Author: M C K Raja

Design: K C Meera

The Trustee

The Trustee of the temple is the Raja of Valluvanad. His area was made into the Taluk of Valluvanad by the British and it was the biggest Taluk of British Malabar. Now the area is partly in Malappuram district and partly in Palghat District.
It is believed that this Raja is a descendent of Pallavas of Tamil Nadu. The legend goes that a branch of Palavas ruled from Villiputhur in Tamil Nadu. Bhadrakali and Sri Valli were their family deities. When Sree Vallabha became the ruler, he, with his followers migrated to Kerala, and reached the banks of Bharatapuzha (a large river). He established his kingdom there and made Angadipuram his capital. During that time the Raja was considered the strongest and closest to the Kerala Chakravarthy (Cheraman Perumal). Later after the Perumal's era, the Samuthiri (Zamorin) of Calicut started invading smaller kings and annexing their lands and became very powerful. Valluvanad Raja it seems had the blessing of Bhadrakali (Thiru Mandham Kunnilamma) and was never defeated by Samuthiri.
Except that he presided over the annual Pooram he never interfered in the celebrations. At the Pooram, he is given a garland by the pujari from the Sanctum Sanctorum. He is supposed to wear the garland and lead the Pooram procession, walking in front of the elephant carrying the deity. He is supposed to be the representative of Bhadrakali.