Varkala Sri Janardhana Swamy Temple- Kerala

Address

Varkala Sri Janardhana Swamy Temple- Varkala, Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala 695141

Diety

Sri Janardhana Swamy(Vishnu) Amman: Sri Devi, Bhudevi

Introduction

Janardana Swami Temple is a 2000-year-old temple situated in the municipality of Varkala city in Trivandrum. It is also known as Varkala Temple. Janardana Swami is a form of Lord Vishnu. It is situated near the Arabian sea shore. It is referred to as Dakshin Kashi (Benares of the south). The temple is located close to the Varkala Beach, which is considered to have medicinal properties since the waters wash the nearby medicinal plants. It is also an important Ayurveda treatment center. The temple has an ancient bell removed from a shipwreck, donated by the captain of the Dutch vessel which sank near Varkala without causing any casualties. The presiding deity of this temple is Sri Janarthana Swami. The deity is found in a standing position facing towards the east. His right hand is in position as if he is performing “Aachamanam”. His right hand is raised towards his mouth and legends say that if his hand goes nearer to his mouth, the world will come to an end. It is believed to happen at the end of the Kali Yuga.

Puranic Significance

This temple was built in 13th century and renovated in 17th century. In times of yore, Lord Brahma came to the earth to perform a Yaga (fire Sacrifice). He did it in the present Varkala. He was so much immersed in doing Yaga that he forgot his job of creation. Lord Vishnu came to Varkala to remind Lord Brahma about it in the form of a very old man. The Brahmins assisting Lord Brahma, received the old man and gave him food. But whatever he ate, his hunger was not satisfied. Lord Brahma’s assistants went and told him about it. Then Lord Brahma could understand that the guest was Lord Vishnu himself. He immediately came near Lord Vishnu and found him trying to eat Aabhojanam. Lord Brahma then prevented Lord Vishnu from eating it and told him – “Lord, if you eat it, then the final deluge will swallow this world.” Lord Vishnu then requested Lord Brahma to stop the Yaga and recommence his job of creation. He also showed him his ‘Viswaroopa’. After this one day Sage Narada followed by Lord Vishnu was walking in the sky over Varkala. Lord Brahma who came there saluted Lord Vishnu. The nine Prajapathis to whom only sage Narada was visible laughed at Lord Brahma. Because they thought that Lord Brahma was saluting his own son Sage Narada. Then Lord Brahma corrected them. They felt sad at having committed a sinful deed. Lord Brahma told them that the proper place to pray for their redemption would be shown to them by sage Narada. Sage Narada threw the Valkala (deer’s skin) that he was wearing towards the earth. It fell in the present Varkala. The Prajapathis wanted a pond to do the atonement. Sage Narada requested lord Vishnu, who made a pond there, using his Chakra (wheel). The Prajapathis did thapas there and were pardoned for their sins. It is believed that the ‘Devas’ constructed a temple of Lord Vishnu there and were worshiping the Lord Janardhana. But this temple got dilapidated. At that time, several centuries ago, the then Pandya king was affected by a ghost. He went on a pilgrimage but nowhere did he find any cure. When he came to the present day Varkala, he saw the remnants of the dilapidated temple by the side the sea. He prayed to the Lord saying that he would rebuild the temple there. The next day he had a dream. It told him that the following day he should go to the sea and stand near the dilapidated temple. Nearby he would see a huge amount of flowers floating in the sea and that if he searches there he would get an idol. He was instructed to make a golden hand and attach it to the idol and build a temple round it. The present Janardhana idol was recovered from the sea by him. He built the temple and laid down the rules for maintenance of the temple. The idol of Janardhana has Aabhojana in its right hand. People believe that over years this hand is raising slowly. The day that the idol is able to eat the aabhojana from his right hand; the world will face the great deluge. There are small temples of Lord Shiva, Ganapathi, Sastha and Naga Devatha in this temple. The idol is always dressed in sandal and flowers either in the form of Janardhana, Narasimha, Venugopala or Mohini. Ashtami Rohini, the birthday of Lord Krishna, which comes in the month of Chingam (August–September) is celebrated as a festival here. On the southern side of the temple two bells are tied. There is a story about it as well. One Dutch ship was passing this way and suddenly the ship refused to move in spite of all efforts. The people told the captain of the ship to tie a bell in the Janardhana temple. It seems the captain and his assistant came ashore and tied the bells. As soon as they tied the bells, the ship started moving. The names inscribed in the bell are ‘Peter von Belson’ and ‘Michelle Evarald’. People believe that if worship of ancestors is done in this temple, then they would be pleased. Possibly because of this the Janardhana is also called Pithru Mokshakan.

Special Features

Lord Janardhana Swamy is incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The idol is 6 feet height and self manifested. Lord Janardhana has four arms in which are placed Shanku, chakra , gada and kumbham.

Festivals

Every year, in the month of Meenam (March–April), a ten-day Arattu festival is celebrated at the Janardhana Swamy Temple in Kerala’s beach town of Varkala. The festival starts with a Kodiyettam flag hoisting ceremony, and ends with a procession of five decorated elephants through the streets. During the fourth and fifth days of the festival, the celebrations include all night long performances such as traditional Kathakali dancing. The arattu (holy bath) of the Lord is conducted on Uthram day in the Arabian sea on the back of the temple. Along with this festival, the days of the appearance of Lord Vishnu’s avatars (e.g.: Rama Navami, Ashtami Rohini, Narasimha Jayanthi), Karkidaka vavu (Amavasya day in the month of Karkidakam, which comes in July or August), and Vaikuntha Ekadashi are also celebrated in the temple. The days of Thiruvonam star, Ekadashi and Thursdays are also considered important, since according to popular custom, these days are dedicated to Lord Vishnu.