Sri Thrivikramangalam Temple, Kerala

Address

Sri Thrivikramangalam Temple Trivikramangalam, Shastri Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Poojapura, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695012

Diety

Maha vishnu

Introduction

Sri Thrivikramangalam Temple is located in the Village, Thirumala Taluk, Thiruvananthapuram District. About Three Kilometers from Kunjalummoodu in Poojappura – Karamana Route. The temple by the side of Karamana River, devoted to Lord Mahavishnu, belongs to the period between 11th and 12th century. The temple is famous for its sculptural extravagance. Certain sculptures in front of the temple depict Chola features. Some sculptures are in bad shape. A tall ‘Kodimaram’ (flag mast) is seen in front of the temple. The temple is built in combination of Chola and Kerala styles of architecture. The basement is constructed with dressed granite block (Ashlars Masonary) and the walls with Laterite blocks. The tiled roofing is done over wooden frames and rafters he principal deity is Mahavishnu acclaimed as ‘Thrivikrama’. The other deities are Ganapathy, Sastha and Siva placed adjacent to the Srikovil on the northern side. The idol of Vishnu is about 6 feet in height. The Sreekovil is three-storeyed and covered with tiles. Above the granite Adhishtana there exists a rare variety of superb structures made of a rare variety of laterite blocks. The panels depicting the dancing figures and the Dwarapalaka figures are also noteworthy. The Dwarapalakas standing on the coils of the snake carved in granite are located on either side of the main entrance. They are comparatively tall and their one leg is rested on the hood of the serpent.

Puranic Significance

There are three stone relief panels on the balustrade the central rectangular one flanked by two triangular pieces carved on vyali panel moulded in the form of an arch. The central compartment contains three figurines of a dancing woman and two mothers with their kids on both sides of the dancing woman the other two panels there depicted two types of dance poses along with the accompanying artists keeping rhythm and time with percussion instruments like Maram and Thappu. One of the dancing figures illustrates the posture ‘Ardhamadali’ as described in the Natya Sastra of sage Bharata. The graceful twist of the danseuse’s body has been portrayed with exquisite workmanship. The seductive smile and coquettish charm of the danseuse as well as the appreciate fervour on the face of the percussionists reveal the wonderful aesthetic detail and artistic sense with which the graceful lithic translation has been made. The temple was originally owned by the Kupakkara Madom. Now it functions under the Travancore Devaswom Board. There were murals on the lime plastered lower walls of the Sreekovil which had almost been damaged. The Department of Archaeology has scientifically conserved some figures especially on the northern wall in 2005.