history of an intense war .The origin of war was the border conflict between two erstwhile kingdoms, northern& southern. One side consisted of Noorukodi Unnithans & Kadackal Karuppans & the other Vettathasaans & Velladickal Karuppans.The 1st war is believed to hv occurred b/w BC-645 & BC-700, led by Marthandavarma King on one side & Kayamkulam King on the other.The 22Karakals of Nooranad took side with the 2 kings.The common people started worrying about the devastation of the war & approached the Pazhoor Panamana Thampuran to find a soln to end the war. He tried to intervene but warring parties were not in a position to stop.He made a tent in the Eastern part of the temple and started a fast unto death.But that also did not deter the warring parties.But when he was on the verge of death due to the fast, they fearing the Brahmanasaapam, agreed to stop war.They demarcated the boundary in North-South direction and stopped the war in the name of Parabrahma,the presiding deity of the temple.

St. Thomas Syrian Orthodox Church is about 150 meters after the Padanilam Market and Padanilam High school. it is an olden church which is founded 100 years before and the founder Mr. Varu Varghese came originally form Kuravilangadu which he belongs to the family of Pakalomattom the one that is being baptized by St. Thomas the desciple of Jesus Christ in AD 52 and his tomp is at the St. Thomas Orthodox church. Two brothers of the family came to padanilam and one is settled in Padanilam and the other in Nooranad. One of the heirarchy in that family is known as Padanilathu Ashaan (Late Mr. Geevarghese Kochukunju) and the junction north to the Church is known as Ashaan Mukku. Padanilathu Assaan was a well known person belonging from the Padanlthu Mappilamar and the junction next to the market is named as Assan Mukku. Assan (Mr. Geevarghese Kochukunju) had passed away in August 5th, 1971.in his heriditory Mr. P.K. varghese( Thomas Sir), Charly V. Padanilam, Regi V. Greenland are well known people. and Rev. Fr. T.G. Geevarghese Kathanar also belongs to this family.

Padanilam Sivarathri

Sivarathri is the main festival in the temp.Thousands come to temple that day to see the kaavadiyattamfor Lord Subrahmanyan in the morning.Kaavady from ll parts of the area come separately and meets at the temple.On that evening,there is a kettulsavam ,which is the most spectacular sight of the festival.Kettulsavam from 13 distinct areas of the village come to the temple at around 4 PM .The rituals &programmes end only at midnight.It is a superb grand affair. The Kettukazhcha or Kalakettu ritual is one of the hallmarks of the temple. The tall, colorful effigies of bulls (signifying Nandi, the bull vehicle of Lord Shiva) are pulled on wooden chariots (rathams).

The Kettukazhcha is performed as an offering by the devotees to the deity. Artisans of the various villages in the vicinity vie with each other for the most intricately decorated effigies. The biggest structure can be as big as 70– 80 feet tall. Scholars believe that the tradition of Kettukazhcha has its roots in Buddhism which was prevalent in the Kerala during the 3rd century.

Another feature of the festival of the temple is that the people from different villages bring big chariots or rathams. On these rathams are located idols of various Hindu gods and goddesses and effigies of mythological characters like Bhima, Panchali etc.

Other Festivals

Festival in St. Thomas Syrian Orthodox Church:

• + St. Thomas Day.
• + Christmas.
• +Passion Week, Easter.

Festivals conducted in Padnilam Temple are:

• Vrischika Mahotsavam
• Irupathiyettamonam
• Chirappu
• Sapthahayajnam

Main festival in ST. THOMAS SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH is St. Thomas Day celeberation of the Church as it is the patron Saint.

Nearest towns

• Kayamkulam - 17 km
• Pandalam - 7 km
• Charummoodu - 5 km
• Edappon - 4 km
• Mavelikkara - 16 km
• Nooranadu - 3 km
• Adoor - 14 km
• Pathanamthitta - 26 km
• Chengannur - 19 km

Politics

Padanilam is situated in the Parliamentary and Assembly constituency of Mavelikkara. The current MP of the area is Kodikkunnil Suresh (INC) and the MLA is KK Shaju (JSS).The LDF rules the Panchayat. There are 17 wards in the Panchayat. Indian National Congress, communist Marxist Party (CPM),Kerala Congress (M),and communist Party (CPI) are major political parties in this area.

Other specialities

It is the headquarters of Nooranad. The village is famous for its beautiful agricultural fields like Karingalichaal Puncha. Different varieties of birds can be found in this area. Because of this, Nooranad is known as the Pakshigraamam, meaning "village of birds". Padanilam Parabrahma Temple is located in the heart of Padanilam town.

Nearby Churches & Temples

• +St. Thomas Syrian Orthodox Church.
• +St.Fathimamatha Catholic Church, Kidangayam.
• Padanilam Parabrahma Temple,Padanilam Central.
• Vadakkidathukaavu Devi Temple,Kidangayam
• Pallimukkom Devi Temple,Pattoor.
• Kokkaatt Devi Temple,Naduvilemuri.
• Muthukaattukara Devi Temple,Muthukaatukara.
• Earezhathukaavu Devi Temple,Naduvilemuri.
• Amabalathinaal Devi Temple,Edakkunnam.
• Gurunaathankaavu Ardhanaareeswara Temple,Edappon.
• Noorodi Devi Temple,Palamel.
• Plaakkodu Vaishnava Durga Temple,Powerhouse.

See also

• Mavelikkara
• Pandalam
• Kayamkulam
• Sabarimala
• Pamba
• Culture of Kerala

External links

• Official website of Alappuzha District
• Alleppy