the Thekkumkur and Travancore kings were prominent, witnessed many brutal wars, treachery, murder and annihilation. However, in all these cases, the temple was saved from destruction by the will of God and the prayers of the devotees. The legend behind this concept is that Chera king Palli Bana Perumal, when de-throwned by the Bhattas (learned Brahmins) following a defeat in argument, traveled to Neelamperoor. The news came to the ears of the Potti Leaders of the Pathu Illams (Chengazhi Muttam, Kainikkara, Eravi Mangalam, Kunnithidasserry, Athrasserry, Kolencherry, Kizhangazhuthu, Kannancherry, Thalavana etc.), that the king is going to install his own personal idol at Neelamperoor. The Potti Leaders of the Pathu Illams thus managed to run with the idol of Neelamperoor Shiva and install it at Vazhappally. Ten Illoms The temple administration belonged to ten Brahmin families (ten illoms). These ten Brahmin families came from Neelamperoor village later settled in Vazhappally. Their temple administration lasted until the end of the 17th century. These are the ten Brahmin families are "Changazhimuttom, Kainikkara, Iravimangalom, Kunnithidasseri, Athrsseri, Kolancheri, Kizhangezhuthu, Kizhakkumbhagom, Kannancheri, Thalavana". The famous Copper scripts (Vazhappally Inscription) was recovered from one of this mattu "Thalavana Mutt". The main rituals in the Vazhappally temple were conducted by the monks of the Changazhimutttom Mutt. Cheraman Perumal Rajasekhara Varman (820-844 AD) was the second emperor of the Kulasekhara series. His story is recounted in the Chekkizhar Periyapuranam. It is believed that during his tenure, the steps were taken to renovate the Vazhappally temple. Rajasekhara Varma is said to have been the contemporary of Adi Shankaracharya, as he is mentioned in the Adi Shankaracharya and Shankaracharya victory of Madhavacharya. The oldest inscription received from Kerala is the Vazhappally inscription by Rajasekhara Varman (Cheraman Perumal) of Chera dynasty. Raja Chempakassery In ancient times, the temple had 54,000 para paddy fields (Punja nilam). The soldiers of the Chembakassery Raja killed a Unni of the Changazhimuttam madom family at Venattukara in Kuttanad, who had gone there to gauge the "Pata Nelu" of Devaswom. The Brahmins of temple urazhma installed a brahma rakshas in the temple to satisfy the Brahma rakshas of Changazhimattum Unni. Additionally a hanging tree was erected in front of the Rakshas shrine and the statue of Raja of Chembakassery was hanged. But later, these forms were removed in the late 19th century. Chempakassery Raja offered pujas to the temple as a sign of repentance for killing Unni. Raja