• Ganesh

Panayil Ganapathi Temple

Overview


The Aryankuzhi Ganapathy Temple is also popularly referred as "Panayil Ganapathi Temple". This is a well known Hindu shrine located at Aryankuzhi, in the Trivandrum district of Kerala, India.


About The Deity


The Presiding deity of this temple is Lord Ganapathy who graces here in the form of Bala Ganapathy. Other deities present in this temple includes “Goddess Sri Devi (Sri Mutharamma)”, “Sri Nagarajavu”, “Sri Madan Thampuran”, “Sri Yekshiyamma”, “Sri Yogeeswaran”, “Sri Manthramoorthy”, “Sri Brahmarakshas” and so on. A three day temple festival is celebrated here every year which involves a “Ponkala”.


About The Temple


The temple is quite old and is said to have belonged to an affluent family named, Panayil who had a small shrine attached to their ancestral home, on their farm lands (“Pana”).

Some 150 years ago, the family’s head named Sri. Narayana Panickar, is believed to have had a dream. Lord Yogeeswaran had appeared in his dream and had asked the Panicker to consecrate a vigraha of lord Ganapathy in their shrine. Thus, the Panicker travelled north to procure an idol of “Sri Bala Ganapathy”, which was later consecrated along with other deities in this shrine.

People around the neighborhood gradually started visiting the temple to worship the deity here. Thus the shrine became famous. Since the deity was consecrated in the Farm Lands (“Pana”), the temple got to be called the “Panayil Ganapathy Temple”.

Once during a temple festival, Sri Narayana Panickar is said to have been possessed by the divine blessings of lord Yogeeswaran. The devotees who witnessed this, pleaded the Lord that their “Ponkala” be anointed for which the Lord is believed to have said that he shall anoint the “Ponkala” by wearing a red hot Elephant Chain as a “Poonool” (Brahmins string, wore across the shoulder), which he wore the very next day.

The devotees witnessing this scene were so horrified by the act of the Panicker that many even fell unconscious. From then on, it was decided that only the ritual of anointing the “Ponkala” would be conducted and not the other one involving the wearing of red hot elephant chain. Thus started was the ceremony of “Ponkala” in the Panayil Ganapathy Temple.

Currently during the Ponkala ceremony, the boiling “Ponkala” is poured all over the body of the person who is blessed and possessed by Lord Yogeeswaran. It is indeed astonishing to see that the person never gets burns in his body despite repeatedly pouring the hot Ponkala over his body. The festival is celebrated for three days, after which the temple will be closed for the following seven days.

Initially, the idol of the Sri Bala Ganapathi did not have a proper housing. It was in fact placed on a sand platform, but later after many generations, all the idols of the temple were provided with proper shrines. As per “Devaprasna”, the Temple was once again renovated during 2014-15 after which the “Kumbhabhisheka” was performed on 26th January 2015.


Festivals


Vinayaka Chathurthi, and the annual temple festival which spans for 3 days are in Makaram (January–February) are the most prominent festivals of this temple.


Important Offerings


Devotees offer to break coconuts to Lord Ganapathi. This is one of the most common offering in most Ganapathi temples. Paranirakkal and Udayasthamaya Pooja are the other main offerings to the deity here


How To Reach

Airport

The nearest airport is the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport which is s situated at a distance of 6 kms from the temple.


Railways

The nearest railhead is the Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway station. The station lies merely at a distance of 4 kms from the temple.


Road

Aryankuzhi is 2 kms from Mukkolakkal. The temple is well connected by roadways with a number of buses plying to Thiruvananthapuram from almost all major cities of India.


Temple Address


Panayil Ganapathy Temple,
Thrimoorthy Nagar,
Muttathara, Thiruvananthapuram,
Kerala, Pincode - 695009.

Significance

Devotees visit this temple to seek fulfillment of the following:-

  • Salvation
  • Wealth
  • Relief from diseases
  • Purchase of vehicles
  • Gain Knowledge
Shlokas

Vakratunda Mahakaaya Suryakoti Samaprabha Nirvighnam Kuru Mey Deva Sarva Kaaryeshu Sarvada

Meaning -I pray to thee O Lord, who has a curved trunk and a strong body, the shine of a million suns, to remove all the hurdles that may block me from all the tasks I intend to perform.

Agajaanana Padmaarkam Gajaananam Aharnisham Anekadantham Bhaktaanaam Ekadantam Upaasmahey

Meaning -The sun to Mother Parvati's lotus face, I worship Lord Ganesh, with the elephant face, the one who grants a lot of wishes, the one with the single tusk, I salute thee to grant my wish.

Gajaananam Bhoota Ganaadhi Sevitam Kapitta Jamboophaala Saara Bhakshitam Umaasutam Shoka Vinaasha Kaaranam Namaami Vighneswara Paada Pankajam

Meaning -Oh elephant-faced Lord, who is served by all the Ganas, who consumes the essence of Kapitta and Jamboophala, His favourite fruits, who is Uma's son, who destroys the gloom of His devotees, who handles hurdles, we worship your lotus feet.

Tatpurushaaya Vidmahe Vakratundaaya Dheemahe Tanno Danthihi Prachodayaat

Meaning -We meditate on the great power, we call upon the single tusked Ganesh, who grants wishes.

Timings

The temple is open from 5.30 AM to 9.30 AM and from 5 PM to 8.30 PM.

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