Thumpamon

Thumpamon
village
Thumpamon Location in Kerala, India
Coordinates: 9°13′0″N 76°43′0″E / 9.21667°N 76.71667°E / 9.21667; 76.71667Coordinates: 9°13′0″N 76°43′0″E / 9.21667°N 76.71667°E / 9.21667; 76.71667
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Pathanamthitta
Government
• Body	Thumpamon Grama Panchayat
Area
• Total	7.84 km² (3.03 sq mi)
Population (2001)
• Total	7,644
• Density	975/km² (2,530/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	689502
Telephone code	0091-4734
Vehicle registration	KL-26
Nearest city	Pandalam
Sex ratio	1000 Males : 1125 Females ♂/♀
Literacy	94.09% (91.97% - Females, 96.53% - Males)%
Civic agency	Thumpamon Grama Panchayat
Climate	Tropical Wet (Köppen)

Thumpamon is a village near Pandalam in Kerala, India. One of the greatest attractions of this village is the Achenkovil River, which is renowned for its natural sceneries along the riverbank. The income in this locality mainly depends on Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and crops like rubber, coconut, paddy and pepper. Because of Non-Resident Indians this is one of the wealthiest villages in Kerala. Thumpamon is divided into two regions. Thumpamon North and Thumpamon south by Achenkovil River.

Thumpamon is the home to the Thumpamon Vadakkumnatha Temple (http://www.thumpamonvadakkumnathan.in/index.htm). It is an ancient temple whispering several fascinating legendary fables of the bygone eras.^[1] This temple has two Sreekovils (sanctum sanctorum). Both Sreekovils are round (vatta).

The first Sreekovil of this temple is dedicated to a deity named as Vadakkumnatha. It is believed by the worshippers that the Lord installed in this Sreekovil is a form of Lord Shiva. Few other devotees believe that the deity is a representation of Muruga i.e. Lord Kartikeya while others are of the opinion that it is a form of Lord Vishnu. However, the deity resembles Sree Buddha.^[2]

The worshipers believe that the deity in the second Sreekovil (known as Thekkumnathan) is Balamuruga. It is believed that this deity was worshiped by SakthiBhadra the author of Acharya Chudamani (a drama for Koodiyatta). The Sreekovil has been adorned with magnificent mural paintings that augment its beauty.^[1] The important festivals that are celebrated in this temple include Uthrada Maholsavam (Thiruutsavam- yearly celebration)sreemath bhagavatha sapthaham, Mahashivarathri, Thaipooyam, Vishu, Onam etc. The Uthrada Maholsavam is celebrated in the uthradam star of Malayalam month Meenam. The general form of Thumpamon Sree VadakkumNathan temple is based on the PANCHA-PRAKARA LAYOUT SCHEME of the traditional kerala temples..The Bhakti Movement and resurgence of Hinduism also marked the revival of temple construction. According to Kularnava Tantra human body itself is a temple and Sadashiva or Paramathma is the deity in this temple. This sidhantha(theory) is adopted in the construction of Kerala Temples. Sreekovil or Garbhagruham (sanctum sanctorum) is considered as the head of the deity, Antharalam or inner Balivattom is considered as the face of the deity, Mukhamandapam or Namaskara mandapam is considered as the neck of the deity, Nalambalam is considered as the hands of the deity, Pradakshinaveethi is considered as the Kukshi pradesa (stomach) of the deity, compound wall is considered as the legs of the deity and the main Gopuram is considered as the foot of the deity. That means Panchaprakaras (Prakaram or compound wall, Bahyahara or Sheevelippura, Madhyahara or Vilakkumadam, Anthahara or Nalambalam and Antharalam or inner Balivattom) of the Temple is the Sthoola Sareera (visible part of the body) of the deity. The Deva Prathishta or idol inside the Sreekovil or Garbhagruha and the Shadaadharas (Aadharashila, Nidhikumbham, Padmam, Koormam, Yoganaalam and Napumsaka shila) under the prathishta is the Sookshma Sareera (soul) of the deity. The Dwajam (flag staff) or Kodimaram is the spinal code of the deity. Hence a typical Kerala temple resembles a human body in all aspects.Fully realising the need to create places of worship that would attract devotees, the Pancha-Prakara scheme became the standard for temple architecture.The dimensions of the five components of the temple architecture are laid out in Tantra Samucchaya, a treatise on temple architecture compiled and written in c.1300 AD The five (Pancha) enclosures (Prakaras) around the Sanctum of the thumpamon sree Vadakkum Nathan temple is as follows:

PANCHA-PRAKAARA LAYOUT: OF THUMPAMON SREE VADAKKUM NATHAN TEMPLE 1. AKATTHE-BALIVATTAM - (a)The innermost enclosure, which includes two Sreekovils for building housing of the principal deities Vadakkunnathan and ThekkumNathan. (b) Anthar-mandala: Space outside the Sreekovil occupied by protective deities in the form of small stone platforms - Bali-Kall (c)Namaskaara-mandapa: A raised platform for prostration`s 2. NAALAMBALAM / CHUTTAMBALAM - Area around the sanctum which consists of (a)Valia-ambalam: Covered spaces around the Sreekovil for rituals and prayers (b) Thittapalli: A small temple kitchen (c) Mulayara : Storage space for grains, fruits, utensils, firewood 3. MADHYA HAARA / VILAKKU-MADAM - The Vilakkumadom `Galaxy of Lamps around temple `had lost in the dark age have reconstructed recently. 4. PURATTHE-BALIVATTAM / SIVELIPPURA - Outer enclosure and cirumabulatory pathway consists the following (a)Agra-mandapa : Pathway leading to the Naalambalam (b)Valiya-balikall: Large decorated stone platform for sacrificial offerings (c) Bali-peetha : Positions for protective deities outside the temple (d) Kshetra-paala: Positions for temple guardians (e) Kovil of minor deities: Sub-shrines within the temple compound The temple had lost the Sivelippura and Koothamabalam(the Enclosure for temple musicians) in the dark ages. 5. MARYAADA / PURAM MATHIL - The outer boundary wall consists the following (a)Gopura in front of vadakkumNathan - a formal high building marking the main gateways (b)Reconstructed Oottu-pura : Lunch-hall (c) Puram-mathil: Outer-wall ^[3] ^[4]

The St.Mary's Orthodox Syrian Cathedral commonly known as Thumpamon Valiya Pally (http://www.stmarysocym.com) is an ancient church located here. It is the headquarters of the Thumpamon Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The church first was built in AD 717 and it is among the one of oldest churches in Kerala. ^[5]

Another historical monument in Thumpamon is Pulickal Kalari, an example of the traditional gymnasium of Kerala.

Salem Mar Thoma Church, Muttom is one of the most spiritual and anciently reformed church in Thumpamon.

Kadisha Orthodox Church, Thumpamon Bethel Marthoma Church, Thettikkakavu Devi Temple are also located here.

Pandalam K.P Raman Pillai the well known freedom fighter, educationist and poet belongs to Thumpamon. He wrote the school anthem "Akilanda mandalam aniyich0rukki" which is followed by all schools in kerala.