Cherai Varaha Moorthy Temple, Kerala

Address

Cherai Varaha Moorthy Temple, Kerala Cherai,
Ernakulam District,
Kerala, India.
PIN – 683 514.

Moolavar

Varaha Moorthy

Amman

Maha Lakshmi

Introduction

Sri Varaha Swamy temple was built in 1565 A.D by Azheekal Yogakkars and the idol installation was done by Swami Yadavendra Tirtha, first Pontiff of Shri Kashi Mutt. It is understood to be the first GSB temple in Travancore-Cochin area. This renowned temple is located in Cherai main village and is just a km away from the beach of Cherai. The temple is well-known for its grand chariot, which is drawn by thousands of devotees during the annual Rathothasava festival. This is the only temple in the country where the vigraha of Varaha along with Sridevi and Bhudevi plus that of Sri Venkateswara with Mahalakshmi are installed and worshipped in a single sanctum, side by side.

Puranic Significance

The history of Azheekkal Shree Varaha Temple is related to the history of Goud Saraswat Brahmins and their exodus. Legends say that Saraswat Brahmins were descendants of Saraswata Maharshi, son of Dadheechi Maharshi who stayed on the banks of River Saraswati in Kashmir. Skanda Purana says that Sage Parasurama brought 66 families from there to settle down at Goa, which came to know as Konkan. They were subjected multiple assaults in time. Alaudin Khilji attacked them in 1294, Mohammed Ghazni in 1357, Bijapur Sultan in 1498 and finally, the Portuguese King Toao III ordered their expulsion from Goa in 1559. While fleeing, many of these families took their kuladevatas along with them. One of the families bearing family name ‘Kastoori’ reached Azheekkal near Cherai and installed a temple for his family deities Varahamoorthy, Devaki and Krishnamoorthy. This is supposed to be the first temple dedicated to Varahamoorthy in Kerala. Krishna Prabhu, the family head, also installed a temple for Mareecha Yakshi, his family Yakshi, in the neighborhood.

In 1542, the same year as the temple was installed, the Kasi Madom under the patronage of its head Yadavendra Theertha Swami was also launched. The Madom took over the control of the temple in that year itself. However, due to frequent sea erosions and flooding, the temple was shifted from its original position to where it is now. Even then, the sea water flooded the temple premises. To save the idol, the priest put them in the well. But they could not spot the well after the flood as the entire area was covered with sand. So Thirumala Devaswam gave an idol of Sree Venkitachalapathy, which was temporarily installed at the newly-built agrasala at Cherai. The locations of the well with idols were identified much later; both the idols were retrieved along with Mareecha Yakshi and installed again.

Special Features

Azheekkal Shree Varaha Temple complex has sreekovil with mukha mandapam, chuttambalam, sreebalipura, pradakshinavazhi, maha-sala, maryada, ratha veedhi and outer Brahma veedhi. In structural aspects, the temple is unique and comparable to famous South Indian temples having several enclosures like brahmaveedhi, akatte balivattom, chuttambalam, maha antarhara, seevelippura, maryada, maha maryada and ratha veedhi. A special feature of the ratha veedhi in the temple is iron railings fixed for easy movement of ratham or chariot. The temple tank is known as Sree Varaha Pushkarani and has got a mandapam in the middle. This mandapam is used for the ‘aaratt’ ritual.

The idols of both Lord Varahamoorthy and Lord Venkiteswara are made in pancha-loham (five-metal alloy). Both are in standing pose with conch and chakra in upper hands and lower ones in abhaya and varada poses. Varahamoorthy has to a boar’s face. Idols of Maha Lakshmi and Bhoomi Devi are installed on sides of the main idols. Other idols are Lord Ganapati, Garuda, Lord Hanunan, Lord Siva (Koteswaran), Vasuki, Naga and Yakshi.

Festivals

The festivals take place twice in a year. The Ratholsav is a specialty and attended by devotees in great numbers. The chariot is taken around the temple by devotees.