108 Dhivya Desam - Thiruchenkunroor

Location :  Chengannur near Kottayam
Perumaal :  Imaiyavarappan
Thaayaar :  Senkamalavalli
Theertham : Shankha Theertham
Paasuram :  NammAzhwar
Vimaanam : Jagatjyoti Vimanam
Travel Base : Kottayam

Description: Thiruchenkunroor is one of the five ancient shrines in the Chengannur area of Kerala, connected with the Mahabharatam. (Chengannur - Yuddhishtra, Thiruppuliyur - Bheema, Aranmula - Arjuna, Thiruvamundur - Nakula and Thirukkadittaanam - Sahadeva). NammAzhwar describes Chenkunrur as a town where the smoke emanating from the vedic ritual yagnas fills the sky and as a place surrounded by rich lush vegetation (of bananas and coconuts).

The Chengannoor Mahadevar temple with a shrine to Bhagavati is of great significance in this town.

 

In its good days, this temple's annual festival in the Malayalam month of Meenam witnessed elaborate celebrationss with performances of Chakkiyar koothy, Koodiyattam etc.

 

Legend has it that Dharmaputra (Yuddhishtra) offered worship to Perumaal, seeking pardon for his act on the battlefield, where he uttered the words 'Ashwattaama hatah kunjaraha' in an attempt to deceive Drona and lead him to a defenceless state where Arjuna brought his (Drona's)  life to an end.