There are innumerable temples dedicated to our many deities. But the one tucked away in the mountain in a remote jungle area between Thalassery and Cannanore in Kerala is unique. The Mridanga Saileshwari temple is the only one dedicated to a musical instrument.
Legend has it that when the mridangam descended on earth from heaven, it was caught by Goddess Bhagavathi Saileshwari – the Aroopi, or the One without form, while she was in meditation, thus creating a pit in the sand, which remains to this day. The dropping of the mridangam onto the Goddess’s hand created echoes in the mountain. Hence, it came to be known as Muzhakkunnu, which means a mountain that echoes. When one views the mountain from a distance, it appearslike a mridangam.
This temple was the family deity of Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja. The family later decided to build a temple for the Goddess. Thus, the Aroopi turned into the Swaroopi, in the form of a beautiful panchaloka idol .
The temple was situated in a forest area, has been made accessible. Yet a lot needs to be done. There are only bricks to walk on and the prakaras are full of potholes that form slush and puddles in the rains.
In the past, this temple has witnessed miraculous events. For example, there were three attempts to rob the idol. It is said the first time the thieves stole the idol, they lost their way and fell sick due to exhaustion. Finally, they left the idol behind, with a note confessing their crime and requesting that the idol be put back in the temple. A group of devotees have come together to form a committee for the upkeep of the temple.
I came to know about this temple through Sri Hari Narayanan, a Palakkad-based mridangam artist. I was so excited that I immediately made a trip to the temple. When I stepped into the temple I felt like Columbus — discovering a temple dedicated to mridangam! I offered my prayers by playing the mridangam in the sannidhi and felt truly blessed. More and more mridangam artists should make a trip to this temple and experience the divine vibrations.
