Famous Temples in India

Religious Significance

According to a legend, long ago lived a sage who undertook a hard penance worshipping Lord Vishnu in order to obtain the secret of keeping the population from disease and pain. The pleased Lord decided reveal the secret, when Garudan is said to have flown near the site and sat on the banks of the pond called the ‘theertha’. Thus place where Lord Vishnu gave ‘darshan’ to the sage became haloed ground and the temple was later constructed over it. It is widely believed that Jagadguru Shri Sankaracharya, also known as Sri Padapadacharya, had also undertaken severe penance at this temple, which further added its spiritual worth.

One other legend reveals the origin of the Garuda idol installed in this Temple. There once lived a man called Perum Thatcham, who was a highly skilled master craftsman. He was a well renowned mason of this region whose dexterity was known far and wide. He made several vigrahas of deities that were installed in many temples across Kerala. This gifted craftsman is said to have crafted the amazing idol of the flying Garuda. The Garuda idol was so realistic that the Malappuram ruler himself was very impressed with this work and mentioned that it looked like it could fly away. Perum Thatchan replied that if the bird was touched by a purely chaste woman the ‘idol’ would definitely come alive and fly. The Raja was initially offended by the craftsman’s comment but later challenged him that if proven wrong, he would be sentenced to death. The mason in turn asked the Raja on what he would give if his claims become true. The Raja promised to build a temple in honor of the idol. On hearing this, Perum Thatchan called his wife and asked her to touch the Garuda idol. The moment she touched it the Garuda flew away. The Raja sent his soldiers to chase it. The garuda landed on the back of one of the white turtles living on a pond. The Raja thus built a temple for the Garuda as promised, in the place where the present temple is situated. The place later got to be called ‘Vellamassery’ which means the place of the white turtle.