Vellamassery Garudan Kavu Temple
The only one Garuda Temple in India is situated in Malappuram district in Kerala near Tirur, which is known as Vellamassery Garudan Kavu Temple. This Garuda Temple is about 1800 years old. Worshipping here is mainly meant for easy recovery from diseases and for relief from serpent poisons. All Sundays are important here especially the 41 days of Mandalakalam (From November 16th to December 28th).
The Garudan Kavu Temple is the only temple that has a mini temple devoted to the second incarnation of Lord Vishnu which is the tortoise or Koorma form.
During the reign of Tipu Sultan this temple has been virtually razed to the ground. The locals and devotees from near and far, however, rebuilt the temple at the same spot. It is true that this is the only ‘Garuda’ temple while there are several temples where the Garuda has been depicted as the conveyance or ‘Vahana’ of Lord Vishnu but this is the singular site where Garuda is the reigning deity and is shown in the flying pose.
There are several mythological stories linked with the temple as well as some historical features.
One of the stories about the location of the temple records the episode when several centuries ago a sage had performed austere penance to obtain from Lord Vishnu the secret of keeping the population from disease and pain. When Lord Vishnu decided to give his discourse on the subject. Garudan too flew nearby and sat on the banks of a pond called the ‘theertha’. Thus, this site where Lord Vishnu appeared to the sage or gave ‘darshan’ became haloed ground and on which the temple was later constructed.
There are several mythological stories linked with the temple as well as some historical features.
One of the stories about the location of the temple records the episode when several centuries ago a sage had performed austere penance to obtain from Lord Vishnu the secret of keeping the population from disease and pain. When Lord Vishnu decided to give his discourse on the subject. Garudan too flew nearby and sat on the banks of a pond called the ‘theertha’. Thus, this site where Lord Vishnu appeared to the sage or gave ‘darshan’ became haloed ground and on which the temple was later constructed.
It is also reported that Jagadguru Shri Sankaracharya known as Sri Padapadacharya had also undertaken severe penance at the temple which further increased the spiritual worth of the already haloed ground. Then there is another legend that gives the origin of the Garuda Idol installed in the Temple. Perum Thatcham was a highly skilled master craftsman who was a renowned mason of those times in that region. His dexterity was known far and wide. He could make several idols of gods and goddesses. This had been installed in many of the temples of Kerala. Perum Thatchan had created a beautiful idol the flying Garuda which was very life like.
So exquisite was the idol that The Raja of the Malappuram region was impressed and said that the Garuda looked like it could fly away. The master craftsman or Perum Thatchan replied that if the bird was touched by a purely chaste woman the ‘idol’ would definitely come alive and fly. At first the Raja took offence but later challenged the sculptor or ’Shilpi’ saying that if he was proven wrong he would be sentenced to death. The mason asked him what the Raja would give if he was proven true. The Raja promised to build a temple in honor of the idol. On hearing this Perum Thatchan called his wife and asked her to touch the Garuda idol. The moment she touched it the Garuda flew away. The Raja sent his soldiers to chase it. It landed on a pond filled with while turtles. The Garuda settled on the back of one of the white turtles. This marked the site of the present temple. This site came to be called Vellamassery or the site of the white tortoise.
An interesting feature of the temple is that the present Garudan Kavu temple faces west while all other temples with the complex devoted to other deities are facing the east. There was also a deepastambam as well as the Gopuram located on the same side.
Location
Tirur
Main Deity
Lord Garuda
Other Deities
Lord Vishnu, Sankara Narayan, Bhagavathy, Sahstha (Lord Aiyappa), Bhadrakali and Ganapathi.
Festivals
The Mandala period falling between mid November to mid December, is considered the most significant period of worship in this temple. The 12th and 13th day of the Malayalam month ‘Dhanu’ is regarded auspicious.
Main Offerings
Yellow Payasam, Fruits and Seeds, Tender Coconut, Garuda Panchakshari oil, Snakes and its eggs (in gold or silver), Basket and Vellarikka, Garuda Panchaksari Pushpanjali, Sarpa Dosha Parihara Pooja, Ghee and oils, Milk and dust nivedya, A rare ecological practice of offering Live snakes to Lord Garuda is made here. People affected by snakes arrive at the temple with live snakes caught in earthen pots covered by cotton clothes. When the temple is open from the gopura the pot is thrown t
How To Reach
By Air - Calicut International Airport is the nearest Airport which is 43.7KM away
By Rail - Tirur Railway Station is the nearest railway station which is 6.7KM away
By Road - The temple is accessible by road being at a distance of just two kilometers from Tirur. Both government and private vehicles are available for the devotees visiting the temple.