Peringottukara

History

Peringottukara is famous for the visit made by Sree Narayana Guru and a temple founded by him. It is a Shiva Temple namely Sree Somashekhara Temple.

Festivals

Peringottukara is famous as the place where Peringottukara Ulsavam takes place. The temple committee also runs a Lower Primary School. The Peringottukara Ulsavam is considered as one of the major festivals of Thrissur. Peringottukara is divided into four segments such as Vadakkummuri, Thekkummuri, Padinjattummuri and Kizhakkummri. Another famus temple is Thiruvanikavu Temple. A Bhagawati Temple. The ulsavam of this temple happens every year in Malayalam Month Makaram on Aswati Nakshatra. Lot of people come from various places to get the blessings of Devi. Peringottukara owns two Cinema theaters, a super market, a high school and many more which helped a lot in her reputation.

Visit of Sree Narayana Guru:1903

In the year 1903 K. S. Krishna Thandan invited Sree Narayana Guru and N. Kumaran Asan to Peringuttukara. On January 23 Guru and Asan reached Karattuparambil Tharavadu.(Krishna Thandan's residence) The very next day of his visit to this famous and powerful ezhava/thiyya Tharavadu he demolished the Bhagavathi Temple where the family members worshiped. That was a clear message to those who are worshiping gods who want animal sacrifice.In this temple Every year they used to sacrifice more than 200 cocks during the time of festivals. (K.R Achuthan M.A,B.L.Author of the first history of Somasekhara Temple).After this historic demolishing of bad faith, Guru called for a meeting. N.Kumaran Asan presided over the meeting and in this meeting a society was formed to spread Guru's principles "One Caste,One Religion, One God". The name of this society was SREE NARAYANA GURU SMARAKA SAMAJAM.K.S. Krishna Thandan and Thandassery Kunjayyappan were the promoters of this Society. After staying a week at Karattuprambil Tharavadu Guru and his disciple Asan went back to Moothakunnam. Before they went back they visited other famous Thiyya Tharavadus like Thandassery(Kizhakkummury), Adipparambil(Valappad), Pokkanchery,Thachappally(Engandiyur), Vazhoor etc.

After three months Guru send his first disciple Shivalinkadas to Peringottukara. According to K.R. Achuthan it happened at next July. Sivalinkadas stayed at Krishna Thandan's residence and started for the collection of funds for constructing an Ashramam(The holy place were Hindu Saints live.)The construction of Sree Narayana Asrama was completed on 1906.During this time Guru visited Peringottukara again and again. And helped people to free themselves from the castism and untouchability.

Ashram

After the opening of Sree Narayana Ashrama Guru appointed scholars of different discipline as teachers to this Ashrama. Among them P.Govindanassan,Swamy Shivalinkdas and Swamy Bhodhananda Giry are famous. There was a long array of disciples studied at Sree Narayana Ashrama. The important personalities are Sadguru Malayala Swamy(Founder of Sri Vyasashram at Yerpedu, Andhra Pradesh), Swamy Ramananda (Founder Sidhavaidiasramam Kurkkanchery, Thrissur)

The Idea of Swamy Bodhananda for destroying castism and Brahmin supremacy was quiet different from Sree Narayana Guru. He was against the practice of worshipping idols and even God. The humanism he practiced was self purification of thought and action. The First Social Reformer introduced common dining table, common staying homes, common school rooms and inter caste marriage system for Dalids in India was Swamy Bodhananda Giri.Later Sahodaran Ayyappan Accepted these principles as his life mission.

Bodhananda Swami organised an armed organization for crushing down untouchability castism and Brahmin supremacy.The name of this organization was Dharmabhadasena. This organization fought three decisive battles against Brahmins. They were Cheloor Kalapam at Thriprayar (1912, Arattupuzha Poooram Kalapam at Peringottukara and Chirakkal(1918) Thanissery Kalapam (1918)at Thanissery near Irinjalakkuda. Bengaly Asan,Thoppiyil Bahuleyan and Ottappalam Krishnan were leaders and heroes.

In British ruled Cochin state Peringottukara was the cultural capital of Thiyyas and other Back ward people.It all started under the leadership of Sree Narayana guru.