legends say that, if one prays with full heart and places offerings at the feet of the lord ayyappa, the "chengazhi neer" flower, also known as "neelathamara", will bloom the very next day in the temple pond as a sign of god's blessing. this legend associated with malamakkavu ayyappa temple plays a pivotal role in the film "neelathamara". thiyattu nambiars, who has the right to conduct the thiyattu ceremony in ayappan temples has a branch in malamakkavu, where they live in the vicinity of malamakkavu temple.