Overview

Alamelu Mangambal Sametha Venkitachalapathy

Location

History

Poothamkurissi (Changed to Venkitesapuram in 1948 by  Municipal

Council) - the agraharam is near Puthur, Palakkad. 400 – 500 years old agraharam. Can be seen in Logans Manual

Deities

Photo Gallery

Utsavams

Vahanas

Adimakkavu

Other Agraharam Information

Contact Information

Well Known from the Agraharam

Food and Catering

Hall for functions and Lodging

Bank Accounts for sending Kanikkai, donation or vazhipadu

Author's Notes

Agraharam 80 in the 100 Agraharams Project

Venkitesapuram (Poothamkuruchi)

I copy from my Facebook post - July 2022 when I visited the agraharam

Venkatesapuram Agraharam

In the triangle between Puthur road to the east, Malampuzha 100 ft road to the west and the Kozhikode highway to the south is placed what I believe is a nearly forgotten agraharam.

In the internet there are several ways the gramam is mentioned, Puthamkurichi, Putthamkurissi etc. But Bramhasri Ramesh Ganapadigal who resides in the gramam says the name of the village was originally Puthakurichi (I hope I am writing this right) which means "a pure ashramam" (பவித்ரம்+ஆஸ்ரமம்). Somewere down the line the name was changed to Venkatesapuram. I wouldnt know why. If you can help me with this please post in the comments. I want to know if there is any connection between the Tamil "குறிச்சி" like Kallidaikurichi, Kallakurichi etc and the many "kurussis" I find in Kerala like Vadanam Kurussi, Chandanam Kurussi etc.

When I go the Ramanathapuram agaraharam via Puthur road I have crossed the Venkatesapursam agraham a few times without knowing it. In fact to call it an agraharam today would be a misnomer. The only remnants of an agraharam are the three tiled village homes to the left as we entered the small agraharam of about 13 homes.

The first thing that struck me was the absence of a Dwajasthambam - Flagstaff. A Dwajasthambam as I understand forms the basis for the utsavam. Temples that do not have a Dwajasthambam do not conduct Utsavams. It is my opinion that the temple, most definitely in the distant past, would have had a majestic Dwajasthambam like in the agraharams around it. 

There is a temple pond behind the temple and is being used sparingly.

The sun was setting behind the temple as we entered the small village, washing the village in an orange glow. The temple is clean and well maintained. Lord Venkatachalapathy with Bhu devi and Sri devi present a divine sight. It was Ekadesi evening and Sri Anantaraman who oversees the rituals in the temple was applying Kalabham - Sandal paste on the lord. The lord with his unique silver Kiritam - Crown looked enchanting. I am so taken up by the standing lord with his consorts. There is a Ganapathy with a stone "prabai" and a Hariharaptra sannidhi behind the sanctum.

The village has no Ratham, nor any Pallaku. The annual celebrations are around Navaratri I am told.

Before the existing village homes are consigned to history, I recommend you visit the Agraharam and take the blessings of Perumal. The Idols were brought from Tirupati by the forefathers of this agraharam. The shila of the deity is made of a Shalagramam. I dont know if any other agraharam temple in Palakkad has this uniqueness.

Sri Anantaraman was lighting up the lamps which made the sanctum glow. And as the lamps flickered and threw its shadows in the gentle evening breeze, Lord Venkatachalapthy appeared to display different moods. We left with a prayer, a prayer for the village to see better days by installing a Dwajasthambam and having utsavams.

Radhe Krishna!

Warm regards,

Sriram (Hari)

Trustee, Rama Bhagavatar Charitable Trust

+91 9840773410

100 Agraharams Project

Itihasapurana Project

31 May 2025