The Kanadi Kavu is the most holy and ancient Vishnu Maya Temple in the state of Kerala providing relief to sorrows and showering blessings and prosperity to all the devotees irrespective of caste, creed and religion. This temple having many epics and with rare historical importance is situated 20 km South-West of Thrissur in Peringottukkara, a land made sacred by the foot prints of many great sages. The presence of Brahmasree Dr. Vishnubharatheeya Swamy, the sage-like Spiritual Guru and the Madathipathi of Kanadikavu, who had the fortune to have a holy glimpse of the sacred effulgence of Kuttichathan Swamy through more a strict life style of religious discipline, fills the devotees with a desire to have a strong spiritual life. The all merciful and sympathetic Swamiji observes the temple rites strictly, and leads his life as a ritualistic. Thousands of devotees visit this temple every day. After listening to the orders of Vishnumaya they offer the remedial measures to overcome their personal sorrows as per the instructions of the Madathipathi and return home with a tranquil mind. There are many legends about Chathan Swamy and many stories about the miracles of Kanadi Kavu. As per one of the legends Sastha was originally Chathan, worshipped by the tribals and the Dravidians. It is the boyhood adventures of Dharmashastha that are seen as the wonders performed by Chathan Swamy. Bhrumgasuran: Saghatavar, a great sage lived on the banks of the River Gomati. He was disillusioned as his son Vishwaketu possessed all bad habits. He had to expel his son from the hermitage when his misdeeds broke all bounds. In another part of the forest Keyoori, the beautiful daughter of Vikalasuran met a handsome young man as she was gathering flowers. The Princess became the wife of this Gandharva without anyone knowing anything about it. When Vikalasura came to know about it, he killed the Gandharva. Keyoori was tied up and left alone in the forest. Vishwaketu and Keyoori met in the forest and they lived as husband and wife. But Vikalasuran caught Keyoori and imprisoned her. Shukracharya through his divine vision came to know that the child who was growing in the womb of Keyoori would destroy the clan of the Asuras. As per the advice of the Guru, Vikalasura once again left Keyoori in the forest. She reached a hermitage of Saghatavar and tired with thirst and hunger, begged for some water. She was welcomed according to the norms of the hermitage and offered food and water. Saghatavar also came to know that the child in the womb of Keyoori would destroy the sages and instructed his disciples to perform a homam to remove Keyoori from the face of the earth. An apparition came out of the sacrificial fire which refused to devour Keyoori as instructed by the sages. But it created a black beetle from its left eye and sent it to her womb. Instantly Keyoori gave birth to a baby. The apparition then ate Keyoori up and Viswaketu who reached there was also killed by the soldiers of Vikalasuran. The baby was seen by a hunter and taken to his hut. As it had a dead beetle (Bhrumgam) in his hands he was named Bhrumgan. He had visions of his parents and came to hate the Asuras and the Sages who were responsible for the death of his parents. He undertook a penance to please Brahma at Rushikoodam. Devendra tried to disrupt his penance but failed. Bhrumgan got a boon from Brahma that he would not be destroyed by the curses of either the Sages or the Asuras. He would be killed only by a child born to Adiparashakthi and Shiva and who dwelt in the forest for seven years drinking the milk of a low caste woman. Bhrumgan wanted Brahma to divide his Jeevan into two and keep them on the right and left parts of his heart. After receiving all these boons, he started terrorizing the world. He attacked the abode of the Gods also. They went to Maheswara and requested him to save the world from Bhrumgasura. Promising to grant their wish, Sree Parameshwara and Parvathy set out in the guise of Sages. They reached the forest of Koolikundan and was received by Marathan, the King of the Mala Arayans. They were invited by the King to make a hermitage there and they accepted it. One-night Sree Parameshwaran happened to see Koolivaka, the daughter of the King having a bath in the river. He requested her to allow him to spend some time with her, but the perplexed girl went away saying that she would do so after four days. To protect her virginity, she started praying to Sree Parvathy. Sage Narada who knew about Koovalika’s devotion to Sree Parvathy, approached the Goddess and informed her that it was time for the incarnation to be born to destroy Bhrumgasura. So Sree Parvathy reached the appointed place in the guise of Koolivaka. After their union Sree Parvathy gave birth to Chathan Swamy. Devi then approached Koolivaka and entrusted the baby to her. Thus, Chathan grew up in the forest. There was a huge bison that threatened other animals and the forest dwellers in the forest. Chathan and his friend Karineelipetta Karimkutty subdued it. He made the bison his vehicle.  While moving about in the forest on his vehicle, he met Sage Narada and realized that he was born to kill Bhrungasura. Using the magical powers that he had learned from the foresters, Chathan reached Kailasam. He assumed the appearance of Vishnu using his Maya. Sree Parameshwara blessed him and declared that he would also be known as Vishnumaya. From his mother Chathan learned the tricks of illusion and the strategy of war. She also gave him two short sticks blessing him with success in killing Bhrumgasura. Soon Narada visited Bhrumgasura and informed him about the beauty of the daughter of King Marathan. But he warned the Asura that he would not be able to reach her. Enraged to hear this he sent his men to bring Koovalika before him. But the army of the Asura had to return after being defeated by Karimkutty and his friends. The Asura now came with a bigger army. Chathan, knowing about it, created a wall of trees round the forest. Bhrumgasura ordered the soldiers to cut down the trees and make a way to enter the forest. But as they cut down the trees, their number went on increasing. Now the Asura set fire to the forest, Chathan prayed to his parents and sprinkled some water on the forest from the top of the Koolikunnu and the fire was extinguished. Bhrumgasura heard somebody laughing and looking up saw a boy on top of the hill. Realising that it was not an ordinary boy, he challenged him to a battle. This battle was so severe that the whole world was shaken. On the seventh day an arrow struck Chathan’s little finger and a drop of blood fell on the ground. Immediately four hundred Kuttichathans rose up. All of them looked alike. Confused, Bhrungasura started using the ten special arrows that he had got from Brahma. As each of these arrows reached them, one of the Chathans would catch it and swallow it to prevent it from touching the earth. Ten of the Kuttichathans were killed but along with them the ten special arrows were also destroyed. As Bhrumgasura stood perplexed Chathan decided to use the two sticks that Parvathy had given him. The two sticks came towards the Asura and started beating the two spots where his life had been stationed. Unable to stand the pain, the Asura fell down and met his death. Konnamuthappan, Kuttichathan and Kanadi Kavu: Konnamuthappan prayed to his family deity to find a way to please Chathan Swamy present in the land for the well-being of the people. With the blessings of the Goddess who gave him the Moola Manthra and the Dhyana Manthra to appease Chathan Swamy and worship him, he went to Kailas and undertook a severe penance. Vishnumaya Chathan Swamy appeared before him and came with him to Peringottukara. Konnamuthappan consecrated Vishnumaya Chathan Swamy at the place where the Kanadi Family resides now. Brahmasree Vishnubhararteya Swamy, who is the eldest male member of the family and the spiritual preceptor now, is the descendant of Konnamuthappan. There are a number of copper plates and palmyra leaves with inscriptions about the greatness of Konnacharya Swamy which have been preserved at the Kanadi Kavu even today. There are many instances that speak of the power of Vishnumaya Chathan Swamy. The temple at Triprayar under the Blahayil Thampuran had to be closed down for about six years in the year 1000 of the Malayalam era due to some mishaps in the family. Astrological consultations made it clear that the Lord at Triprayar was unhappy about the closure and this was being demonstrated through Chathan Swamy. Thampuran asked Konnacharyan to do whatever was necessary to remove the displeasure. As the rites were in progress, Konnacharyan came to be possessed by Chathan and declared that Chathan Swamy was aware of the red-hot iron chain that the Thampuran had kept in the compound to test Chathan Swamy. Konnacharyan then wore the red-hot iron chain on his body. It is believed that Hanuman and Chathan stand guard at the entrance to the sanctum sanctorum of the Triprayar temple. When the Lord at Triprayar is taken for the Arattupuzha pooram, traditional Para is offered at the Kanadi Kavu. The rituals at Kanadi kavu will be stopped till the Lord returns to Triprayar as it is believed that Chathan Swamy will be accompanying the Lord. It is also a traditional practice to offer worship at Kanadi Kavu when devotees go to Sabarimala seeking the protection of Chathan Swamy on the journey. Kanadikavu is considered and known as a refuge centre for the poor and also as a cultural centre. Every Tuesday at 12 noon Guruthi is offered to all the Kutti Chathans. The day of the oracle of Vishnumaya in the Malayalam month of Makaram, it is celebrated with Thiravellattu Mahotsavam. In the month of Midhunam starting with the star Uthram three days are celebrated as the festival in connection with the Consecration Day. There is Pattutsavam in the month of Thulam. All these are celebrated in a grand manner. The festival of Chathan Swamy starts with a procession of Kavadis from the temple of the Lord of Thriprayar. Once the Kavadi reaches the Kuttichathan Kavu there is the anointing ceremony which signals the beginning of the three-day festivities of the Thiravellattu Mahotsavam. On the first day there will be meetings where leading personalities from the fields of art and culture, leaders of social and political groups and the prominent people from various communities participate. These meetings are today marked as historical occasions in the central Kerala region. Devotees believe that if they can see and offer worship and offerings at the Roopakalam of Vishnumaya on that day, all the problems that they have been facing in life will be removed. The evidence for this belief is in the huge number of devotees who arrive here on that day. The special message of Brahmasree Vishnubharatheeya Swamy is “Worship God, Love Nature” as the one way for mankind to escape from the complete destruction that is threatening the world. He is moving forward with the slogan “Let the World Win” for the upliftment of all, irrespective of caste and creed.