Perunna Subrahmanya swami temple is more than 1200 years old; and is the one and only Muruga Temple in this world where Lord Muruga holds his Vel upside down; ie pointing downword; as he is killing "Tharakasura".
History.
This temple is more than 1200 years old, and the following is the incident; which lead to the construction of this famous temple.
Some 500 years back, there was a village called Umbizhi, near Perunna. ( This is the place where Changanacherry railway station now situates). This village , like Perunna; was a Brahmin settlement. Although both the villages where Brahmin settlements, Perunna Brahmins were 'SATWICS' ( those who perform only good karmas and not negative), but Umbishis were more ugra tantrics- who also performed some black magic related works
Perunna Brahmins were SIVA Devotees at that time and they had a small but powerfull siva temple for their
worship. ( which is the Keezhkulangara mahadeva temple on the east nada of perunna temple.). As their prosperity increased because of the blessings of this Siva; Umbizhi Brahmins became jealous and they have started performing some tantric rituals against perunna. They also attacked the keezhkulangara temple and destroyed the temple complex; but fortunately, perunna Brahmins were able to save the idol or vigraha. (This is the same Vigraha present in the keezhkulanagara temple).
Perunna brahmins and other hindus were shocked by the incident and a person from Idamana Illam, ( A nampoothiri from perunna padinjattumbhagam) started a pilgrimage seeking the remedy for their problems. He had travelled all the way to "Pazhani Muruka Temple" in Tamil nadu, stayed there in the temple and started a special bhajan, seeking a solution. After some weeks, he had a vision of Lord Muruga of Palani. Lord Muruga advised the nampoothiri to go to Kodunthura river in the Pathanamathitta Dist; and take the idol ( Vigraham) from the river. This idol was built in the time immemorial and was originally worshipped by the munis and rishis of various yugas. Immeadiately idaman anmpoothiri went to kodunthura and found the idol in the river.
On the day of prathishta ( Consecration) itself villagers of umbizhi smelled their defeat. They have done a very rare and secret tantric ritual and send a very powerful moorthy (diety) to destroy the Perunna Temple. When edamana nampoothiri heard about this incident he started a walk toward east ( towards umbishi illam) and on the way found a very bright ball of fire coming toward their direction. His companion, a nair karanavar offered himself as 'bali' (Sacrificed his Life) to the moorthy and edamana nampoothiri suddenly performed some rituals and was able to control the moorthy ( diety). He made some avahanas and made a moorthi pratishta ( which is the famous Maranathu Kavu Temple at NSS Head Quarters, perunna Chanagancherry) of the Maranam( God Kali).
After all these events Umbizhi Villagers were totaly destroyed and the place where the said village where situated; become dense forest.Upto some 55 years bcak; Lord murugas ( Perunna Subrahmanay Swamis) Arattu; at the time of festival; was performed at that place. Later the Govt of Kerala took control of that place and construced a Railway Station.
