Located at a distance of about 5 kilometres North West of Pulāmantōḷ on the Kuṭṭipuṟam-Valānchery-Perintalmaṇṇa route in a North West direction at Kolathur. The temple is at a distance of 10 km from Angādippuṟam town, famous for Thirumāndhāmkunnu Bhagavathy Temple. Kuruvambalam is in Malappuṟam district.
The Kuruvambalam Śiva temple is a large and imposing structure with a two storeyed śrikōvil, the first story with tiled roof and the second, concrete. The legends associate the Śiva temple to Oudambara Maharishi who is said to have done the pratishta. About a kilometre away, there is a also a Vishṇu temple that was in a dilapidated condition at the time of photographing the Śiva temple except for the śrikōvil which was renovated. The Śiva temple also has undergone renovation.
This was a temple where Yāgabali, a grand ritual used to take place previously once a year with haviss from 36 paṟas (a measure) of paddy being used for the offering. Accompanied by chanting of mantras, the sacrificial stone (balikkal) used to be covered with the haviss1. According to S. Jayshanker2 the ritual is called Yaavari . . . "a special rite called Yaavari in this temple. This ritual was offering of naivedyam made of the 36 paṟas of raw-rice to Bhoothagaṇas. By chanting manthras the valiya-balikkall used to be covered with this haviss." . . . "The last Yaavari in this temple was performed in the year 1104 K. E. (corresponding to 1929 A.D.)"
The temple also served as a cultural centre of the locality. In the past, Kūththu & Kūtiyaṭṭam used to be performed for about fortyone days. Now it has come down to just eight days of kūththu. Besides kūththu, pāṭṭu and kaḷamezhuthu also takes place in this temple.
Pūntānam Nampūtiri, a devout savant of Angādipuram Thirumāndhāmkunnu Bhagavathy was a regular visitor of this temple and he praises the Lord of Kuruvambalam in one of his major works; Kuchelavṛththam Pāna.
- Haviss is a ritualistic food offering to gods usually of clarified butter mixed with rice prepared according to traditions of Hinduism. For a more detailed reading click here.
- Temples of Malappuram District, S. Jayshanker, Directorate of Census Operations, Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram - page 269
