Our Heritage
The Story of Malliyoor
A tale of devotion, vision, and a Ganapathy found nowhere else on earth.
The Origin of the Vaishnava Ganapathy
Malliyoor Sree Maha Ganapathy Temple is one of the most cherished temples in Kottayam district, Kerala. What makes it truly one-of-a-kind is its presiding deity — the Vaishnava Ganapathy — Lord Ganesha depicted with young Lord Krishna seated on his lap.
This extraordinary idol was sculpted under the divine guidance of Brahmasree Bhagavatha Hamsam Malliyoor Sankaran Nampoothiri, a great saint and devotee of Lord Krishna. Through decades of intense meditation and recitation of the Bhagavatham, Nampoothiri envisioned this singular form of Ganapathy that brings the Ganesha and Krishna traditions together.
The idol represents the eternal bond between Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, and young Krishna, the embodiment of divine love and playfulness. It is more than a sculpture — it is the physical expression of a lifetime of unwavering bhakti.
Brahmasree Bhagavatha Hamsam
Brahmasree Bhagavatha Hamsam Malliyoor Sankaran Nampoothiri was born into a devout Namboothiri family in Malliyoor. His life was dedicated to Vaishnava Bhakti. Through his divine qualities, he earned the title "Bhagavatha Hamsam" — the Swan of Bhagavatham — signifying his ability to extract the essence of divine knowledge.