Manikandapuram was the capital of the Kingdom of Thekkumkur (now part of India).Book Title: Sthalapurāṇaṅṅaḷ Author: Iṭamaruk Publisher: Royal Book Depot, 1972 Original from The University of California Digitized: 2 Jun 2009 Length: 210 pages Manikandapuram is a part of Vakathanam Gramam in the Changanassery Taluk of Kottayam District. At the beginning of the Thekkumkur princely state, the nearest place, Vennimala was established as the headquarters.Book Title: Sthalapurāṇaṅṅaḷ Author: Iṭamaruk Publisher: Royal Book Depot, 1972 Original from The University of California Digitized: 2 Jun 2009 Length: 210 pages
Manikandapuram Temple
The Manikandapuram Sreekrishna Temple was built in the 12th century by Thekkumkur king Eravi Manikanda Varman (reign: 1150 - 1180 C.E). The construction of the temple and the installation of the idol of Lord Krishna took place on the 25th day of Malayalam month Medam (Meṣa) in Kollam Era 325 (1150 C.E). The king would take part in the annual festival of Vennimala Sree Rama Lakshmana Swamy Temple. During the royal hunting (Pallivetta) in the temple, the king Eravi Manikandan shot an animal he saw, but it was a cow. The Manikandapuram Temple was built by King Manikandan for his atonement, knowing that he killed a cow.Kottarathil, Sankunni (2018). AITHIHYAMALA (Malayalam). 1 (Issue No. 1 ed.). Kottayam, Kerala, India: DC Books. p. 20.
There is evidence that the fort and the tunnels were at Manikandapuram, as were the later headquarters of the Thekkumkur monarchy at Changanassery and Thaliyanthanapuram (Kottayam).Encyclopedia of Tourism Resources in India; Author: Dr. Manohar Sajnani, Published in 2001, Published by: Kalpaz Publications; Address: C-30, Satyawati Nagar, Phase-III, Ashok Vihar, Delhi-110052, (set), (Vol II) The temple was very popular in the Thekkumkur dynasty. References to this temple are found in Aithihyamala of Kottarathil Sankunni and Unnuneeli Sandesam, the classics of Malayalam Literature.Unnuneeli Sandesam - Thembattu Sankaran Nair; Published by DC Books, Kottayam; 132 pages
Unnuneeli Sandesam The Malayalam poem Unnuneeli Sandesam describes the ancient Manikandapuram and Sreekrishna temple. In this poem, the temple and the underground passages connecting Venimala and Manikandapuram are explicit. There is depression in Manikandapuram, which looks like the entrance to a tunnel. The temple has huge acres of paddy fields in revenue records to feed hundreds of people every day.Unnuneeli Sandesam - Thembattu Sankaran Nair; Published by DC Books, Kottayam; 132 pagesBook Title: Unnuneeli Sandesam Edited By: Elamkulam P N Kunjan Pillai Publisher: National Book Stall Category: Malayalam Poems
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