Navamukunda, Malappuram

The Navamukunda temple at Thirunavaya in Malappuram district, Kerala, on the Bharathapuzha river — one of the 108 Divya Desams and the historic site of the Mamankam, a 28-day pan-Keralan festival held every 12 years from the 7th century to 1755. The Mamankam brought together the Chera-period rulers of all Kerala for ritual sports, warrior competitions and political assembly on the Bharathapuzha riverbed below the temple. The Chaver suicide warriors (challenging the Zamorin's throne-right by trying to break through the Zamorin's cordon to kill him) are central to Kerala's martial memory. The Mamankam continued through the Zamorin period (14-18th century); the 1755 Mamankam was the last. Tipu Sultan's 1788 invasion ended the tradition. The temple's foundation is 1-century; the current structure is 14-century Zamorin additions.