Temple history

History of Ponneth Temple.

About 800 years ago the ownership of the temple, about 2000 acres, belonged to the famous "Thamarassery Mana".

Due to "illegitimate" marriages of the members of illam with other families through "pudava" system, the whole property gradually went to these families. Thus the members of "Thamarassery Mana" lost all their property and migrated to Kodungallore and Cheranallur.

The "illicit" use of Brahmin property created a wind of destruction, family splits, diseases, conflicts and several other 'curses' to the these families.

After several years, one member of that ancient Namboothiri family, a very sacred brahmin Gentleman, decided to visit the ancient "Thamassery Mana" in search of his family roots. He was an ardent worshipper of KodungalloreAmma. Needless to say he felt very bad to be away from the Kodungallore temple. Without his knowledge, the Goddess herself got into his umbrella(oolakuda). All he carried was holy books and the umbrella. He visited most of the ancient families related to the temple and informed them about his intensions. Unfortunately those people who owned the property did not listen to his words

Mainly his idea in visiting this place was to do curative measures in the temple to overcome the offences commited by his forefathers.

Very disappointed, he reached the ancient "DHARMA DEVATHA Kshethra thara". (Later this place became 'AYYANKANDAZATH KSHETHRA' and is also known as KADAVANTHARA DEVI KSHETHRA') to do Prayashitta Karma. He prayed very sincerily to Amma to forgive all the sins committed by his forefathers.
During this journey he carried his cloth bundle, umbrella and several things related to the family Devatha chaithanya from Kodungallore for his usual prayer. He placed all these items at the old step of AYYANKANDAZATH KSHETHRA pond and took bath. Suddenly a strong wind along with rain came. All his belongings including the cloth bundle started to flow by itself to the right side of AYYANKANDAZATH temple. The Brahmin priest followed the bundle. That bundle flew upto the place where the Ponneth temple is situated today. Suddenly he saw a divine aura around his Umbrella. The Goddess appeared and forgave all the sins comitted by his forefathers. She asked him not to return back to Kodungallore. The Godesss promised that the chaithanya of Devi will remain in this place forever. She asked him to take care of all his ancestoral properties and guide the people to the right path. The Brahmin priest constructed a temple at the same place where the umbrella was. This is the reason that the present temple is facing North.
After this incident 'Devi' sometimes visits all places that was once her own and take rest at the 'Peedha' of the Kadavanthara Devi Temple, which was once the 'Dharma Devatha' of the Thamarasseri Mana. In memory of this, during temple festival time the light of the first 'Thalam' is lighted from Kadavanthara Devi Temple.

This is the known history of the temple. Later the properties and the land was lost from the Thamarasseri Mana and reached other families. Due to their indifferent ruling, the Ponneth Temple lost everything and finally the temple caught fire.
 

Later during -1096-Madras Court Declarataion'- the temple and land property reached the Non-Hindus.

Then on -1099- the temple's control came back to Late Shri. Damodaran Unni (His descendants are managing the temple affairs now) of Ponneth Madom. He took ruling and the temple re-opened on 'Vrishika' for monthly Puja.

Temple is having landed property of 95 cents.

1124 onwards daily puja, festival and all other temple activities are running perfectly till today. From 1024 to 1159 the temple was run by Kadavanthara N.S.S then by Cheruparambath family and later from 1160 to 1165 Kshetra Samiti of natives conducted the festivals. From 1166 onwards the present Ponneth family directly with co-operation of the natives and other local people did all the welfare activities of the temple.

The sacred Brahmin of Old Thamarasseri Mana is placed honourably as Brahmarakshas and daily pooja is performed.

People of all castes, whenever they try to build anything near the temple area always pray the Brahmarakshas first and receive his blessing and permission. The special pooja is Palpayasam.

A unique incident happened in temple's Pond. There appeared more than one lotus flower from one stem. It is a very rare sight and nothing like this has ever been seen or heard before.
When Ashtamangalya prasnam was conducted, it was found out that this unique feature - "double lotus" - (erratta thamara) is due to the presence of Goddess Lakshmi in the temple. People have come from far and near to see this unbeleivable sight.