Cheerappanchira

Cheerappanchira is an thiyya tharavad renowned for its Kalari in Muhamma, Alappuzha District. Cheerappanchira family, Mukkal Vettom Ayyappa Temple of the family and their Kalari, are as old as the mythology of Lord Ayyappan and his abode at Sabarimala. It is believed that Ayyappan was trained in this Kalari. Young Ayyappan was trained by Cheerappanchira Panicker and became his most brilliant student. It is believed that one young girl of this family fell in love with the Lord and requested to accept her as his wife, who later came to be known as Malikappurathamma. But Ayyappan turned down her request, to be a “Brahmachari”. Recently, the family Kalari was reopened and around 40 students are being trained in the martial art of Kalarippayattu. Former minister of Kerala, Susheela Gopalan, hails from the Cheerappanchira family.

In those days, Cheerappanchira Panickers taught Kalari only to the people of karappuram area (place around Muhamma). The king of Pandalam approached the Mooppan (senior most member of the family) who was also asan, to teach accept Ayyappan as his student and to teach him Kalarippayattu. Having mastered this technique, Ayyappan rushed to Pandalom on hearing the sudden attack on kingdom, virtually disappearing from Cheerappanchira. Before his departure he left behind his royal belongings to reveal his identity to his asan (guru). (His quarters at Cheerappanchira is maintained till date as Swami Mattom). On realizing the divine identity of Ayyappan, his earthly Guru started his annual pilgrimage to Sabarimala temple. On becoming old, when he was not able to make his annual pilgrimage to Sabarimala temple, Ayyappan appeared in the dream of the saddened Guru and consoled him for his inability to take the annual pilgrimage. Ayyappan also instructed the Guru to construct a temple at Cheerappanchira, where he will reside with his full powers for three-quarters (which in Malayalam is Mukkal, hence the name Mukkal Vettam) of the year. He also informed that a log of sandalwood would appear against the flow of the waters at Vembanad Lake the next day, which should be used for constructing the temple. Folklore has it that a log of sandalwood appeared in the waters the next day and it was with this sandalwood log that the Mukkal Vettam temple was built.

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Wikipedia