Padanilam

Padanilam is a small town located in Alappuzha district of Kerala. The word Padanilam means "land of battles" (pada means "battle" and nilam means "land").It is located on the banks of river Achankovil. The Padanilam temple[1] is one of the important centres of worship in Kerala.

Padanilam

Nooranad Padanilam
town
Nickname(s): 
Pakshi gramam (Village of birds)
Coordinates: 9°11′34.07″N 76°38′9.64″E
Country India
StateKerala
DistrictAlappuzha
Government
 • TypePanchayath
 • BodyNooranad Panchayath
Area
 • Total21 km2 (8 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total25,375
 • Density1,208/km2 (3,130/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Nooranattukar
Languages
 • OfficialMalayalam, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
690529
Vehicle registrationKL 31,KL 4
Nearest cityKollam
Lok Sabha constituencyMavelikkara
Vidhan Sabha constituencyMavelikkara
Civic agencyNooranad Panchayath
Sex ratio1.204 ♀/♂
Literacy96%
Websitewww.padanilamtemple.org

Geography

Nooranadu Padanilam is situated on the south eastern edge of Alappuzha district. It is bounded by Venmony Panchayath on the north, Pandalam municipality and Palamel on the east, Mavelikkara Thamarakkulam on the south and Chunakkara and Thazhakara on the west.Achankovil river is flowing westwards through the northern boundary of the village. Topographically, village has 3 areas:-small hills, slope regions and plain land. Hills include Pattoor malamukal and koombuloor mala.Pattoor malamukal is the highest point in the village with an altitude of 121 m from sea level.[2]Laterite is the soil type found here.Alluvium and Loam soil types can be found in low lying areas of the village including plain lands.

Padanilam Parabrahma Temple
Main article: Padanilam Parabrahma Temple
Parabrahma moorthy
Image of a kettukala from Padanilam Shivarathri
View of a huge nandikesh from Padanilam Shivarathri
Padanilam Parabrahma Temple

Padanilam Parabrahma Temple[3] is one of the major temples in Kerala. The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Parabrahma. The temple is very much like the Oachira Parabrahma Temple.The temple has no compound walls and roofs. Large number of festivals are being conducted here annually. The temple is one of the idathaavalam of sabarimala Ayyappa Swami temple. There are KSRTC buses from Padanilam to Pamba during the Mandalam-Makaravilakku season. The temple has mainly 15 karakal (territories), who conduct the annual Sivarathri Festival. This is one of the biggest Nandikesha (ox vehicle of Lord Siva) kettulsavams in Kerala.

History

Early history

[4] Padanilam Temple is believed to be swayambhu. Its actual history and the facts about how worship started there are unknown. Padanilam has been the administrative centre of Nooranad and it has the history of intense conflict between various karakal (territories) around the temple. This was for gaining control over the temple administration and thereby controlling the entire village. Due to this pada (battle/conflict), the place is said to have got its name. It is believed that the army troops of Kayamkulam Kingdom was camped near the temple for protecting the kingdom from the attack of neighbouring kings. During this period, the village had some chieftains and their supporters. They include Noorukodi Unnithans, Kadackal Karuppans, Vettathasaans and Velladickal Karuppans. Kayamkulam Raja withdrawed his troop about four centuries ago. This initiated tensions between the chieftains for control of the village. Thus they divided into south and north, starting battle. The south side consisted of Noorukodi Karuppans and Kadackal Karuppans. The other side had Vettathasans and Velladickal Karuppans with them. Twenty-two karakal supported their respective sides. During the battle, many soldiers of both the sides died in large numbers. They were buried in the chira near the temple. Even from very earliest of times, this temple was a blessing for the people in the surrounding areas. It is also believed that the battle was between Marthanda varma King on one side and Kayamkulam King on the other. The twenty-two karakals of Nooranad took side with the two kings. The common people started worrying about the devastation of the war and approached the Pazhoor Panamana Thampuran to find a solution to end the war. He tried to intervene but the parties were not in a position to stop. He made a tent in the eastern part of the temple and started fasting unto death. But that also did not deter the warring parties. But when he was on the verge of death due to the fast, they fearing the Brahmanasaapam, agreed to stop war. They demarcated the boundary in the north-south direction and stopped the war in the name of Parabrahma, the presiding deity of the temple. St. Thomas Syrian Orthodox Church is about 150 meters after the Padanilam Market and Padanilam High School. It is an old church which was founded 100 years before and the founder Mr. Varu Varghese came originally form Kuravilangadu. He belongs to the family of Pakalomattom the one among the four families, which were said to be baptized by St. Thomas, the disciple of Jesus Christ in AD 52 and his tomb is at the St. Thomas Orthodox Church. Two brothers of the family came to Padanilam and one is settled in Padanilam and the other in Nooranad. One of the hierarchy in that family is known as Padanilathu Ashaan (late Mr. Geevarghese Kochukunju) and the junction north to the church is known as Ashaan Mukku. St. Thomas Orthodox church and padanilam parabrahma temple is located in heart of Padanilam. This shows the unity of Christianity and Hinduism.

Administrative history

Padanilam is located in Nooranad GramaPanchayath. The panchayath was formed on 30 December 1961. Before the formation of Alappuzha district, Nooranad was a part of Kollam district. At that time, a revenue division was formed with Nooranad as centre. It was named Nooranad subdistrict. When Alappuzha district was formed on 17 August 1957, Nooranad became its part.

How to reach Padanilam

Padanilam is situated on Para-Edapppon-Pandalam road. It is about 17 km away from Kayamkulam Town and about 10 km from Pandalam Town. There are many private and KSRTC buses that run along this route. The buses through Padanilam are plying from the private and KSRTC bus stands of Kayamkulam and Pandalam. There are buses from Pandalam, Kayamkulam, Pathanamthitta, Konni, Mavelikkara, Oachira, Karunagapally, etc., passing through Padanilam. Padanilam is situated on the Kayamkulam-Pandalam-Pathanamthitta bus route.

Politics

Padanilam is situated in the Parliamentary and Assembly constituency of Mavelikkara. The current MP of the area is Kodikkunnil Suresh (INC) and the MLA is R Rajesh (CPM). The LDF rules the Panchayat. There are 17 wards in the Panchayat. Indian National Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist)(CPM) and Communist Party of India (CPI) are major political parties in this area.

Other specialities

The village is famous for its beautiful agricultural fields like Karingalichaal Puncha and Peruvelichal Puncha. Different varieties of birds can be found in this area. Because of this, Nooranad is known as the Pakshigraamam of Kerala, meaning village of birds. The famous Sree Buddha College Of Engineering is situated in this village.A leprosy sanatorium is there in this village,which is first of its kind in Kerala and one of the largest in Asia.Currently, an Indo-Tibetan Border Police(ITBP)unit has started functioning in the sanatorium compound.One of the seventeen 220 KV Substations of KSEB is located near Pattoor,the northernmost portion of the village. Interflora Worldwide Kerala Member Office is located in Pandalam town.

Nearby churches and temples

Temples
  • Padanilam Parabrahma Temple,Padanilam Town.
  • Kulangaraveettil sree Annapoorneshwari Temple,Nedukulanjimuri
  • Kavil Sree Bhagavathi Temple
  • Kulangara veettil Sree Annapoorneswari Temple,Padanilam
  • Vadakkidathukaavu Devi Temple,Kidangayam
  • Pallimukkom Devi Temple,Pattoor.
  • Kokkaatt Devi Temple,Naduvilemuri.
  • Muthukaattukara Devi Temple,Muthukaatukara.
  • Earezhathukaavu Devi Temple,Naduvilemuri.
  • Amabalathinaal Devi Temple,Edakkunnam.
  • Gurunaathankaavu Ardhanaareeswara Temple, Edappon.
  • Noorukodi Devi Temple, Palamel.
  • Plaakkodu Vaishnava Durga Temple,Powerhouse.
  • Sreedharma Shastha temple Palamel-Kidangayam
  • Vadasseril Sree Bhuvaneswari Sree Bhadrakaali Temple, Thathammunna.
  • Kannancheri Tharayil Mahavishnu Temple,Thathammunna
  • Koombil Mala Maladeva Temple, Pulimel
  • Amoomma Kaavu Temple, Pulimel
  • Inchakkadu Devi Temple, Pulimel
  • Kallekkal Temple, Pulimel
  • Perumbral Devi Temple,Naduvilemuri
  • Edayile Veetil Devi Temple, Pulimel
  • Thathammunna Tharayil Bhagavathi Temple, Thathammunna
  • Palamel-Kidangayam Sree DharmaShastha Temple(Travancore Dewasom Board)

Churches
  • India Pentecostal Church of God[IPC]
  • St. Fathimamatha Roman Catholic Church,Eliyaznagar
  • St. Thomas Syrian Orthodox Church,Padanilam Town.
  • St. Theresas Malankara Syrian Catholic Church,Pattoor
  • St.Sebastian Roman Catholic Church,Pulimel
  • a pic during vrischika mahotsavam
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See also

References
  1. padanilam temple info
  2. http://lsgkerala.in/nooranadpanchayat/photo-gallery/map/
  3. "Padanilam Temple Official website". Archived from the original on 19 November 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  4. http://lsgkerala.in/nooranadpanchayat/history/
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