Thrikkakara Sri Thrikkakara Vamanamoorthy Temple, Kerala

Address

Thrikkakara Sri Thrikkakara Vamanamoorthy Temple, Temple Road, Soubhagya Nagar, Vidya Nagar Colony, Thrikkakara, Kochi, Kerala 682022

Deity

Vamana(Vishnu), Thrikkakarayappan, Amman: Perunchelvanayagi, Vathsalyavalli

Introduction

• Thrikkakara Vamanamoorthy Temple, also referred to as Thirukatkarai Vamanamoorthy, is one of the few temples in India dedicated to Lord Vamana (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu).
• Located in Thrikkakara, Kochi, Kerala, approximately 10 km northeast of the city center.
• Situated near the Thrissur-Ernakulam highway (NH 47), Seaport-Airport Road, Cochin University of Science and Technology, and Model Engineering College.
• Renowned as the center of Onam celebrations and believed to be the origin of the festival.
• The temple is over 2,000 years old and is one of the 108 Divya Desams (divine places).
• The temple’s sacred water body is known as Kapila Theertham.

Puranic Significance

• The Bhagavata Purana narrates the story of Lord Vishnu’s Vamana avatar and King Mahabali:
  • King Mahabali, the grandson of Prahlada, became powerful and gained control over the heavens.
  • Lord Vishnu, in the guise of a short Brahmin (Vamana) carrying a palm-leaf umbrella, approached Mahabali requesting three paces of land.
  • Despite warnings from his guru Sukracharya, Mahabali granted the wish.
  • Vamana revealed his divine form as Trivikrama, becoming gigantic.
    • With his first step, he covered the heavens.
    • With the second, he covered the earth.
    • Having no more space, Mahabali offered his head for the third step.
  • Lord Vamana placed his foot on Mahabali’s head, sending him to the netherworld (Patala), and granted him immortality for his humility.
• The temple also has a legend involving a plantain grove yielding golden fruits after its owner made a donation to the temple.
• Associated with the Ulagalantha Perumal Temples in Kanchipuram and Tirukoyilur.

Special Features

• The temple is set in a picturesque and expansive complex.
• The main sanctum houses an idol of Lord Vamana in the act of placing his foot on King Mahabali.
• Believed to be established by Lord Parashurama.
• Records dating back to 861 CE provide the earliest mention of Onam celebrations.
• The temple is under the administration of the Travancore Devaswom Board.

Festivals

• Thrikkakara temple is the global center of Onam celebrations, believed to be the abode of King Mahabali.
• The Onam festival is celebrated for ten days during the Malayalam month of Chingam (August-September).
• Key highlights of the festival:
  • The installation of a pyramidal statue of Lord Vamana, called Thrikkakara-appan, as a symbol of honor at all celebration sites.
  • Symbolic of the event when King Mahabali was sent to Patala by Lord Vamana.
  • The name Thrikkakara is derived from Thiru-kaal-kara (place of the holy foot).

Century/Period/Age

1000-2000 years old

Managed By

Travancore Devasthanam Board

Nearest Bus Station

Thrikkakara

Nearest Railway Station

Ernakulam

Nearest Airport

Kochi

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