In ancient days, the place where the temple is constructed now, used to be the residence of a great sage and devotee known as ‘Adikal’. ( The native people entrusted with vedic teaching used to be addressed as ‘Adikal’ ). Muriamangalam/Muringhom Desom used to be famous as a Vedic study Centre. ‘Adikal’ used to perform a special ‘Homam’ daily along with his pooja routines. Towards the end of his life ‘Adikal’ had a strong desire to [behold] the ten ‘avatars’ of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu while performing the ‘Homa’. By the divine grace of the Lord, the ‘avatars’, one by one emerged out of the sacred fire. After giving darsan to ‘Adikal’ they disappeared back in to the fire. But the divine manifestation of ‘Sri Narasimha Moorthi’ refused to depart. It is believed that ‘Adikal’ by virtue of his great devotion and faith was able to persuade ‘Sri Narasimha Moorthi’ to reside there permanantly. This is the Legend behind the Temple.
Since the ‘Sri Namrasimha Moorthi’ avatar has been proclaimed to have emerged from the sacred fire of the ‘homa’, the manifestation is said to be in ‘Raudra Bhava’. Inorder to reduce the effect of heat generated from the ‘homagni’ (sacred fire) the ‘Sahasrakalasa’ system was devised. Today, this ‘Sahasrakalasha’ is also known as ‘Aayirakkudam’ ( Abhisheka with thousand pots of water). Besides these, the rituals of ‘Dhaara’, ‘Chandranam Chaarthal’, ‘Muzhukkappu’ are very famous in this temple. A large number of devotees visit this temple daily for multifurious reasons like ‘Mangalyabhagyam’, ‘SanthanaLabdhi’, Family Happiness, Good Health, cure for disease, etc. By the divine grace of the Lord, their desires attain fulfilment. Every Thursday, many of devotees assemble here, to witness the sacred ceremonies and poojas performed in the temple. In Kerala there is no other ‘Sri NaraSimha Swami Prathishta’ similar to this.
‘Muringothadikal’ had the divine knowledge to suggest ways to rectifying even the gravest of sin committed by people. It is believed that, once a Perumal who committed ‘Guruhatya’ in order to preserve the truth, got freed from his ‘Paapa’ (sin) by following the guidance of ‘Muringothadiakal’. This incident is also related with ‘Sri SankaraNarayana’ temple (also known as ShunakaRaman/Naithodam) situated in Kalady.
‘Adikal’ in the pursiut of increasing his ‘Thaapashakthi’ performed ‘Thapasya’ at ”NaraSimha’ situated in the banks of River Ganga. Through his devotion, he pleased Lord ‘Sri Narasimha Moorthi’. By the Lords guidance ‘Adikal’ constructed a temple at Thuravur nearby Chertala in Kerala.
After the death of ‘Adikal’ the native namboothiris took up the daily duties of the temple. From this day the temple was proclaimed as the ‘Gramakshetram’. ‘Kizhakkubhagathu Mana’, ‘Komana Illam’, ‘Mankuzhimana’, ‘Kuzhikkattu Illam’, ‘Madurathattillam’ looked after the temple’s administration. In the South-East corner of the temple, a platform has been constructed in the memory of ‘Adikal’ and ‘Brahma Rakshas Aradhana’ is being performed daily. Daily Lamp lit by the ‘Melshanthi’and the ‘Naidhyam’ is offered at this place. The administrators also possess five other temples. Thus under this temple, the other temples were known as ‘Muramangalam Devaswom’. An area of 5 Km around the temple belongs to the temple. There is a ‘Pathayappura’ where 12,000 ‘Para Nellu’ could be accumulated. The ‘Thanthristhanam’ of this temple is handled by a ‘Thanthri’ from ‘Puliyannoor’ family.