A Brief History
Some years ago (about 850 years), a few Brahmin families from Tanjore (Thanjavur) district of Tamil Nadu started towards Kerala is search of new markets for their textile business. During the journey towards Kerala, some of the family decided to go to Tirupati while rest of the reached Perinkulam under the Vizhumalai hill in Alathur. The families at Perinkulam got in touch with some of the big Landlords who gave them some land and helped them to build thatched houses. Thus these families settled at Perinkulam.
After some years, the other families that had left for Tirupati came to know of this settlement and they also reached Perinkulam. While coming to Perinkulam, they were carrying the Idol of Lord Venkateswara and Mahalakshmi being worshipped in the form of Lord Varadaraja Swamy and Mahalakshmi Ambal.
They Idols were installed at the West side of the Perinkulam tank facing the East and they started worshipping. They were blessed with good health, wealth and prosperity and lead a peaceful life with the blessing of the Lord and Goddess.
Over the course of time there was a misunderstanding between the families because of which the idol of Ambal was removed from the sanctorum and installed inside a new temple a few yards away from the original one. A separate Agraharam was built and the with families being called - ' Kariom Kondu Odiyavar’ and the Village known as Kariom Kondu Odiya Gramam which in due course was referred to as Kariot gramam. As the History has it tThe separation of the Consort from the Lord created lots of problems to the families in general and thus they lostlosing their peacefulness and happiness. Then sSome of the elders who came forward to settle the issue between the families and decided to unite themselves. They decided to conduct the Festivals of the Lord and Ambal as is being done at Tiruppatlhi temple on the TIRUVONAM Thiruvonam DayAY ofOF PURTTASI Purataasi (KanyaKANN/) as the Kalyana Mahothsavam of Sri Mahalakshmi and Sri Varadaraja swamy Swamy every year as specified in Vaighanasa Agama shastramSasthram.
The Original Dates of Bramhotsvam and Rathothsavam
During the month of Kanni(Sept-Oct) being the rainy season celebrating the Brahmotsavam was ve1:i1difficOlden dTraditionally ays the Rathothsavamaarohanam was being done on TIRUVONAM STAR conducted on the day of Thiruvonam start.. It is heard from old villagers thate they would wait for the Thiruvonam Nakshatram to rise for RathothsavamRathaarohanam to begin – even if it meant the nakshatra would rise during the night. If it is in the night, the same will take place only then. With the onset of the rainy season during the Kanni maasam, the celebration of Bramhotsavam was very difficult. In 1958, the villagers gathered together and took a decision to celebrate the festival during the month of Feb-Mar and conduct the Rathothsavam on the Masi. Pournami day with a nine day festival. The festival would be concluded with manjal neer vilayattu.
Sree Navaneetha Krishna Temple at South Village Perinkulam.
Some Brahmin families from the surrounding area and beyond Trichur also came down and settled at Perinkulam. They built a separate agraharam on the South side of the Perinkulam Tank which is known as South Village (Thekke Gramam). They built a temple there and while they were about to make an idol of Sree Krishna, one of the old family member had a dream that the Idol for them is ready at Varikkassery Mana near Ottappalam. At this mana there is a temple where the existing idol had a small damage and villages of Varikassery mana decided to chang the same. They had made a new idol of Navaneetha Krishna. In the mean time the eldest family member of this mana also had a dream that the idol which was being worshipped should not be changed as the damage wasn’t a problem. He had heard the Lord's voice asking him “whether he will give up his beloved child because of a physical handicap”. The old man was worried and thinking what to do with the new idol already made for which the Lord informed him not to worry and someone will come and asking for this idol.
The very next day the people of South Village along with the Old Family member who had a dream, went to Varikkassery Mana and they got the Idol. Even in todays times, people of south village visit the Mana and pray there before the kumbhabishekam. It is heard from the elders that the annual festival was being celebrated at the temple during the day of vaikunta eakadasi and uriyadi had also been celebrated during those yesteryears.
Perinkulam Sree Vishalakshi Amba Sametha Sree Visveswara Swamv Temple-
This temple is said to be the First and Oldest Temple in Perinkulam. It is understood that one of the eldest member of the South Village, Sree Bhaskara Pattar known as Soori who was the great grandfather of Pakku Pattar went to Benaras by walk and while returning back, he brought a Siva Lingam and an idol of Sri Vishalakshi Ambal. He built a tank which is known as Sooriappan Kulam. He built a small temple near this tank for Sree Vishalakshi Ambal and Visweswara Swamy and started worshipping them. Since the place was not safe as it is situated far from village, and with the constant threat of thefts happening in the temple, the villagers decided to build a temple inside the villages. Thus the present temple near the bank of the Perinkulam Tank was built and the idols were shifted here. Along with Sri Vishalakshi Ambal Sametha Sri Visveswara Swamy, Lord Balaganapathi and Lord Subramania are also worshipped inside the temple. In the south west corner (Niruthi Kone) outside of the prakaram, there is a Naga Prathishta and a sanctity of Sri Chekitankottu Bagavathi. Makara Chovva pooja is the main function here. It is known from the elders that the festival was being celebrated for Lord Vishalakshi Sametha Visveswara Swamy on the Tiruvathira day(Aardra Darsan) in the month of Dhanu. The elders of the villages, gathered together, to ensure the unity amongst the temples decided to conduct the Rathothsavam of all the four temples on the same day which is now being celebrated on the Masi Magham (Masi Pournami day) every year.
The main festivals celebrated at the temple is Annabishekam, Ardra Darsanam, Pradosha abishekam each month, Sivarathri and Rathothsavam in Kumbam(Masi). Naga pooja is well celebrated on the Ayilyam (Ashlesha) day of Kanni masam. Chovva Oottu with special pooja for Chekitamkottu Bagavagthi on Makara Chovva day is also celebrated.
A temple for Lord Ayyappa also is constructed about 90 Years back behind Siva Temple and Makaravi/akkufestival is celebrated every year grandly by the Perinkulam Sree Dharmasastha Samajam.
There are many Mariamman koils in the surroundings of Perinkulam. Pongal festival with Poomethi(Thee Kuzhi Chattam) after Vishu is celebrated in all the Mariamman temples except Palayam Mariamman Koil where Chellu Kuthu instead of Poomethi is done.
Due to Land Reforms Act, all the properties of the temples have been lost. The daily pooja is being conducted with the monetary contributions from the villager both currently residing and outside the village. The Rathothsavam Car Festival is being celebrated in each Temple in a grand manner every year with the help of devotees and villagers.
Sree Bhoomi Samela Varadarajaswamy Temple is situated in the centre of the three villages with the highest Dwaja Sthambham (Kodimaram) facing the East. The prathishta is in such a manner that during the Sooryodayam, the rays touches the feet of Lord during the month of Medam on a particular day. Lord is believed to be extremely powerful and He fulfills all the wishes of the devotees.