page_title: Muthiri kinaru
section_title: During festivals
hierarchical_section_title: Muthiri kinaru / As a ritual and religious symbol / During festivals
context_page_description: Muthiri Kinaru is the sacred well located in the north-western corner of Swamithoppe village. This is the famous theertha of the temple. It is located half a kilometre west from the main Pathi.
  Historically, this well plays a major role in joining the people in this part of the country, breaking the caste-based discrimination that once prevailed among them. Before and during the period of Lord Vaikundar, this part of the subcontinent was under the grip of feudalism, casteism, and untouchability. There were separate wells and tanks for each caste, and people from the other caste were not allowed to draw out water from those wells. As in the Vinchai, since the social aim of 'uplifting the lowely treated people in the society' occupies a major part in the spiritual mission of Vaikundar, which is projected towards the ideal Dharma Yukam, he wanted to stop this evil practice. So as the first step to reach this aim, this well was established at Swamithoppe. Apart from religious sacredness, this well was also a historical icon since it was the first well in this part of the country where people could use water freely, irrespective of their caste.
context_section_description: Apart from this daily ritual, this Muthirikkinaru earns a religious significance during the eighth day of the Kodiyettru Thirunal festival. At that day, Lord Vaikundar is carried to muthirikinaru on a horse (vahana). It is believed that the God hunts kali. The ceremonial hunting of kali is done with a bow and arrow. Here, thousands of people assemble to drink the holy patham. Patham viduthal is the word used by the devotees for bathing in Muthirikinaru. There is a heavy rush to take a bath in the well on the first Sunday of the Tamil months.
  Arul Nool, the secondary holy book, advises to do Dharma near this well.
  During the Car festivals and during the Vaikunda Jayanthi celebrations, the worshippers are not allowed to draw water from Muthirikkinaru due to the limited size of the well and extent of the crowds that attend to worship. During those days, one or two Panividaiyalars are used to draw water from the well and to throw it onto the crowd. In this way the everyone in the crowd gets a few drops poured on their heads.
caption: Devotees circumnavigating Muthirikkinaru at the first day of Kodiyettru Thirunal
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