Our country Bharat (India) is blessed with the presence of so many deities-most distinguished and anciently believed. Our country’s culture and history are very much related to the myths and legends of these deities. A study of these culture and history, connected to the temples, myths will lead us to identify our unique heritage as well our country’s cultural tradition.

Every temple of our country has to tell us a story –a story of manhood, a period, a social setup. A study of these things will lead us to a new world of knowledge. The “Sree Moolasthanam” (Original Place) of “Adi parasakthi Mankombilamma” is a holy place which tells us of the greatness of such a culture and people. This holy place is situated on a hill top in a village called “Moonnilavu” which is around 30 kms from Thodupuzha in Idukki District and 12 kms from Erattupetta in Kottayam District.

The origin and History of Mankombu Kavu

About thousand years ago, the ‘Vellalar’ from five villages of Thenkashi in TamilNadu came to Malayalanadu (Kerala) after abandoning all their belongings at Thenkashi except their ancestral deity ‘Mankai Amman’ (Sri Parvathy). The omnipotent deity was brought by them through a   ‘Sri Chakra’ (A metal reel where diety is believed to be present). They came through the hills and forests, and while on traveling they reached on the banks of a small river and stopped there for taking, the bath and rest. They have placed the diety on the banks of that small river. After completing the bathing and rest, they tried to take away the diety, but they could not.Then the “Guruswamy” (Spiritual leader) of that gang got a vision and he advised the progeny, to continue their journey, and every year, on the tenth day of “Medam” ( a Malayalam month) they should reach at this place, where “Mankai Amman” is decided to stay, for  darshan and conducting the ceremonial rituals.(The tenth day of Medam is known as Medappathu ,believed that sun is changing its position on that day  which is an important day for Hindus.) Hereafter the place where the deity is placed is known as “Mankombu” and the deity is known as “Mankombilamma”. For the protection of the holy mother, one family of the gang is decided to stay at there and the rest continued their journey and reached the “Keezhmalai Nadu” which is under the control of the Kingdom of Kochi. After paying some tributes to the King of Kochi, they have acquired lands at “Keezhmalai Nadu” (Thodupuzha, Kudayathoor, and nearby places) and settled at there. Every year, on “medappathu” all the families of the said Vellalars will reach at the feet of the Mankombilamma for Darshan and for conducting the ceremonial rituals. (The famous historian Shri VR Parameswarapillai has wrote about these things in his book “Dravida Samsakaram Sahyadrisanukkalil”)