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Tirunavaya Temple is a historically significant ancient Hindu temple on the banks of the River Bharata dedicated to Nava Mukundan Vishnu with the other deities like Ganesha, and Lakshmi. It is located near the ancient Hindu pilgrimage centre of Tirunavaya, a village 8 km south of Tirur in the Malappuram district of Kerala state, India. The temple was the traditional venue for the historic ritual of the Mamankam festival, an enactment of traditional martial arts by suicide squads.

From ancient times Thirunavaya was known throughout India as a centre of excellence for Vedic teachings, with Veda Paadda Saalas (Thirunnavaya Otthanmmar Maddom) for teaching the Vedas, Sasthras, Tantric Mantras, performing of rituals and preaching under learned scholars. (Recently these were shifted to Cheru Thirunnavaya, a centre on the South bank of Bharathapuzha).

The Vaishnava sect of Hindus have 108 Thiruppathis (most holy temples) and eleven of them are now in Kerala and Thirunavaya is one among them. It was on the sandy ridges and outskirts of Bharatapuzha that the glorious magnum event MAMANKAM was conducted once in every 12 years.

This temple was constructed about 5000 years back. Though it had undergone periodical renovations, the last and major renovation with the reconstruction of Sanctum Sanctorum was done by the legendary PERUMTHACHAN under the direction of the Vettath Raja about 1300 years back. The reconstruction had the typical ' Perumthachan touch ' making the rays of the rising sun fall on the idol on every Medam First ( in Utharaayana period, ie in April) and on Kanni First,(in Dakshinayana period ie, in October).

This temple, 'The Navamukunda Temple' is one of the oldest Vishnu temples in Kerala. It dates back to the last period of the 'Dwaapara Yuga'.

Thirunavaya was once the capital of Perumpadapu Swaroopam. It is indeed the cradle of culture in northern Kerala. Holding immense historical importance, this is the place where 'Mamangam', a grand assembly of the rulers of Kerala was held once every 12 years, in olden times. This extravagant festival was held for the last time in 1755 AD. The famous and ancient Thirunavaya Temple, known throughout the country as an ancient teaching-centre of the Vedas, was once plundered and destroyed by Tipu Sultan's army. It was the Zamorin who repaired the temple later.

This is the place were Nava yogis (Sathuvanathar, Saaloga nathar, Aadhinathar, Arulithanathar, Madhanga Nathar, Macchendira Nathar, Kadayanthira Nathar, Korakkanathar and Kukkudanathar) worshipped Vishnu. Vishnu gave darsan for Nava yogi. Hence this place is called Thirunavayogi and later changed in to Thirunaavaya.

The present temple is built in Kerala Temple Architecture style, which is almost common in all temples in Kerala.