There are Holy places in India where people an perform the duties, Samskaras, ordained by the Shastras.
In Benares,Gaya one can perform Sraddha for the departed, Tonsuring the Hair at Palani,Tirupati, Anna Prasanam, first feed of the child, at Guruvayoor.
There is one Vishnu temple where one can perform all the rituals , birth to death.
This temple is in Thirunelli,Kerala.
It is believed that here the prathishta of Lord Vishnu was performed by Lord Brahma.
It is also known as ”Sahyamala Kshetram” and ”Kashi of the South”.
On the western side of the temple is the cave temple Gunnika, dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Thus Thirunelli becomes blessed by the unique presence of all the members of the trinity.
The beautiful Brahmagiri hills and the surrounding lush green forests have made the temple premises a valley of tranquility.
The temple is an embodiment of ancient temple architecture.
The aqua-duct that brings water to the temple is also a witness to hundreds of years of history.
Temple timings: Morning: 5:30 am to 12:00 pm, Evening: 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm.
How To Reach.
The journey to Thirunelli itself unravels the ravishing beauty of the high ranges of Kerala.
If it is from Calicut (Kozhikode), one has to come through Thamarasserry, climb the hair pins of the ghat road and pass the towns Kalpetta and Mananthavady.
If it is from Bangalore, arrive Mysore and then proceed to Thirunelli through Hunsur and Nagarhole.
Thirunelli Temple is located at Thirunelli, 137 kms from Calicut, 121kms from Mysore and 250 kms from Bangalore.
You can reach the temple only by road. When coming from outside Wayanad, the most convenient railhead is Calicut.
From there proceed to Mananthavady and then to Thirunelli by taxi or bus.
The total distance from Calicut is 137 kms when cominig through Koyileri – Mananthavady road. It becomes 141 kms, when coming through 4th mile – Mananthavady road. The nearest airport is Karipur near Calicut, 160 kms away.
Calicut Railway station -137 kms
Mysore Railway station -121 kms
Calicut (Karippur) airport – 161 kms
Bangalore airport – 280 kms.
Rituals.
Next day without taking bath, between 6 am and 11 am, the performers have to reach the temple and collect the “bali materials” and “dharbha grass” from the special counter arranged on the northern side of the temple, showing the receipt.
After this, they head to the pond, in the sacred stream called Papanashini, located about half a kilometer away, in the forest. There, it will be waist deep water. Now take the first dip in the water, before the actual ritual starts.
On the bank of the pond stands the “Vaadhyaar” (the priest) who administers the ritual. Pilgrims line in the stream with almost ankle-deep flowing water. The ritual material collected from the temple is placed on the boulder in front, and the priest directs and administers the rituals in sequence.
Then they have to return to main temple after praying to Lord Shiva in the “Gunnika Temple”. The rituals come to a close with the reverential circumlocution around the main Temple, worship of the “Perumaal” there and receipt of the “thirmadhura Nivedyam” “theertham” and “Prasaadam”. Those who have the statues with them have to return the same in the counter. Even if one fails to reach the temple on the eve, can perform the rites, the same day, provided they arrive the temple before 11 am.
Thirunelli and Thrissilery temples are closely connected. The traditional ritual is that those who perform the ancestral rites at Thirunelli Temple have to worship Lord Shiva in Thrissilery Temple and make the “Vilakkumaala Vazhipaad” there. But to everybody it is not possible. So there is facility to pay in Thirunelli Temple itself, the fee required for the above “Vazhipaad” at Thrissilery.
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