Vaikunda Chella Pathi
Vaikunda Chella Pathi is one among the oldest Nizhal Thangals in the Western Kanyakumari district. It was located 6 km North-east of Marthandam midway between Marthandam and Kulasekaram at Thiruvattar. It is also the only Nizhal Thangal in the district to conduct three Thiru Eadu Vasippu festivals annually.
Legend
The land where the Thangal stood today is owned by Sankaran Thamby, Changumugam, Thiruvananthapuram until 1940s. The legend goes that Chellan Samiyar, was a palmyra climber. He being a staunch devotee of lord vishnu, had set a pedestal at his hut and use to offer his daily prayers. He was said to be instructed by Lord Narayana in his dream to construct a Temple. Samiyar who was then at his teen ages was unable to realise his dream as he had no land of his own. Disappointed by this he appealed to Lord Narayana that how he could construct a temple without any land. He was said to receive command to make all the arrangements and that the land would be made available at time.
Meanwhile, Sankaran Thamby received a dream the following day in which a Pandaram (mendicant) ordered Thamby to offer land for a Temple to Chellan Samiyar, whom he did not know. Though Thamby ignored initially, while he and his mother received repeated dreams in the following days he came to Thiruvattar and find out the person to whom he was wanted to donate the land. He found out Samiyar and the land was donated in 1944. The current Temple was constructed and was inaugurated by Pattathu Ayya Krishnanama Mony in 1959 C.E.
Festivals
The Thiru Eadu Vasippu is conducted during the Tamil Months of Vaikasi, Avani and Margazhi. The Vaikasi festival is last 10 days while the Avani and Margazhi festivals last 3 days each.
See also
References
- Nellai Malai Murasu Ayya Vaikundar Avathara Mahimai (2007), Nellai Malai Murasu, Special Edition.
Coordinates: 8°20′08″N 77°16′15″E / 8.335611°N 77.270889°E