Thrissur Vadakkumnathan temple- Kerala

Address

Thrissur Vadakkumnathan temple- Thrissur- 680 001, Kerala Phone: +91- 487-242 6040.

Diety

Vadakkumnathan

Introduction

Vadakkumnathan Temple is one of the important and oldest temples of Kerala. It is situated in Thrissur, an important religious town of the state. The temple is dated to be more than 1000 years old. The gopurams are multi-storeyed structures made with granite and tiled roof. This structure of the temple is a typical temple structure that is followed in Kerala, with woods and tiled roof like a pagoda. The main shrine is centered inside a multi-shrined courtyard. Along with shrines dedicated to Parvati, Shankarnarayan, Sri Rama, and Ganesh, which is surrounded by a wall smaller than the outer wall. The inner temple complex can be reached from the outer complex through a corridor called “Chuttambalam”. As one crosses the corridor, there is a mural painting of Vasukishayanam (Shiva sleeping on serpent king Vasuki, similar to Vishnu’s Anantshayanam) on the northern wall. It is behind the Nandi and Nrithanath, the painting of dancing Shiva with 16 hands. These two paintings are also worshipped along with the deities. The shrine of Shri Vadakkumnathan is circular in shape with one roof and pillars. The Linga of Vadakkumnathan is not visible as it is covered with mounds of ghee due to regular Abhishek conducted over so many years. It is said that the ghee never melts. Neither in the summer season nor due to the warmth of the Diyas lighted inside the sanctum sanctorum. There is no foul smell either inside the temple due to the presence of so much old ghee. The Linga is embellished with thirteen crescents of gold. It has three serpent hoods on top. The deity of Parvati is in the same shrine at the back of the temple. Both the deities do not face each other. Since this image is made of wood, Abhishek is done only with turmeric. The Vigraha has three eyes and is decorated with ornaments and silk cloth. There is a two-storeyed Sri Ram shrine located inside the courtyard that faces west direction. The wall of the temple is decorated with beautiful mural paintings. Between these two shrines is located a circular shrine dedicated to Shri Shankarnarayan which faces the same direction as the other two shrines. The Vigraha of Shankarnarayan is a combination of both Shiva and Vishnu. It has four arms that carry a trident, a hatchet on the right side, and a conch shell, a Gada on the left side. The walls are covered with murals depicting the story of Mahabharat. The architecture of these three shrines is said to be of “Vritta” or a circular plan with a conical roof. There are three wooden Mukhamandap’s in front of these three shrines.

Puranic Significance

As per the legends and folk tales, this temple was set up by Parashurama. He is considered as the sixth avatar of Shri Vishnu, born to Rishi Jamadagni and Renuka. The couple had a cow called Surabhi which fulfills all desires. Once a king requested Rishi Jamadagni to hand over the cow to him but he refused. So, when the rishi had gone out for bathing, the king stole the cow. Parshuram on learning about the robbery was furious and went in search of it. He had to fight with the king. Finally, he killed the king and got the cow back to the ashram. He narrated the entire incident to his father, who asked him to amend his sin by going on a pilgrimage. He returned after the pilgrimage and found that the ashram was destroyed and his father was killed by the Kshatriya kings seeking revenge. In retaliation, he picked up his ax and killed many Kshatriya rulers. It is said that he eliminated the Kshatriya race twenty one times. In order to expiate his sins, he performed a Yagna and threw his ax into the ocean. The result of which western coastal plain, now known as Konkan was reclaimed from the sea. As per the local legend of Kerala, he was asked by various Rishi Munis to give them some secluded land after the Yagna as Dakshina. He hurled a Surpa or winnowing fan into the sea and a landmass hurled out of it. The landmass is the present-day Kerala which was then also known by the name Surparaka. Then he went to Kailasa. Requested Shiva and Parvati to take his abode in the new land and bless it. It is believed that Shiva along with Parvati, Ganesh, and Kartikeya obliged him and came with him. He chose the spot which is now present-day Thrissur as his seat. Later Shiva and his family disappeared. Parasurama saw a radiant light emanating from a Linga at the base of a huge banyan tree. This is the place where Shiva manifested himself as the main idol. Now known as Shri Moolasthanam, outside the west gopuram of the temple. The idol was said to be at the base of the Moolasthanam for many years. Later the rulers of the Kingdom of Cochin decided to build a temple and place the idol inside it. The temple is situated on a small hillock at the center of a circular maidan. Locally called as Tekkinadu (teak forest), overlooking the city. Spread across 9 acres, enclosed by a huge stone wall with four magnificent gopurams in the four cardinal directions i.e. east, west, north, and south. The main entrance for devotees is through the east and west gopuram. Whereas north and south, gopurams remain closed. The south gopuram is opened only during Thrissur Pooram, an important festival celebrated in the month of April.

Beliefs

He is called “Vadakkunathar” because he is the lord of the seventeen worlds. It is believed that if you eat anointed ghee on this lingam, you will get rid of chronic disease, infertility and increase memory.

Festivals

The major festivals celebrated in the Vadakkumnathan Temple are as follows: Shivaratri (Feb-March) Aanayoottu, One of the biggest festivals held in the temple, where elephants are fed on that day. It falls on the first day of the Malayalam month. Karkkidakam i.e in the month of July. Thrissur Pooram, it is held in the Malayalam month of Medam that falls in April. Shakthan Thampuran, Neithikavvu Bhagavathy Devi.