Thirunavaya

Thirunavaya is a Divya Desam on the southern bank of the Bharatapuzha (Nila river) in Malappuram district of Kerala. The presiding deity is Moovarillappan — the one who has no equal among the three (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva) — worshipped here as the supreme being standing in reclining posture. Both Nammalvar and Kulasekara Alvar sang Mangalasasanam here; the presence of hymns from Nammalvar (a Tamil saint) and Kulasekara (a Kerala king-saint) makes this one of the most inter-regionally celebrated Kerala Divya Desams. Thirunavaya was historically the site of the Mamangam — the great twelve-yearly festival where the Samoothiri (Zamorin) of Calicut exercised overlordship, and where legendary warrior-hero ceremonies were performed. The Bharatapuzha river flowing beside the temple is one of Kerala's most sacred rivers, called the Nila — the cultural river of Kerala. The Kerala temple architecture here is pristine.

The Puranic legend holds that the four Vedas once had a dispute over which had the most sublime knowledge. They came to Vishnu at this riverbank to arbitrate. Vishnu, who transcends all Vedic categories, appeared as Moovarillappan — the one who is unequalled by any of the three great gods — and showed the Vedas that their differences were merely facets of his single infinite nature. The Bharatapuzha waters are said to have received the divine radiance of this manifestation.