Family History Of Valiyaveedu
Valiyaveettil family is a well known family of Thiruvalla since ancient times, even from the beginning of history of the place and when the Sree Vallabha Temple was being set up.
The family home of Valiyaveedu was located to the south of the Sankaramangalam compound located on the west side of the Sreevallabaha temple.The Southern face of the Quadrangular home of the Tharavad (Clam home) is where the present Valiyaveettil Temple is located
There is a Devi Temple at Ayyankoikkal, Kureepuzha (East),Kollam, on the shore of Lake Ashtamudi ,belonging to Nelluvilla family. A younger sister of the head of this family, by the name Sreedevi, along with her son Mukandan ,left the home on pilgrimage . After visiting many places they reached the Sankaramangalam Illam (Namboothiri home) and met Sreedevi AntharJanam, who was a house holder Yogini , and was a devotee of Lord Vishnu . At her request the visiting Sreedevi , (commonly known as Chiruthechi, and her son stayed on at that Illam.
Meanwhile since there was no news of Sreedevi and her son after they had left home, her brother -in-law Padnanabhan, nicknamed as Kuthirapakshi, set out in search of them and eventually , traced them to Sankaramangalam Illam and met them. This gentleman made acquaintance of the priests known as "Pathillathil Pottimar". For a long time the two Sreedevis carried on their ardent devotion of Lord Vishnu with Ekadashivratam. Mukundan looked after the management of the affairs of the Illam.
On a Dwadashi day (Next day after Ekadashi) Lord Vishnu presented himself before them in the form of Vamana and granted them salvation . After installing sudarshan chakra and bestowing all management on Munukandhan the pious ladies attained their heavenly abode.
After the demise of Mukundan , the Villaakil Matom requested the service of Padmanabhan for managing affairs of Sree Vallabha Temple and the accounts. He agreed to it. Two posts of Temple Accountants are reserved for this family even till date. Three Namboothiri families including vilakkil Illam jointly built a big House at the south end of the Sankaramangalam Compound for Padmanabhan and his wife Lakshmi. A good part of this Sankaramangalam family properties were made over to this family. Since the house was the biggest structure in the area it came to be known as Valiyaveedu .The present Valiyaveedu clan are the descendants of Padmanabhan and Lakshmi.. Their ancersteral gods and snake deities are installed at the house campus and workshipped .As time went , the Clan split into eight branches and started staying separately.
