The above temple is under the trusteeship of ‘Kalladikode Kurup family’, situated on Palakkad – Kozhikode highway around 22 kilometres from Palakkad.  In the absence of any authentic evidence to prove the migration of the Kurup family from Kadathanad to Vallapuzha and from there to Kalladikode, we have had to depend on the information (Vaimozhikal) passed on by our ancestors from generation to generation to know about the settlement of this family at Kalladikode. It is believed that a lady from the famous ‘Thenezhi’ Kurup Tharavad (family) of Kadathanad, Kannur, was married by a Namboothiri and brought over to Vallapuzha near Pattambi. Since the Namboothiri got some intuition to settle his wife’s family at Vallapuzha, he constructed a ‘Tharavad’ for her in the North Malabar style with a ‘Kalari’ in the courtyard. Kurups and Nambiars were the experts in ‘Kalari Payattu’ (Kerala martial arts) in the olden days and the kings and the ‘Nadu Vazhis’ (local rulers) of Malabar used them as warriors to protect their people and land from their enemies. Therefore every such Tharavad of Kurup had an ‘Ayudha Kalari’ at the Tharavad courtyard to train youngsters including ladies in Kalari Payattu (martial arts) to establish a small army of their own.  The ‘Valkannadi’ and Pattu from the Kalari believed to be brought by our great great grandmother when she migrated to Vallapuzha with her husband Namboothiri were kept in the Kalari at the Tharavad as ‘Porkali Bhagavathi’ - the Kalari Goddess. This Tharavad was also known as ‘Thenezhi’ Kurup. There is no record to prove the particular year it happened. After a few generations, this family was divided into four branches and ours is known as ‘Thenezhi Valiyaveettil’ Tharavad.

It is possible that an eminent warrior from our family was brought to Kalladikode, either by ‘Samoothiri Raja’, the king of Kozhikode kingdom himself or by his designated ruler of this area, to protect the people and 1400 acres of land from the enemies around. Later, Thenezhi Valiyavettil family became the owners of this property.  Since the main granary of this property was ‘Parikkiladi Kalam’, our family adopted ‘Thenezhi Parikkiladi Kalathil’ as our family name. The four temples in this area also belonged to this family.  ‘Kattussery Ayypankavu’ is an important temple out of the four. Others are ‘Kudappulli MahaVishnu’ temple, ‘Vettakkoru Makan’ temple, and ‘SreeKurumba Bhagavathi’ temple.

Although the family established the control of Kalladikode a few generations before, we have known history of this family only from Ravunni Kurup’s generation. He was the eldest brother and he had three sisters and one younger brother; Lakshmi Amma, Kunchu Amma, Kelu Kurup and Ammalu Amma. Only the Karanavar (eldest male member) Ravunni Kurup used to live at Kalladikode to take care of the properties and the rest of the family lived at Vallapuzha Tharavad. After he passed away Kelu Kurup came and took over control of Kalladikode properties. During this period, his older sister Lakshmi Amma with her children came and settled down at Kalladikode Tharavad ‘Nalu Pura’.  Due to his health problems, Kelu Kurup handed over the responsibilities of managing the properties to Appukutta Kurup his eldest nephew a couple of years before his death. After Kelu Kurup passed away, the rest of the family also shifted from Vallapuzha Tharavad to Kalladikode. In a few years this family carried out partition to different Thaivazhis and the temples responsibilities were also divided between these Thaivazhies like the other properties.  Kudappulli  MahaVishnu Kshethram & SreeKurumba Kavu were handed over to Appukutta Kurup’s Thaivazhi and Kattusseri Ayyappan Kavu & Vettakkoru Makan Kavu were handed over to Mukkunni Kurup’s Thaivazhi.

Kattussery Ayyappankavu is the temple of ‘Vana Dharma Sastha’ with his two wives Poorna and Pushkala. Dharma Satha is the joined power of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva according to the Hindu mythology. Ayyapan was born as a human being, meditated Dharma Sastha at Sabarimala and attained nirvana to join the power of Dharma Sastha.  Therefore Dharma Sastha temples are also popularly known as Ayyappan temples. When Ravunni Kurup took over the control of this place, there was no roof for Kattussery Ayyappan Kavu. There were three idols (cylindrical stones) on a platform and the poojas were performed over there. In the year of 1909, Ravunni Kurup constructed the existing temple in the present form, but with the roof of a wooden structure covered by copper sheets. There is an opening on the roof above the idols for the rain water to fall on the idols, that being the peculiarity of Vana Sastha temples. Due to age and damages caused by termites making holes on the wooden beams, there was leakage from the roof inside the temple. In the early 1960s, Achutha Kurup renovated the temple by converting it into a concrete roof without changing the design of the main structure. In the later years, many improvements were made by then administrators of the temple, to bring it into the present condition. Improvements were also made in the pooja rituals like monthly Sudhikalasam to increase the sanctity of the idols. Balasekhara Kurup is the present administrator of the temple who is doing a remarkable job in upholding the reputation of the temple. 

The main festivals of this temple are Prathishta Din (the corresponding day when this temple was originally constructed in 1909), second Prathishta Din (the day Ashta Bandha Kalasham was performed after renovation), and ‘Thalapoli’ (on first day of Malayalam month Dhanu), after Chittuvilakku on 30 days of Malayalam month Vrischikam. Thalapoli is a grand festival for the whole of Kalladikode. The programmes start with ‘Kelikottu’ to announce that it is the day of Thalapoli. Then ‘Nadasara Kachery’ will be performed by renowned artists praising the lord, by playing traditional trumpets and drums. In the morning, ‘Panan Poothans’ and ‘Poothan Thiras’ will enter the temple and dance around the Sreekovil. These are typical North Malabar customs of people wearing colourful costumes with large colourfully painted crowns on their heads dancing according to the rhythms of drum beats. This custom is believed for driving away the evil spirits from the temples. After visiting the temple, they come to our homes as well, to perform the same dance in our courtyards to bless our homes too. Then the main pooja at the temple is ‘Ucha Pooja’ with Chenda Melam (drum beats). In the evening, ‘Deeparadhan’ is performed after the procession with decorated elephants from the temple to the Banyan tree around 200 meters away from the temple and back. After traditional temple instruments playing performances like ‘Panchavadyam’ and ‘Thayampaka’, there will be fireworks too. At midnight, the tribal people of the Kalladikode mountains, ‘Malayans’ come in a procession with their produces like bananas, honey, spices and ‘Kunkillam’ (the gum of some trees giving fragrance )and present these in front of the temple doors. Then Moothakurup (trustee of the temple) gives money and Dhothis to these people.  And the final ritual of Thalapoli is ‘Thalam Nirathal’, a procession with decorated elephants and Chendamelam to the Thalapoli Aal (Banyan tree) to find out whether god was pleased with the performances the family offered on Thalapoli day.

All these festivals are being conducted with more and more colourful events every year with the full support of all Kurup family members. T.P.Kurup Trust family members are actively getting involved in managing all these events while the whole of Kalladikode is celebrating these festivals. After the Parihara Poojas are performed Lord Dharam Sastha will shower his blessings on the whole family in the future too.