Vidya dana refers to education which includes morals and ethics. In its highest aspect, Vidya leads us to the spiritual abode. Jnana dana is helping the devotees to gain realization of transcendence. This is the beginning of the real spiritual life and a valuable service to perform for one and all.

Malliyoor Sankaran Namboothiri devoted his entire life for promoting Bhakti among the common people. For him, bhakti is pure love as It comes in the form of direct devotional service to the paramatma. He believed bhakti to be the base for all other activities.

The Malliyoor Adhyatmika Peedhom is the umbrella organization under which various projects providing the above five corresponding levels of service of The Temple operates.

ANNA DANAM

Malliyoor temple provides free food every day round the clock to all devotees every day during the Mandal and Makara vilakku season of Sabarimala. During this season an average of 10,000 devotees avail the service.

YOGA CENTRE

Yoga is a way of life, and its goal is the union with the Divine. The purpose is to train the body and mind to self observe and become aware of their own nature. It helps to strengthen both physical and mental being, which in turn helps to unite the individual self with the cosmic consciousness that is the higher form of consciousness or the universal energy which is present everywhere. With this view in mind the Adhyatmika Peedhom organizes Yoga training along with meditation sessions and spiritual discourses.

VEDIC LIBRARY

The Malliyoor Adhyatmika Peedhom is planning to open a Reference Library for the benefit of spiritual seekers and vedantic students. Collection of rare books on spirituality is in progress. Our aim is to provide our children and grandchildren a better understanding of our culture and heritage together with an ability of integration in the wider community

The sanskars given to them in their early childhood years can inspire them in their future years, by giving them courage to face challenges of the modern world and making them more determined to pursue their goals.

SATSANG

The Peedhom organizes seminars, discussions, discourses, lectures, public meetings etc. on spiritual topics, aiming to promote the inner discipline to attain higher level of super consciousness. Currently Bhagavatha Saptahams are organized every month and pravachans are conducted inviting the eminent Vedic scholars and Bhagavatha exponents.

AWARDS

The Malliyoor Adhyadmika Peedhom currently honours two prestigious awards namely Malliyoor Sankarasmrithi Puraskaram (Winners: Dr. A. P. J. Abdulkalam, Dr.K.Radhakrishnan, Dr. E. Sreedharan, Dr. M.Balamuraleekrishna, Vittal Das Jayakrishna Deekshithar, Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri, Dr.L.Subrahmanyam, Dr.Kavitha Krishnamoorthi, P. Parameswaran) and Malliyoor Ganesha Puraskaram.

WORK IN PROGRESS

A considerable amount of building and construction work is being quietly carried out in the temple premise maintaining the peace and tranquility of the temple. This includes construction of dormitories & dining for people, meditation hall, kitchen, toilets and other facilities.

A Bhagavatha Garden consisting of medicinal plants and flowers is also planned aiming to provide a new meaning to the concept of social forestry ensuring our future generations for inheriting a greener earth. Over the next few years, we will see the transformation of this venue into a veritable garden.

MALLIYOOR SMRITI MANDAPAM

Malliyoor smriti mandapam is the museum-cum-memorial hall dedicated to the memory of Bhagavatha Hamsam and to honor the efforts of great Bhagavatha Acharyas who laid their life to popularise the Bhakti movement. The Mandapam will preserve the cultural and historical heritage of our Guru parampara. Images of Bhagavatha acharyas are planned to install, including his name, period and details of his life.

A TEMPLE WITH THE PAST, IN THE PRESENT, FOR THE FUTURE

Malliyoor Maha Ganapati temple is situated near to Kuruppanthara town, in Kottayam District of Kerala State, India. It belongs to South Kerala Division. The name of the Temple is synonymous with the name of the main priest, the sage-like, scholarly Sankaran Nampoothiri. He has dedicated his humble life to the worship of Lord Ganapathy and to the rendering and exposition of the Bhagavatham.

Malliyoor Sankaran Namboothiri, known as Bhagavatha Hamsam, rendered about 2,500 Bhagavatha Saptahas ( recitation of Smd. Bhagavata Puran and explaining the meaning to the public for consecutive seven days) The Malliyoor Temple is the sacred abode of the all – encompassing divine presence of Lord Ganesha is the destination of lakhs of pilgrims from all over India.

VAISHNAVA GANAPATI

“Ganesha is the aspect of the Supreme Being responsible for the removal of obstacles, both in a material and in a spiritual sense. Ultimately a soul’s aim is parameshwara Nirvana, enlightenment from the inner self. On the spiritual path, our obstacles might be our negative emotions sproting from our false ego. When we pray to Ganesha, we ask him to help remove those obstacles within the self.

The worship of Ganesha is considered complementary with the worship of other deities. We begin prayers, important undertakings, and religious ceremonies with an invocation of Ganesha the Mangala moorthi. He is Parabrahma incarnate, the God of Wisdom and Learning, the Remover of all Obstacles and is worshipped first, any other god.

The Malliyoor Sree MahaGanapathy Temple is in comparable in the conception of the presiding deity as Vaishnava Ganapathy, with the child Krishna seated on the lap of Lord Ganesha and hearing the Bhagavatham. The history of the temple dates back to the pre- Perumal era of Kerala. It is believed that a saint from Malliyoor after a pilgrimage to the northern regions brought the Ganapati idol and installed about 1500 yers ago. Though the temple had wealth and resources in those days, however, due to the onslaught of time and climatic conditions, it went into eclipse, unattended and uncared for and it remained as a silent testimony to it’s rich cultural heritage.

It was Malliyoor Sankaran Namboothiri, who brought the much needed reawakening to the temple. Sankaran Namboothiri was an exponent of Srimad Bhagavatha puran and was called Bhagavathahamsam. He used to recite Srimad Bhagavatham everyday in the temple by keeping the salagram, the iconic symbol and reminder of the Lord Vishnu as Paramatma, conseqantly Vishnu chaithanya was experianced in the temple. In fact, the continuous recitation of srimad Bhagavathom placing the ‘Salagaram’ in the sanctum sanctorum of Ganesha changed the Beeja Ganapathy into Vaishanava Ganapathy.The deity of Ganesha placing Little Krishna on his lap and listening the Mahapuran is the symbol of the flow of knowledge from a high consciousness to the yonger generations.

Today Malliyoor Maha Ganapati Temple is a major attraction to both Krishna and Ganesha devotees who arrive throughout the year in significant numbers.

THE SWAN-SONG OF ETERNAL PEACE

Kuruppanthara, a small village at Kottayam in Kerala, is famous with the name of Bhagavatha Hamsom Malliyoor Sankaran Namboothiri, who has dedicated his humble life to the worship of Lord Ganapathy and for the propagation of Srimad Maha Bhagavat Puran. Malliyoor is the name that denote the lineage of the priestly family.

Sankaran of Malliyoor was born on 2nd February, 1921,as the son of Sree Paramesaran Nampoothiri and Smt. Arya Antherjanam. His childhood passed through a long and tiring phase of illness and sufferings. Due to absolute poverty and continuous diseases he could not complete his formal school education. Later he finished his studies in Sanskrit from ‘Swamiyar Madom’ at Thiruvarpu, Kottayam.

As the panacea for his ill-health and sufferings, his mother sent him to Guruvayoor Temple on pilgrimage and during his stay at Guruvayoor, he met his Guru, Padappa Nampoothiri to receive advice for reciting Srimad Bhagavat Puran. That was the turning point in his life. He started rendering the Bhagavatham in total surrender to Lord Guruvayoorappan. Very soon matters took a turn for the better; his health improved and he untiringly recited and preached Sreemat Maha Bhagavat. His continuous recitation of Bhagavathom placing ‘Salagaramam’ in the sanctum sanctorum of Ganapathy changed the Beeja Ganapathy into Vaishanava Ganapathy.

Presently, Malliyoor Maha Ganapathy Temple is unique for the concept of Vaishnava Ganapathy. The place receives national attention and is a major pilgrim centre in South India. Malliyoor is the centre of Srimad Bhagavatha studies. As the chief priest and recitalist, Sankaran Namboothiri conducted about 2500 Bhagavatha Saptahams all over India, in his life and his Katha sessions are renowned for simplicity and earnestness, attracting thousands of devotees. Hundreds of his disciples and lakhs of his worshipers who received his advice and experienced his holiness, are sincerely engaged in the propagation of divinity and significance of Srimad Bhagavatham throughout India and abroad. His disciples and well wishers include lakhs of people belong to different religion, caste and community

He was a great scholar in Sanskrit language and Vedantic studies. He wrote many poems and essays in Sanskrit and Malayalam. His literature illustrates his vision and wisdom. Collection of his poems have been published and his poems tuned by great musicians like V. Dhakshina Moorty swamy and Radhakrishnaji were made in compact diskettes. He was the authority for Vedanta seekers and the last word for the interpretation of religious matters. He was not reluctant to respond against cotemporary events and policies of the leaders and rulers. But he patiently suggested total surrendering to Bhagavatam as the simple and only path way to reach peace and prosperity for the mankind. His vision, fellow - feeling, philanthropy, and positive thinking made him the Acharya for all those who met him at least once.

To Malliyoor Sankaran Namboothiri good times and bad times are unavoidable stages in one’s life, they are the decisions of divinity. Accept good and bad with an open mind and learn the art of attaining balance in life. A rain does not add water to the ocean or a draught in the land does not drain it. We must learn this art from the ocean. His lectures were much valuable for the worried and provide them sense of aspirations and peace of mind. He made Malliyoor a religious pilgrim centre well-known for its religious pluralism and his disciples and well wishers include politicians, religious leaders, social workers as well as the common mass. He seriously wished to initiate a model educational institution to learn high values of mankind and to uphold brotherhood and secularism based on the real Bharatiya ethnicity and vision as envisaged by the Bhagavata principles. His visitors include former President of India Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, ISRO Chairman Dr. Radha Krishnan, Kanchi Sankaracharya Bishop Mar Crisostum Ministers of States and Centre governments, great musicians and artists like Dr. M. Balamurali Krishna, Dr. K.J Yesudas, V. Dakshina Moorthy and others found solace in his presence.

He was honoured with a number of awards and compliments. ‘Bhagavatha Hamsom’ awarded by Guruvayoor Bhagavatha Vinjana Samithy, ‘Poonthanam puraskaram’ by Guruvayoor Bhaktha Samity, ‘Dharma Sreshta’a by kerala Bhahmana Sabha, ‘Bhagavatotha Seva Retnam’ puraskaram by Kanchi Sankaracharya Madom, ‘Njanappana’ award of Guruvayoor Devaswom are some of the notable recognition for his contribution to the religion and culture. Malliyoor Sankaran Namboothiri, is considered, as divinity incarnate, a perennial source of wisdom and serenity by thousands of his followers. His life and teachings are still relevant in material and spiritual studies. He led a pious and saintly life till his Samadhi on 2nd august 2011. His life partner the late Smt.Subhadra Antharjanam was accompained him in all his strains and sufferings.

Now, His elder son, Malliyoor Parameswaran Nampoothiri following his father’s footsteps reciting bhagavatam and working tirelessly for its propagation. Younger son Malliyoor Divakaran Namboothiri , the chief organiser and coordinator of religious and culture activities at Malliyoor, is the founder Secretary of Malliyoor Adhyatmika Peedom and managing trustee of Malliyoor Kshetram Trust the chief organiser and coordinator of religious and culture activities at Malliyoor.