1. The issue involved in this appeal is regarding the Tantriship in Thirumalida Mahadeva Temple at Mallappally. The deity is believed to be Swayambhoo.

2. Earlier the area where the temple is now situate was a thick forest. The temple is believed to be more than 300 years old. In the thick forest, there was a mound and on the either side of the mound ran the Manimala river. An ascetic took up penance on the mound. The legend is that the extreme penance invoked Lord Siva's pleasure who appeared before the ascetic. Thereafter the ascetic began to worship Lord Siva. Time passed by.

3. Much later, a lady by name Mali went to the forest to collect grass. It so happened that her sickle fell on the Sivalinga and it began to bleed. Frightened Mali, the lady, informed the nearby Pathilapotti family. They performed poojas. The story goes that when nivedya was offered after poojas, as per the Tantric stipulations, it was refused by the deity. Then the gruel given to Mali along with coconut grates was offered by Mali which was accepted by the Almighty. There is considerable debate regarding how the place derived the name " ". Some authorities attribute it to Mali, the lady who was i