Thirunelli Maha Vishnu Temple

01Brahma’s temple to Vishnu

The kshetra’s account says that Bhagwan Brahma, travelling the earth, was drawn to this valley by its beauty, found a murti of Vishnu under an amla tree, nelli in Malayalam, and installed it: hence Thirunelli. The temple stands at about 900 metres, ringed by forested hills, with a granite enclosure and a stone aqueduct that brings spring water from the hill into the temple. Copper plates of the Chera king Bhaskara Ravi Varma, of around 1000 CE, mention Thirunelli and its lands, showing it was an important centre then.

02Papanasini

Below the temple the Papanasini stream comes down from the Brahmagiri, held to wash away all sin. Here pilgrims perform bali tharpanam for their dead, and many bring ashes for immersion. Karkidakam Vavu, the new moon of the month of Karkidakam, is the great day for ancestral rites. A rock in the stream, the Pindappara, is where the offerings are made.

The life of this place