Temple

Located at Idukki, Kerala, Vandanmedu Mahaganapathy Temple is a famous temple dedicated to Lord Ganesh. The idol was first noticed by a forester of the Forest Department in 1960and constructed a shed over the idol and lit a lamp in front of the deity. Later a small temple was built. The consecration was done on February 2, 1966 by Brahmasree Rudran Nambootiri of Neelamana illam of Perumbavoor.

Legend

Earlier Vandanmedu had thick forests with tribal settlements. The legend says that once two hunters, belonging to the tribal class, when passing through the place while hunting saw an idol on a small rock protected by a hooded serpent. On return, they saw the same idol protected by serpent and reported the matter to the Ooru Mooppan, the tribal leader. On his order, they drove away the serpents with great difficulty and brought the idol to the Mooppan. Within a short while, the residence of Mooppan was surrounded by elephants and snakes. The Mooppan and his consort got frightened and ordered the hunters to take back the idol to its original position. Once the idol was restored to its original position, the elephants and serpents suddenly disappeared. Till early 1990 an old descendent of the Mooppan visited the place on Trikkartika day and lighted a lamp and offered vazhipats, which substantiates the origin of the temple.

Architecture

The structures of the Vandanmedu Ganapathy Temple include sreekovil with mukha-mandapam, namaskara mandapam, chuttambalam, Nadapandal with valiya balikkal, sub-shrines, dhwajam, pradakshina-vazhi, anakottil, gopuram and alankara-gopuram. The chuttambalam built in 2000 has doors on all sides.

Darsan Info

The sub shrine of Lord Ayyappa is at the southwest corner, while that of Goddess Sree Vana Durga is at the northwest corner of the chuttambalam. The sub-shrine of Nagas with a small kaav is at the southwest corner of the complex, while that of Rakshas is installed at northwest.

Darsan Dresscode

At Vandanmedu Ganapathy Temple, traditional Kerala attire is preferred.

Famous Festival

January/February : Annual four-day festival

Culture

Idukki is a bordering district of Kerala on Tamil Nadu side and so the influence of Tamil culture along with that of the indigenous tribal cultures become very evident here.

Temple Rituals

Inside the Vandanmedu Ganapathy Temple , sila idol of Lord Ganapaty is of sitting pose with two arms, the right hand is folded and left hand having modakam and with the pose of taking it with His own trunk. All other idols are made of sila. Lord Ayyappa in sitting pose, Sree Vana Durga of mirror type and Nagas in sitting pose with raised hood and the idol of Rakshas.

Special Rituals

Sreebali is done only during the festival period.

Additional Info