About the Temple Kuduba devatha (Family deity) is Adiparaskthy Durga having Lakshmy, Saraswathy and Kali bhavam (appearance, Demeanour) just like the Devi in Mookambika. This ancient Nair tharavadu used to give Dhanam (Wealth), Dhanyam (Food gram),Vasthram (Cloth), Ayudham (Weapon) and Bhadanmar (Soldiers) to Kayamkulam Raja. Supply of these five items (‘AY’ or ‘IY’ – five) initiated the name of Iyvala. (Hermann Gundert, the author of the first Malayalam Dictionary has given meaning of Malayalam letter ‘I’ or ‘AY’ as five).
In the seventeenth century ‘Yogeswaran’ a Nair Youth and Yogini amma (Brahmin lady) from Malabar, Kozhikode reached Thazhakara and to Mathoor by country boat through Panayannar Kavu and reached the famous Tharavadu (ancestral home) of the ministers of Chempakasery Raja , Ambalapuzha. They brought their Paradevatha along with Puliyampilly Rakshas. They set up a house in the ‘Kavu’ (grove) and later built a ‘Kalari’ for training of the soldiers. Kayamkulam Raja has given the Nair youth the post of Kanakka pillai as an honour. The Kalari for the traning of Nair padayalis was in front of the present temple and produced hundreds of soldiers. This continued up to the year 1734. Meanwhile kayamkulam Raja has given the title of ‘Pillai’ even to the ladies of this family. Still at the present time some ladies are using this title prefixed to their names eg: Sumathi Pillai,Janaki Pillai,etc. Vast areas of land from east of Mavelikara Krishnaswami Temple to Vettiyar Puncha was handed over to the Tharavadu as Karam Ozhivu (Tax exempted).
Later in 1734 there was a war of Thiruvithancore with kayamkulam Raja (Ref: Keralam pathinamcham pathinaram noottandu Kalilude by Sivasankara pillai) In this war Kayamkulam Raja was defeated and Killed. The war affected the Iyvala Tharavadu temple and Kalari. The Kalari had sent almost all the male members to fight against Thiruvithancore as complete ‘Chaverpada’ of Nair Padayalies were killed in the war. The widowed ladies and dependants with their children ran away with their belongings to other places. Later their lands were disposed off for a pittance. Now the descendants of these displaced people are living scattered in more than 40 villages of Kerala. There was a prolonged gap of people and management of the tharavadu and it was ruined fully. The remnants of the Kalari is a Kalarikkallu and a Kayamkulam ‘Pallival’(Sword) which are kept in the temple in memory of the earlier prestigious position of the Tharavadu. An old grandmother (Iyvala Muthassi) used to light lamp in the Moolasthanam (original place) on every day evening for the ‘Paradevatha’ till her death.
In the year of 1949 Velayudhan Pillai of Iyvala Valil advised senior members of the family to do something for the benefit and progress of the Tharavadu. Accordingly a Devaprashnam was conducted by Sri. Kumaru, the famous astrologer and consecration of an idol was advised. In the due course Thazhaman Kandaru Sankararu consecrated the deity of Durga and Upadevatha in Iyvala on Kumbham 27th, 1124 (12.03.1949). Late Sreedharan Namboothiri Pampumekkattu has done the Sarpa prathista. In this venture Vaidyan K.Madavan Pillai Sankaramangalam chennithala, Valil Krishna Pillai, Mezhuvellil Kizhakkathil Kunjan Pillai, Kesav Pillai, Mezhuvellil Manapurathu Nanu Pillai and Members of Iyvala Thekkathil , Thunduthara Malayil, Iyvala etc had given strong support.
A Punaprathista was done on Medam (Nakshatram-makayiram) of 1989 after Construction of the present Temple. In the year 2006 with the help of Kannipayyoor Namboothiripadu the seats/positions for the sub-deities of the temple were constructed with a new Thidappally and Chuttumathil. The Punaprathishta Karmam was performed by Thazhaman Madam Kandararu Rajewararu who is also the present Thanthri.
Upadevathakal
Iyvala Vanadurga Temple | The ancient legendary tree worship centre of Kerala | Thazhakara | Mavelikara
