Vilakkumadom of Thirunelly Temple

In News

• The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has urged the government to conserve the historically significant structures, including the 600-year-old ‘Vilakkumadom’.

About Vilakkumadom

• Vilakkumadom is an exquisite granite structure believed to be constructed in the 15th century AD, at the Sree Mahavishnu Temple at Thirunelly in Wayanad district of Kerala.
• It is said that the work of Vilakkumadom was launched by the king of Coorg without the permission of the temple’s custodian, Kottayam Raja. Later, the Kottayam Raja ordered the construction work, and the structure remained untouched afterwards.

Thirunelly Temple

• The Thirunelly Maha Vishnu temple is an iconic temple in Wayanad, Kerala near to Brahmagiri hills. It is also known as ”Sahyamala Kshetram” and ”Kashi of the South”.
• Thirunelli Temple is the only temple in the world where the devotees can perform all the rituals related to one’s life, starting from birth to death and life after death. 
• The rituals are performed on the banks of the stream Papanasini which flows down from Mount Brahmagiri. 
• On the western side of the temple is the cave temple Gunnika, dedicated to Lord Shiva. 

Source: TH