The Agraharams of Palakkad

Venkitesapuram (Poothamkuruchi)

Overview

Alamelu Mangambal Sametha Venkitachalapathy

Location

Location: The Venkatesapuram Gramam is located about 4 Kms South east from the Palakkad railway station and is close to Puthur temple

Address: Sree Venkatachalapathy Temple

QMP5+9VV, Venkatesapuram, Venkateshapuram Colony, Puthur, Palakkad, Kerala 678014

Temple Timings:

5:45am to 9:45am

5:30pm to 8:30pm

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

Standing Swami (Chathur Bahu Vishnu with Bhoodevi & Sreedevi) - Salagrama Sila

Videos

Photo Gallery

Utsavams

Navarathri is the main utsavam
Sasthapreethi, Sreekrishna Jayanthi
Prathistadinam, Guruvayur & Vaikunta Ekadasi

Vahanas

Adimakkavu

• Manapulli kavu

Other Agraharam Information

Total homes in the Agraharam: 14
Number of Brahmin homes: 5
Number of homes retaining traditional look: 50%
Does the village have a brahmana samooham: no
Does the village temple have a temple car (theru): no
When was the last ashtabandhana kumbabhishekam done: May 2008
Gothrams:

Contact Information

Secretary : Sri K. Lakshmi Narayanan – 9847896503

advlakshminarayanan@gmail.com

Treasurer : Sri T Prakasan – 9605656263

prakashpkd48@gmail.com

Temple Email – pvvtemple@gmail.com

Well Known from the Agraharam

Learned elders: Sri Ramesh Dravid Ganapatigal
Others:
- Vidya Balan – Cine Actress Bollywood
- Priya Mani – Cine Actress

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

SNIPPETS

Dear Shri. Sriram Lakshminarayanan,

It was sheer providence that I came across your Venkitesapuram (Poothamkuruchi) Project video. I am currently 92 years old and profoundly grateful for the inclusion of Venkitesapuram in your Agrahara Sacred Journeys.

I was a resident of the then Puthankurichi during my younger days until 1948. I studied up to Form IV at the Pandit Motilal Municipal High School. As proof, I have attached a photocopy of my Transfer Certificate, which I still preserve for birthdate authentication.

During my time there, I resided at the home of my grandfather,Rao Sahib P. R. Krishna Iyer. His house was the very first property on the right side when entering the village. Subsequently, my uncle, K. Ram, sold this house to a gentleman who I believe is the current owner of the property of the first house featured in your video. In fact, this gentleman kindly invited me to a religious temple function—I believe it was in 2008 or perhaps earlier—which I vividly remember attending. During that visit, I also met an old resident named Sundaram, the son of Narayanamurthy.

My grandfather was awardedon the 1st of January, 1936, the title of Rao Sahib for his dedicated service under the British Burma Government. He returned to this village during the World War II evacuation. To verify his title, I am attaching photocopies of the announcement published in The Hindu newspaper dated January 1, 1936, as well as its "This Day, That Age" retrospective printed in 1986.

I would be deeply grateful if my grandparent's name could be recorded, especially in connection with the renovation of the temple earlier, and as I believe he was a factor in the history of the village's name change. Furthermore, I would love to know if anyone there still remembers or has any recollection of my grandfather or my uncle, K. Ram.

May God shower His blessings upon your noble endeavours.

Warm regards,

R. RAJU

Please note that I am hard of hearing and cannot take phone calls, so email is my only reliable means of communication.

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