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Challisserry Siva Temple

THEN – THE TEMPLE WAS LYING IN RUINS, AND THE DEITIES WERE BROKEN, WHICH WERE THE RESULT OF THE RIOTS.

NOW – TEMPLE STANDS IN A REVIVED CONDITION, REGULAR PUJAS ARE NOW OFFERED.

ABOUT THE TEMPLE – Challissery in Palakkad district of Kerala is a region that was ravaged during the Mysorean invasion of Kerala.

Kizhakke Pattissery Prani Mahadeva temple is one of the many ancient temples that is lying in ruins in the region.

INITIAL STATUS – Shivling is intact. But all the structures including the Garbagriha is in ruins and has to be restored. A lamp is lighted everyday by devotees of the temple.

The devotees has been trying for more than a decade to restore the temple, but couldn’t do it for lack of support. UgraNarasimha Charitable Trust has therefore undertaken to rebuild this ancient Siva temple.

Architecture – The design of the Garbagriha has been made by Sadanandan Achary, a noted expert in temple architecture. The restoration of the temple will conform to Tantrashastras.

Revival – The restoration of the temple started with strengthening the temporary roof so that work can happen even during the rains. The first stage is the construction of temporary Garbagriha where the Shivling will be shifted to during the restoration of the temple. The old Garbagriha will be dismantled and reworked after that.

The restoration of the temple will cause a revival of Dharma as all devotees and families in the village take part in the various rituals and stages involved in reviving the Siva temple.

Restoration is proceeding well – The restoration of the temple started with strengthening the temporary roof so that work can happen even during the rains. The first stage is the construction of temporary Garbagriha where the Shivling will be shifted to during the restoration of the temple. The old Garbagriha will be dismantled and reworked after that.

The restoration of the temple will cause a revival of Dharma as all devotees and families in the village take part in the various rituals and stages involved in reviving the Siva temple.

GARBAGRIHA WORK STARTED – The work of Gargbagriha has started successfully, the walls are now brought up and are starting to form the structure.

Stage 1 of walls starts to take up shape. The walls which were in crumbled condition were first dismantled and replaced with new stones.

Celeing work – The next work in line was the celeing of the garbagriha.

After decades of poor condition of the temple, the celeing had fallen down. We have replaced the roof with new celeing ensuring the architectural plan of the temple.

Plastering work completed

Namaskara Mandapam – The work of Namaskara Mandapam has started.

Namaskara mandapam is situated in front of the sanctum where the devotees and priests offer prayers and perform prostrations to the deity.

Restoration of ancient Challissery Siva temple is complete – Its a great pleasure to share with you that the restoration of Kizhakke Pattissery Prani Mahadeva temple in Palakkad Kerala is complete. The temple is restored after two and half centuries in ruins lying buried under the earth.

This restoration and revival has been made possible by you and we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for same. The entire village and devotees of Lord Shiva will forever be indebted for your support. The devotees has been trying for many decades to restore the temple and it finally has happened. I am attaching a few pictures after restoration.

The temple will be handed over to a committee of devotees who will manage the temple in a democratic manner and ensure daily Pujas and rituals.

UgraNarasimha Charitable Trust will continue to work with village community in developing the temple as a charitable institution which will ensure social security and spiritual progress for all devotees.

Punah Pratishta of Prani Mahadeva – Thanks to your support and contribution towards the restoration of the ancient Prani Mahadeva temple in Palakkad Kerala which was destroyed by Tipu Sultan many centuries back.

The restoration has been successfully undertaken and Punah Pratishta ceremonies were conducted on 17 Feb 2021. Shivlinga was shifted back to Garbagriha and worship in the temple has restarted.

There was wide participation of devotees and everybody is excited that after many centuries, Shivratri will be celebrated in the temple.

Alathiyur Subrahmanya Temple

THEN – THE TEMPLE WAS LYING IN RUINS, AND THE DEITIES WERE BROKEN, WHICH WERE THE RESULT OF THE RIOTS.

NOW – TEMPLE STANDS IN A REVIVED CONDITION, REGULAR PUJAS ARE NOW OFFERED.

Restart of Worship – As part of the revival of the temple, Swami Bharati Maharaj lighted lamp and restarted worship of the Gods on 29 April 2018. A committee of devotees of the locality was also formed to ensure the worship and work for the revival.

Devaprashnam – The next process was Devaprashnam where astrologers find as per Tantrashastra the Deities to be worshipped in the temple, the temple plan and other details. The Devaprashnam rituals was conducted on 14-15 June 2018. All the devotees of the area came together in conduct for the temple rituals.

Construction work started on 23 Aug 2018, building of Balalayam complete – The construction work has started on 23 Aug 2018 with lighting lamp and prayers. The first step is the construction of a temporary building called Balalayam for housing the Subrahmanya and Ganesha Deity till the reconstruction of the Garbhagriha is complete. The construction work of the Balalayam is complete as on date.

The next step is the shifting of Deities to this Balalayam. This will be done by Priests on 10 Sep 2018. The Poojas of Deities will henceforth be done here till the construction of temple is complete.

After the Deities are shifted, the old dilapidated Garbhagriha will be dismantled, along with the foundation stones.

Foundation work of Garbagriha complete, stone work is next – Last update we mentioned that the old Garbagriha has been dismantled and the foundation work of new Garbagriha is next.

The land to the temple was under encroachment and we found difficulty in bringing in stones and heavy materials for the construction. Finally after discussion with all stakeholders volunteers cleared the way to the temple using JCB and we could bring stones and construction materials to temple on 4 Nov 2018.

The Shilanyas ceremony – The Shilanyas ceremony of the temple was held on 8 Nov 2018. The stones were laid by devotees and sthapathi after poojas by the Chief Priest. The devotees from entire village were in witness. The foundation work of the temple ie the portion below the ground is complete as on date.

The next stage involves stone works. This requires around 45 days since the Garbagriha is circular and hence the stone has to be chiselled in circular form.

The Garbagriha will be more visible after the next stage of work is completed.

Stone layers at base of Garbagriha complete – In last update we mentioned that the foundation work is complete. We are very excited to inform that the construction of stone layers which is the 2nd stage of the restoration is also now complete.

The 2nd stage consists of five stone layers. The work of door frames and other temple sculptures are also ongoing, being made by shilpis whose family has been undertaking temple work for generations.

Next is 3rd stage of construction which is the walls of the Garbagriha. The work has already started and will be completed in another 3 weeks.

The restoration work is nearing completion – We are very excited to share with you that the restoration work of the temple is nearing completion.

Stage 3 of the restoration was making the walls of the Garbagriha which was over last month ie February 2019.

Presently Stage 4 of the restoration is ongoing which is making the ceiling of the temple. The ceiling of the temple involves the stones placed in concentric circles decreasing in radius.

Though the Garbagriha will be circular in shape, the inside of the Garbagriha will be square. This is as per the Shilpa Shastra and traditional way of construction. The stage 4 will be completed this week. We are accelerating the restoration work so as to finish the entire project by this month end.

Restoration of Garbagriha of Alathiyur Subrahmanya temple is complete – On 13 April 2019, the Sthapathi handed over the key of Garbagriha to Keshavan Namboodiri, the 95 year old Namboodiri Brahmin who had protected the temple ruins for decades.

Keshavan Namboodiri inturn offered the key to the Deity who is the rightful owner of the temple. Later the key was handed over to committee formed for administration of the temple. The committee consists of all devotees in the village and the temple will be administered in a democratic manner.

Punar Prathishta ceremony – he rituals will start on 6 July 2019 and the Kumbabishekam will be on 11 Jul 2019.

The temple was lying in ruins for close to a century and the same could be revived only due to the support provided by you. The credit for revival of this temple goes to our esteemed donors like yourself and the team on ground who have gone through many difficulties in reviving this temple.

A committee of devotees from the locality has been formed for administration of the temple in a democratic manner and the Poojas and rituals will be handled by the traditional priest family attached to the temple.

Restarting centuries old Hindu festival of Kerala

Kerala, the place between the Western Ghats and Arabian sea has a long history. The place now called Malappuram district in Kerala was once the centre of Vedic learning and practices. The land was home to many Gods and their temples. Many festivals were celebrated on this sacred land, many of which were lost during periods of upheavals.

One such festival is Thirunavaya Maagamaka Mahotsava which is celebrated on the auspicious month of Makam. The festival was last held in 1776, and due to the rampant riots and invasions, the festival ceased to be conducted. But a few of people from across South India continue to visit the place even after, the information mostly transferred through generations.

Maghamakam rituals held in 2018

We are now making an effort to revive the festival and restart the ritualistic prayers on the banks of Bharatapuzha river on the auspicious day. The festival will be held at Navamukunda temple premises in Tirunavaya, Malappuram ,Kerala.

Navamukunda temple Tirunavaya Malappuram Kerala

We believe the yearly festival where saints from all over Bharat assemble at Malappuram Kerala and hold ritualistic prayers at Bharatapuzha river bank will  cause a revival of Dharma in the district.

Below are some of the highlights of the festival. For detailed schedule and events, please refer to the invitation brochure attached.

Invitation Brochure Page 1

2019, Jan 21: The festival will be inaugurated by representatives of the royal families of Kerala. On the day is 108 Agnihotra homams by Kashyapa Research Foundation

2019, Jan 22: Seminar on culture and history under lead of Shri KK Muhammad who is famous for the ASI report on RamMandir.

2019, Jan 23: On this day, Sanyasis from across Bharat will be welcomed and ritualistic worship will happen on banks of Bharatapuzha river. This event will be graced by Chidanandapuri Swamiji of Advaithashram and other Sanyasis from across Bharat.

On 23 Jan 2019, Swamy Chidanandapuri ji will also be releasing the book Destroyed temples of Kerala Vol 1, which comprises of the history and details of 25 Hindu temples that were destroyed during invasion of Tipu Sultan and later Moplah riots. The book may be ordered online via http://imojo.in/td002

Destroyed temples of Kerala Vol 1 (Malayalam)

The press conference explaining the significance of the festival, the details of the seminars and the programme schedule was held at Malappuram Kerala. Shri Tirur Dinesh and Swamy Paramananda Puri explained to the press. Below is the news report on the press conference.

Press conference held at Malappuram Kerala explaining the festival

The event is being conducted by Oral History Research Foundation and UgraNarasimha Charitable Trust. The organising committee consists of representatives of various Mathas and Ashrams in Kerala. Matha Amritanandamayi Devi is the Mukhya Rakshadhikari of the organising committee. HH Swami Chidanandapuri of Advaitashram, Kerala , Acharya M R Rajesh of Kashyapa Veda Research Foundation are amongst other dignitaries supporting the organising of the festival.

A major expense incurred for festival is that of taking care of saints and sadhus who represent various Mathas and Sampradayas and who come from places across Bharat. We intend to treat them well with customary welcome and gifts like clothes.

Any contribution can be made via our fundraiser page ket.to/rt001 or directly to our below bank account or via online gateway instamojo.com/@ReclaimTemples

Name: UgraNarasimha Charitable Trust

Bank A/c: 6300101000705

IFSC: CNRB0006300

Donations can also be made to our UPI/BHIM id donate@hsbc

#ReclaimTemples

Sword of Tipu Sultan

Strange times we live in. We see Tipu Sultan immortalized and festivals arranged by the elected governments in his name. Many historians however claim that Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan was a communal fanatic who conducted a jihad in Karnataka and Kerala by destroying several temples, forceful conversion of Hindus and butchered those who refused to convert to Islam.

The letters from Tipu to his Generals illustrate religious fanaticism of the Sultan. Renowned historian and statesman Sardar K M Panicker had translated these letters and were published in Bhashaposhini 1099 Chingam vol. I

Letter – 6 : Sent to Ziyad Abdullah on 1790 January 18th:

“With the help of Muhammad and blessings of God, we have inducted nearly all non-believers into Islam. Few people are left unconverted at the border of the Kochi Kingdom. I have decided to convert them also as Mohammedans soon. I consider this as a religious War.”

There is an argument that Tipu Sultan was a secular who funded the renovation of some temples. Showing the temple in the fort, they ask, had Tipu been an iconoclast wouldn’t he be demolishing the temple in his headquarters first? Tipu kept Brahmins as advisers. They ask why he did not convert these Brahmins if he was an Anti-Hindu?

What is the truth in this? Tipu blindly believed in astrology. The palace Astrologists were Brahmins. Since the temple in Srirangapatnam Fort belonged to them, Tipu did not demolish at the temple. Astrologers attributed the continuous defeats met by Tipu to the demolition of temples and suggested the renovation of temples as the only remedial measure. His donations to the temples were a result of this advice.

There is also a reason for him not changing the religion of the palace astrologists. The astrologists of Srirangapatnam fort were traditional brahmins. Tipu’s father Hyderali was a faujdar in Dindigul when he treacherously captured the throne of Mysore. In June 1759 Hyder could install his aide Kunde Rao by replacing Nanje Rao, the only remaining minister of the puppet King of Mysore. In 1761 June, Hyder captured power by ousting Kunde Rao. So technically he was not the King. Since the customs and ways of the palace have been formally recognised to keep the power intact, the palace Astrologers were spared from being subjected to religious conversion.

Mohemmadan army under Hyder first entered Malabar to collect the 12 lakhs rupees they had to obtain as per the war treaty signed with the Samoothiri of Calicut. In those days, Kannur was known as the land of Moplahs. The Moplah soldiers of Ali Raja, of Kannur, had already joined the Mysore Army. Like Tipu, Hyder’s raids also were also driven by the religious hatred to annihilate Hindus. Hyder Ali and the Moplah’s killed numerous Hindus. He organised his jihad in Malabar by plundering and torching the temples. His son Tipu continued this Jihad of his father and the atrocities and destruction rivaled that of Hyder Ali.

Tipu was in Ponnani, while Hyder Ali died on December 7th, 1782. Being a hardcore Islamist, he decided to convert Kerala into an Islamic country and annex it to Mysore. Brutally, he started over his jihad from where Hyder Ali stopped.

The story of Tipu Sultan is one of genocide, destruction of Hindu temples and pure evil . Recounting just one incident is enough to reflect his cruelty and barbarism. Around 2000 Hindus had sought refuge in the Kuttipuram fort of the Kadathanattu Raja inorder to save themselves from the Muslim invaders. Tipu Sultan threatened them to be killed unless they converted to Islam. Many converted out of fear and they were forcefully fed cow meat.

More than 3000 Hindu temples were destroyed during the invasion of Tipu Sultan and subsequent Moplah riots. Hundreds of such ruins exists even today, where the Vigrahas can be seen with their hands, legs and head cutoff. These temples are mute witnesses to the genocide and terror that Hindu society had to suffer from religious extremists and marauders. In 2018 was started the efforts to document such ruins and revive such temples. Any support towards the efforts can be made via https://reclaimtemples.com//fundraisers/

Courtesy: Destroyed temples of Kerala Volume 1, Introduction. Author: Tirur Dinesh

The book can be ordered online or read on kindle via https://www.amazon.in/Destroyed-temples-Kerala-Vol-1/dp/8193929926

 

#ReclaimTemples

Cheriyamundam Vaniyanur Siva temple Malappuram

Cheriyamundam is a village in Malappuram district of Kerala where the Hindus are only 11.83% of the population as per the 2011 Census of Bharat. The economically backward situation of Hindus is compounded by pervasive and aggressive display of Islamic extremism in the locality by organisations and individuals who follow the doctrine propagated by ISIS. The result being that the Hindu community is forced to restrict their religious rights and freedom of worship.

Cheriyamundam Vaniyanur Siva temple was destroyed by Muslim rioters in 1921 Moplah riots. The land belonging to the temple was taken over and the whole temple was demolished in due course by Jihadis.

However no amount of desecration could affect the divinity of the Presiding Deity of the temple. The Jihadis of the locality were terrified when calamities started happening in their lifes, on their families and loved ones. An instance very vivid in the minds of the locals is when Jihadis slaughtered a cow in Vaniyanur temple site and served the beef during the marriage . The bride turned mad the next day and started crawling on ground like snakes. Terrified Jihadis it is said did a small Puja as a penance, and has abandoned the site and took care not to defile it again.

As part of the #ReclaimTemples project, the temple is now being reconstructed. The project is embraced by the people of the locality who have come together to resurrect their temple and restart worship of Lord Siva. A new vigour and confidence has descended on HinduSamaj of the region, as the very thought of reviving a destroyed Hindu temple after close to one century inspires them.

The revival was started on first week of January 2018. Swamy Bharati Maharaj, Managing Trustee of Bharat KshethraBhumi SamrakshanaVedhi lighted a lamp and marked restart of the Pujas at the Siva temple on 11 Jan 2018.

However the temple was ransacked again on 11 Jan night and the lamps, Pooja items were dumped in nearby well. The temple was also desecrated. However contrary to what the attackers must have imagined, the Hindu community of the region showed remarkable courage and thousands visited the site next day 12 Jan and took pledge to rebuild temple at any cost.

A committee was formed to oversee construction of temple and also a MathruSamithi was formed to oversee administration of temple. DevaPrashnam a ritual marking the rebuilding the temple was conducted on 5 Feb 2018. The Temple architect and Chief Priest visited temple and have designed plans for reconstruction of temple.

First a temporary office cum store room was constructed in the temple site. This enables the safe keep of Pooja items as well as construction tools.

As advised by the Thanthri and the temple architect the first step was cleaning the well of the temple. It was also foretold that the temple idols were broken down and dumped into the well long ago.

Parts of temple which was destroyed and dumped into well

 

Piles of stones near the well are recovered from inside the well. Reveals the mindset of those who destroyed the temple

The excavation of the well was a hard task as the person had to make sure that they dont damage any idols which was to be recovered from the well. Also huge stones and temple pillars were being found in the well. Some of them weighing few tones were difficult to be taken out using manual labour. And at many such instances the excavation process slowed as devotees found difficult to remove the stones from well. Ultimately crane had to be brought to take out the huge stones.

And as the temple architect had predicted, an idol of Goddess was recovered from the well. The idol from its characters belonged to the Chola era and the character was that of a benevolent Goddess. The recovery of the Goddess idol caused a rethink over the temple architecture as now, the architect has to design a sanctum for the Goddess aswell in addition to Lord Shiva.

Broken idol of Goddess which was recovered from temple well

It was also decided to complete excavation till bedrock of the well, in hope that more such idols will be discovered. The excavation of the well is almost complete and next stage is the construction of the temporary abodes for Lord Shiva and the Goddess.

The updates on revival of Cheriyamundam Vaniyanur Siva temple can be tracked via

The reconstruction of the temple is made possible only due to support given by Hindus from across the world.

You can join the reconstruction of the temple by supporting the fundraiser via ket.to/kl001

Ultimate objective of the #ReclaimTemples project is to ensure the survival of HinduDharma  and rebuild 300 Hindu temples in Malappuram by year 2021. These temples were destroyed during Tipu invasion and various Moplah riots ever since.

We have to act before its too late. The Hindus in Malappuram are courageous and will fight till their last breath. What they lack in is only resources to fight an enemy equipped with slush funds from Middle East and other Jihadi havens.

Lets join hands to protect HinduDharma and strengthen it, thereby prevent Kerala from becoming another Kashmir.

#ReclaimTemples