Mukkal Vettam Sri Ayyappa Temple, Muhamma
Cheerappan Chira family and their Kalari, are as old as the mythology of
Lord Ayyappa and his abode at Sabarimala. This temple is situated in the Muhamma
at Cherthala thaluk of Allepey District of Kerala.
It is believed that Lord Ayyappa studied martial arts in this ancient Kalary; remnants of which still exists.
This temple is built in the same pattern of Sabarimala Temple.
The temple also has lord Siva, and Parvathy, Goddess Annapoorneswary,
Goddess Malikappuram, Ganapathy, Sarpam as other deities.
Mukkal Vettom Ayyappa Temple was built by the Cheerappanchira in the tharavadu because the elders of the family were not able to go for pilgrimage to Sabarimala.
The Lord himself was believed to have made arrangements for building the temple near the hermitage for Kalari Guru.
Till this date, people of old age and women who cant undertake pilgrimage to Sabarimala come to this temple to offer their prayers on the belief that, by the darshan at Mukkal vettom,
Lord Ayyappa will shower the same blessings as the darsan at Sabarimala.
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Offerings
Payasam, Aravana, Neeranjanama, Appam, Ghee abhishekam, and Anna danam are the main offerings in this temple.
Just like in sabarimala, Sahasranama archana, pushpanjali, ashtothara japam etc are also conducted here. For people with “Seni Dosham”,
these offerings are believed to give immediate relief.
MARUNNU KANJI (Medicinal Porridge).
During the month of Karkidakam, medicinal porridge is distributed by the temple authorities, which is a speciality of this temple.
This porridge- the sacred medicine- believed to have been prepared for the martial arts exponents,
is prepared strictly based on the secret recipe, which has been handed over by generations of this ancient family.
Poojas & Rituals
In the early days of the temple, poojas were conducted on every sankrama day of each Malayalam month.
At present poojas are held on every Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Morning 5 AM To 12 Noon
History
Cheerappanchira, the famous Kalari (martial art) exponents
of Lord Ayyappas times, taught this only to the people of karappuram area ( place around Muhamma ).
Ayyappa- the then crown prince of Pandalam Kingdom- approached the Mooppan (senior most member of the family)
who is the Guru, to learn Kalarippayattu. Having mastered this technique, Lord Ayyappa, rushed to Pandalom on
hearing the sudden attack on kingdom, virtually disaapearing from Cheerappan chira. Before his departure he
left behind his royal belongings to reveal his identity to his guru.
[His quarters at cheerappan chira is maintained till date as Swami Mattom.]
On realizing the divine identity of Lord Ayyappa,
his earthly Guru started his annual pilgrimage to Sabarimal temple. On becoming old,
when he was not able to make his annual pilgrimage to Sabarimala temple, Lord Ayyappa
apeeared in the dream of the saddened Guru and consoled him for his inability to take
the annual pilgrimage. Lord Ayyappa also instructed the Guru to construct a temple at
cheerappan chira, where he will reside with his full powers for
( 3 quarters of the year- which in Malayalam is Mukkal .
Hence the nameMukkal Vettam) of the year.
He also informed that a log of sandalwood would appear
against the flow of the waters at Vembanadu Lake the next day, which should be used for constructing the temple. Folklore has
it that the log of sandalwood appeared in the waters the next day and with which the Mukkal Vettam temple was built.
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