Thuravoor, Cherthala
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Thuravoor, Cherthala
Thuravoor | |
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Thuravoor is a gram_panchayat in the Cherthala Taluk of the Alappuzha District in the south Indian state of Kerala. Thuravoor lies exactly between 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, the Narasimha. The temple has two main deities, the Vadakkanappan (Lord Narasimha) 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 and Lord Sree Mahasudarsanamoorthy. The entire temple complex can be seen from the road.
Two separate temples 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 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 former Cochin state. However, it subsequently came under the purview of Travancore 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, on 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).
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 devotees during the Sabarimala 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
- Puranthareswaram Siva Temple
- Mannath Sri Krishnaswamy Temple
- Nalukulanghara Devi temple
- Kalarikakkal Devi temple
- Puthankavu Devi temple
- Pechi Amman Kovil ,Thuravoor south
- St. Joseph Church,South Thuravoor
- Thuravoor Thirumala Bhagom Sri Mahadeva temple
- Ponnpuram Jamat Mosque,Chavady
- St.George Church, Manakodam
Personalites
- Thuravoor Viswambaran - Professor Viswambaran is a well known Vedic Scholar. Also presents the vedic discourses on Amrita_TV
- Late Cherthala Salim - Well known Malayalam Film writer
Educational Institutions
One of the oldest and reputed educational institute in Cherthala is run by Thirumala Devasom (TD) belonging to the Goud_Saraswat_Brahmin community.The TD School campus has the TDTTI (Teacher's Training Institute),TDHSS (Higher secondary school) and the TDUP School. 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 2km 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.
- Govt UP School,Thuravoor
- St.Sebastien public school,Thuravoor
- Govt.LP School,Manakodam
- Govt UP school,Thuravoor South,
- St.Joseph's ITI ,Thuravoor South
Other important places
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, Reliance Fuel station, Aswathy HP fuel station, Bank of India, Thuravoor South Service Co-operative Bank, Thuravoor Railway Station, Saral Auditorium, SS Kala Mandir, Thuravoor KalaKethram, Panchayat Market complex are some of the public important places around Thuravoor.