Velam Sree Maha Ganapathi Temple

Velam Sree Maha Ganapathi Temple is in Mayyil, 20 kilometres from Kannur in Kerala.While the main deity is Lord Shiva, the temple is renowned for its sub-deity, Lord Ganesha.Perched in the serene landscape of Kerala, Velam Sree Maha Ganapathi Temple is a historic gem revered for its deep spiritual legacy. Centuries ago, this temple has long been a sanctuary of devotion, dedicated to Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. With its rich cultural traditions and vibrant celebrations, Velam Sree Maha Ganapathi Temple continues to be a living testament to the enduring power of faith and community.

The Origin of Velam Sreemahaganapati Temple

The story of the Rajarajeswara Temple in Velam village and its special focus on Mahaganapati is quite famous. Originally, the temple in Velam was known as the Shiva Temple of Thakede and is now called the Vaidyanatha Temple. A dispute arose between the Brahmins of Velam and Perinchallur over temple rituals and the Rajarajeswara Temple in Taliparamba. One day, when the Brahmins from Velam visited Thalipparamba’s Rajarajeswara Temple, they were insulted by the temple authorities. Upset and wanting to worship Rajarajeswara without going to Taliparamba, the Velam Brahmins decided to build a new temple in their village, modelled after the Taliparamba temple. They invited skilled experts from Tharanellur for the consecration ceremony.

However, due to the Taliparamba temple’s displeasure and disagreements among Velam’s Brahmins, the consecration faced obstacles. Some Brahmins spread false accusations against Tharananellur Thanthrigal and blocked the Rajarajeswara installation. Feeling wronged,Tharananellur Thanthrigal installed a Ganapati idol in the southern corridor of the new temple and conducted the rituals there, hoping to give Mahaganapati importance. As a result, Ganapati became significant in the temple, which began to be known as the Velam Sree Mahaganapati Temple.

Despite attempts by Tippu Sultan’s forces to destroy the temple, much of it remains intact. The primary offerings at the temple are made to Lord Ganapathy and include Muttarakkal (coconut), swarna kombu (golden tusk), vellikomb (silver tusk), Sarkarapaayasam, and neypayasam.