Logo and trade mark for Padmanabhaswamy Temple Onavillu; right to manufacture and sell for temple exclusively

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Onavillu of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple has received its logo and trade mark. The right to make and sell the Onavillu shall be exclusive for the temple. The Karamana Melarannoor Vilayil Veedu family will continue to make and dedicate 12 Onavillu for the temple on Thiruvonam day. However, they will not be authorized to make or sell the bows(villu). The family has come forward against this.

The ceremony is the Melarannoor Vilayil Veedu family offering 12 Onavillu under the flagpole of the temple on Thiruvonnam day at 5:30 in the morning. These bows are Dashavataram, Ananthasayanam, Sri Rama Pattabhishekam, Krishnaleela, Shasta and Vinayaka. Twelve bows, two of each, are offered.

After Onam, these bows will be handed over to Travancore Palace. The application at the Trade Mark Registry was filed by Adv Bindu Shankarapillai on behalf of the temple.

"The trademark received by the temple is for the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple Onavillu. The Onavillu family has got the trademark for the name 'Onavillu' till 2031. We have approached the court against the temple's action."

- Binkumar Achari,

Karamana Melarannoor Vilayil Veedu family

Onavillu and its legend

The family members who built the bow were the temple chiefs and the head architects. Ananthapadmanabhan Moothachari of the Vilayil Veedu family was the temple chief when the temple was renovated by Marthandavarma in 1731. It is his descendants who are offering the bow.

Mahabali asked Vamana, who had shown him Vishwaroopam, to show him the ten incarnations and anecdotes of Vishnu. Lord Vishnu asked Vishwakarma to appear. Legend has it that it was Vishwakarma who composed the first Onavillu. Lord Vishnu also promised that Mahabali, who comes to his presence every year, will be shown avatar pictures by Vishwakarmajar (Vishwakarma community).

Onavillu is made from burflower-tree and mahogany wood. It is manufactured in lengths of four and a half feet, four feet and three and a half feet. The pictures are painted using natural colours.