Perunthachan’s tale lives on at Panniyur

KOZHIKODE: The Panniyur Sree Varahamurthy Temple near Kuttipuram, Malappuram district,  is closely linked to the Parayipetta Panthirukulam  legend.  

It is  the lone temple with the deity of Mahavishnu in Varaha avatar and famous  for the chisel  of the master craftsman of Kerala, Perunthachan,  a member of the Parayipetta Panthirukulam.  

The chisel  is kept between the granite slabs of the temple and there is a fascinating story about how it was placed there.

According to the legend,  Perunthachan, who was roaming around after the demise of his son, visited the temple when some  carpenters were busy working for it.  

They had no idea that the old man in shabby attire was Perunthachan and  ignored him. Perunthachan was offended by their  behaviour  and in   anger, he made some marks on the wooden columns kept ready for the sanctum sanctorum work and quietly left the place.

When the carpenters returned,   they found all the blocks were short of the actual length and were  baffled. They realised that it was Perunthachan whom they had ignored  and ran behind him pleading for his mercy.

At night, they heard the sound of chisels and hammers inside the sanctum sanctorum and when they went inside they found Perunthachan completing the work that they had struggled to complete. 

They  told Perunthachan that since he had completed  the work in a night, they would be rendered jobless.

Perunthachan  blessed them saying that the carpenters’ work in the temple  would  never end and vowed not to  touch his chisel again. He kept his chisel there and left the place.

The carpenting  work has never ended and as a mark of respect,  the craftsman displayed Perunthachan’s chisel between the granite slabs of the temple. 

Its authorities now show the devotees the timber  kept there  and say that the work in the temple has never end ed making Perunthachan’s words true. The temple attracts  staunch devotees and students of architecture alike.