Vilwamangalam Swamiyar - Vilwamangalam Illam

Vilwamangalam Illam

There are several versions as to where "Vilwamangalam" is located - Thavanur, Puthanchira, Kasaragod and other places have stated claims.

Thavanur

One version claims that Vilwamangalam is the same as "Vella" Illam of Thavanur (from "Thapanoor", the village of the "Thapaswi", the sainty). The compound and basement remnant of this Illam exist nearby even today. Also in the vicinity on the south bank of Bharaathapuzha is "Vasudevapuram" temple apparently built for Swaamiyaar's mother to pray to Vishnu during her old age. Even today, on the Vella Illam basement, "Yogeeswara Pooja" is performed in a grand way on the Sraadhham day (death anniversary) of the Swaamiyaar, adding to the belief that Vilwamangalam is here. The Swaamiyaar's writings about Mookkuthala Bhagavathy, Sukapuram Dakshinaamoorthy and Thriprangottappan appear to substantiate this view. Ulloor suggests the original Sanskrit name would have been "Kodandamangalam" which translates to "Villumangalam" and changed to Vilwamangalam and hence to Vella.

PUTHANCHIRA : Some believe that his "Poorvaasramam" (pre-Samnyaasam home) was in Puthanchira, between Kodungallur and Mala in Mukundapuram Taluk of Thrissur district. He is said to belong to one branch of the Vella family of Panniyoor which settled there, and later this family as well as their property got merged into Mechery Mana of Paravur. The Paaramel Thrikkovil temple of Puthanchira is said to be that of Sreekrishnan, Vilwamangalam's "Paradevatha". A homestead of 57 cents near Anappara was set apart as Vilwamangalam's, which continues to have rituals. The paddy fields there are still known as Vilwamangalam "Paadam".

KASARAGOD : The people of Brahmapuram Desam of Kasaragod district are of the opinion that Vilwamangalam belongs to that place. They believe that it was in their Ananthapuram temple that Sreekrishnan chided the Swaamiyaar to meet again in Ananthan forest. They also claim some connection between the Swaamiyaar and a temple near Kaithapram, and that the spring in the sacred temple pond ("Theerthham") was generated by him.

OTHER claims : During his stay in the Mattham at Trichambaram, after gifting Vadakke Mattham and properties to Othanmaar Mattham, Vilwamangalam reached Vishnumangalam temple near Edaneer Mattham, before starting off to Banares (Kaasi). He stayed in Edaneer Mattham as requested by the Yaadava families of Trichambaram, and under the care of those local families who later took up Samnyaasam, apparently from Vilwamangalam Swaamiyaar. These events took place around 500 years ago. There have been twelve Swaamiyaars there and ten given for adoption to Perumpadappu. Ulloor and others state that there have been three from Vilwamangalam family who had become Swaamiyaars, and that one of them might have offered the afore-mentioned Samnyaasam. There is one Vilwamangalam family listed among the Saagara Dwijans. It is likely that his disciples might have stayed with him and perhaps later they began to be referred to as Vilwamangalam.