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This temple is situated on the Perumbavoor- Kodanad route
one kilometer away from Thottuva junction in Koovapady
panchayat at Ernakulam district. Devotees can also reach
the temple via Kalady - Malayattoor route from the
Thottuva junction boat jetty. The presiding deity is
Dhanwanthiri and the idol is almost six feet tall and
facing east. On the right hand the lord holds Amrith and
with the left hand the lord holds Atta, Shanku and Chakra.
Sub deities are Ayyappan, Ganapathy, Bhadrakali and
Rakshas. Fresh un-boiled milk is offered here, the
important offering is butter. Festivals are conducted on
Ekadashi during the Malayalam month of Vrischikam, and on
the Pooyam star day during the month of Medam, which is
the consecration day. The temple belongs to Korampur Mana.
On the southern side of the temple there is a small stream
which flows towards the east. The practice is to have bath
in this stream and then enter the temple for Darshan.
Problems due to 'Vatha', 'Pitha' and 'Kafa' get cured if
the devotees stay here and meditate. Doctors practicing
Ayurveda also come to the temple for Bhajana (Pooja,
meditation) 'Krishna Tulasi' is the favourite of
Dhanwanthari. From 'Dhanu' 1st to 11th the Lord is
decorated in the Dasavatara forms. There is a legend
regarding this 'Dasavataram chartal'. A member of the
Korampur Mana Namboothiri did not have any children. He
prayed to Lord Dhanwanthiri that he would decorate the
Lord in ten different forms if he gets a child. Within a
year he was blessed with a child. From that time onwards
this practice of decorating the Lord every year in ten
different forms, from Dhanu 1st to 11th has been
continuing. Many devotees have been performing this
offering in the temple for begetting progeny.
The main deity is Adi Dhanwanthari, and this is the only
temple in Kerala where it is so. It is declared that this
temple is more than 1000 years ancient. The legend is that
several years ago three Namboodiri families living in the
hills of Malayatoor were closely related to this temple.
These families has Shiva, Bhagawathy and Vishnu as their
family deities. In those days Sankaracharya happened to
visit these Namboodiri families. He was not offered food
or alms. This made him unhappy and so there was a curse on
these families. The family was ruined and so they left the
place and traveled to a place called 'Kodanad'. When they
felt hungry, they prepared food in three different pots.
They used bamboo as firewood for cooking. Two of them
lighted the bamboo turning upwards and one turned it
downwards. The two Brahmins who had lighted the bamboo by
keeping it upwards were able to cook the food very quickly
and they continued their journey. All the places through
which they travailed became their own. The other Brahmin
was unable to cook the food soon because he had lighted
the bamboo turning it downwards. Since he was late, he
started his journey slowly therefore he did not get any
property. Feeling very unhappy he reached the place where
at present the temple is situated. Keeping his umbrella (Olakuda)
on the ground he began preparing 'Nivedyam' for the
evening Pooja. After having food, feeling mentally upset,
he went to sleep and the Namboodiri heard the Divine voice
of Lord Dhanwanthari telling him not to worry and that he
will be able to manage with His Devotees. The place where
the Namboodiri had kept his palmleaf umbrella came to be
known as 'Kudappadom'. For more information: Thottuva Sree
Dhanwanthari Moorthi Seva Trust, Koovapady P.O., Thottuva
- 683 544, Ph: 0484 2641485. |