Vilwamangalam Swamiyar - God's Visitations ("Seeing Gods")

God's Visitations ("Seeing Gods")

Once on a Vrischikam Kaarthika (Kaarthika star of the Malayalam month Vrischikam) day, when he went to Vadakkunnatha temple in Thrissur, the deity was "missing", but on his stepping out, he found the god sitting on the south wall facing south, apparently waiting to watch Kumaaranalloor Kaarthiaayani's arrival after her bath and fully attired. Ever since, every year a Pooja is performed on the south wall on the Kaarthika of Vrischikam.

On an Ashtami day (one of the 15 Thithhis - 8th day), he visited Vaikom temple but could not find the deity in the sanctorum, but when he carefully searched, the lord was found disguised as an old Braahmanan sitting and eating among a crowd of Braahmanans enjoying a Sadya (feast), next to a pillar in the north "Chuttambalam". Since then, during every feast in the temple, a plantain leaf is placed near that pillar with all dishes of the feast served.

During an "Utsavam" (temple festival) day in Ambalappuzha temple, Swaamiyaar found the missing god serving feast to the "Maaraars" (traditional temple drummers) in the "Naatakasaala" (drama hall). Even to this day, the Naatakasaala feast for Maaraars is given much importance owing to the supposed divine presence.

On one of his sojourns, while approaching a forest area near Cherthala, the Swaamiyaar came face to face with seven divine women (angels). On approaching them, one ran away but fell into a very muddy part of a pond. When he extricated her, her hair was full of mud, and that was the reason for the place to get the name "Cherthala", and the deity Cherthala Kaarthiaayani.

He is also said to have seen the deity at the site of Eravikulangara temple.

If these legends are to be believed, there must have been more than one Vilwamangalam Swaamiyaar, since historically these events must have occurred in different periods. Ulloor S Parameswara Iyer (the famous poet) believes that there were at least three Swaamiyaars.