Thirunellai

There was a tragedy due to the breach in Moolathara regulator-cum-dam after water was released from the Aliyar Dam in Tamil Nadu. There was no human casualties in the tragedy but there was sudden flooding across the banks of Chittur river and thereby Thirunellai river which receives water from this dam. The decision to open shutters of Aliyar dam was due to the heavy rain in Tamil Nadu region. There has been political statements from both states in this issue already. Kerala has blamed Tamil Nadu for the breach of regulator saying they were not informed. But Tamil Nadu maintains that they had well informed about their act. The water in Thirunellai river touched both banks and the water-level, and Thirunellai village could not be reached through Vennakkara road. Chungam was water-logged for some hours. The water level reached normalcy by evening.

It was a nice experience for me standing in the banks of the river with an umbrella in one hand, and camera in another and enjoying the rains as it poured on to the river. The river was over-joyous after felt being released from the Check-dam being built across it recently. The water was pushing one another and trying to escape as fast as it could. Normally a silent river, it posed a big sound of water gushing across. The sound was even heard from inside my home. It was like a waterfalls sound from within. I thought this to be a good share for those missing action here.

A new check dam is built across the Thirunellai river and is almost nearing completion. This dam is being built for serving the water authority pumping house near the Thirunellai bridge. This water will be then treated there and will be used for supplying to houses nearby. The view of river from Padikadavu

This temple houses the Poorna Pushkala Sametha Hariharaputhra Swamy (Ayyappa). This temple has a belief that is said to be some 300-400 years old where the place was used for agriculture by then. It is said that a lady farmer used a stone for sharpening her tool. The stone began to shed blood and was later identified as a Swayamboo (self-grown) idol of Lord himself.

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Poorna Pushakala Sametha Hariharaputhra Swamy, the deity in our village. (Hariharaputhra with Poorna and Pushkala) Lord Hariharaputhra (Son of Hari [Lord Vishnu] and Haran [Lord Shiva]) or Lord Ayyappa. The devotees of Ayyappa call him by several favorite names that include, Dharmashasta (one who established Dharma), Manikanta (born with a bell on the neck) etc. This picture is uthsavamoorthi (festival idol) decorated with flowers and taken in theru (wooden cart) and taken through out the village as part of annual 9 day celebration.

രഥോത്സവം 2009 ചിത്രങ്ങളിലൂടെ Thirunellai Theru Photos for the year 2009 are available here. Click the PLAY button displayed down and the photos can be seen. Click here to view in Google Picasa If anyone has more photos to share, please share it with webmaster at tlananthu@gmail.com

Part 1 Part 2 Many thanks to Hari for posting this video in YouTube.

Thirunellai, (an ancient village) is well connected by road with the town of Palakkad . It is 4kilometers away from town's KSRTC (Kerala State Road Transport Corporation) bus stand. The easiest method of travel is by means Auto Rickshaw/Tuk Tuk (as westeners prefer to call). You need to bargain the fare before you start your journey. Be sure to tell that you are travelling to the village and not further. Route from Coimbatore side Route from Ernakulam side Public buses also transit from town to Thirunellai. (Coming soon-Bus timings) Locate route in map (Follow either the red or blue line from KSRTC bus stand to reach Thirunellai) View in Google Maps To view the ariel view of Thirunellai Gramam, click here .

The Thirunellai in Palakkad, Kerala in South India is a small village located in the banks of the river nila/kannadi. It is about 4 kilometers from Palakkad Town. It is part of Palakkad Municipal Corporation limits. View Larger Map Like the 18 gramams/agraharams/villages in Palakkad Town, Thirunellai also is inhabited by Brahmins who are descendants of those who have migrated from TamilNadu. They are called as Tamil Brahmins / Kerala Brahmins synonymously. The brahmins who settled in Thirunellai on the banks of the river nila or kannadi, where vaishnavites (devotees of Lord Vishnu). Out of the 18 gramams in Palakkad, Thirunellai and Pallipuram are settled by Vaishnavites, whereas the rest by Saivaites. Though there is no direct proof of the time of settling in Thirunellai, it could have been a most recent when compared to the other gramams. Most probably the settling was about 200-300 years before 20th century. The gramam at present consists of nearly 150 houses arranged in

Articles How to reach Thirunellai About Thirunellai Gramam Photos Poorna Pushkala Sametha Hariharaputhra Swamy-Uthsavamoorthi Radhothsavam 2009 - Photos Videos Theru Video 2006