Naduvil Madhom

Naduvil Madhom is one of the ancient South Indian madhoms that propagate Adwaita or Non dualism. It is located at Thrissur in Kerala. The history of the Madhom can be traced to 9th century AD. The Hindu spiritual leader Adi Shankara (788 – 820 AD) is said to have died at the famous Vadakkunnathan Temple in Thrissur. So the four disciples of Sankara founded four madhoms nearby. Suresvara (Maṇḍana Miśra) founded Naduvil Madhom, Padmapada Thekke Madhom, Hastamalaka Idayil Madhom, and Thodaka Vadakke Madhom. Sri Suresvaracharya appointed Vilvamangalathu Swamiyar as the first Mooppil Swamiyar (head) of Naduvil Madhom.

Vilvamangalathu Swamiyar was born to Vilvamangalathu Nilakanta Sarman and his Tulu Brahmin wife Arya. The parents named their son Divakara Sarman. From his childhood Divakara was a great devotee of Lord Krishna. He married, but lost his wife soon. After the death of his mother he accepted sannyasa from Suresvara. Thus in the age of thirty two Vilvamangalathu Divakara Sarman came to be known as Vilvamangalathu Swamiyar. Most of his disciples were from Tulu Brahmin community. But Kulukkalloor Swamiyar, his chief disciple, was a Nambuthiri.

The Mooppil Swamiyar travelled all over Kerala and defeated all Pashandas (those who do not accept the authority of the Vedas) in debates.

Once, Vilvamangalathu Swamiyar was residing at Ananthapuram Temple, Kasargod. At the time of his pallithevaram or puja Lord Vishnu used to appear before him in the form of a mischievous child. The Swamiyar's attachment to the child grew as days rolled by. One day the child took a salagrama and put it in his mouth. The furious Swamiyar pushed aside the child. The child disappeared after saying that the Swamiyar, if interested in meeting him again, would have to go to Anantankadu. As the Swamiyar reached Anantankadu he saw the child becoming one with a huge iluppa tree. The tree fell onto the ground assuming the form of Sri Ananta Padmanabha with his head at Thiruvallom, navel in Thiruvananthapuram and lotus-feet at Thrippadapuram. At the request of the Swamiyar, the Lord reduced his size. The Swamiyar circumambulated the Lord, prostrated before him and offered nivedyam to him. Vilvamangalam made arrangements for the construction of a grand temple. Then he stayed at a madhom near Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple to do Pushpanjali daily.

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