Thrikkakara Temple
| Thrikkakara Vamanamoorthy Kshethram | |
|---|---|
| Geographic coordinates | 10°02′08″N 76°19′46″E / 10.0355°N 76.3295°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Dravidian architecture (Kerala style) |
| Specifications | |
| Temple(s) | One |
| Elevation | 36.67 m (120 ft) |
Thrikkakara Vamanamoorthy Temple is one of the major Hindu temples in
The main temple festival is during the
Architecture and deities
The temple complex, which is enclosed in a large area, holds the main sanctum dedicated to Vamana. The icon of Vamana is depicted preparing to place his foot on the Asura King Mahabali.[9] Parashurama is said to have established the temple.[9] The temple also houses records containing the earliest mention of the celebration of the Onam festival dating to 861 CE.[10] The temple is under the administration of the Travancore Devaswom Board.
The sub-deities of Vamana temple are Bhagavati, Sasthavu, Gopalakrishna, Nāga, Brahmarakshasa and Yakshi. The Brahmarakshasa shrine is located in the outer complex, along with a Banyan-tree god (ആൽദേവത) and the Sarpa Kavu. Surrounding the inner complex walls is a series of thousands of lamps called Chuttuvilakku which translates to 'surrounding lamps'. There are two ponds associated with the temple, one is the Kapilatheertham located closer to the temple on the Northern side of the sanctum sanctorum, and is accessible only to priests. The other pond is located on the Northern side outside the temple walls, and is used regularly during the Aaraattu ceremonial bath of the idol during Onam celebrations.
There is also a
Apart from the shrines and ponds, the temple complex houses three stages or halls for cultural performances called Naimishaaranyam, and a temple auditorium at the South-west corner. The auditorium is regularly used for weddings and meeting, and for conducting the Onam feast during the festival.
Legend
The Bhagavata Purana describes that Vishnu descended as the Vamana avataram to restore the authority of Indra over the heavens, as it had been taken by Bali, a benevolent Asura King. Bali was the grandson of Prahlada, the son of Virochana. King Bali was generous, and engaged in severe austerities and penance and won the praise of the world. With the praise from his courtiers and others, he regarded himself as the all powerful in the world.
Vamana, in the guise of a short
Vamana then placed his foot and gave the king immortality for his humility. Upon worshiping Mahabali and his ancestor Prahláda, he conceded sovereignty of Rasatala. Some texts also report that Vamana did not step into the Rasatala, and instead gave its rule to Bali and granting him the boon to become the next Indra. In giant form, Vamana is known as Trivikrama. The legend is associated with the temple and also with Ulagalantha Perumal Temple, Tirukoyilur and Ulagalantha Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram.[11][12][13]
As per another legend, a rich man who owned a plantain garden, did not get much yield from it. He donated a set of plantain to the temple, after which it started yielding as golden plantains. The groove came to be known as Nentiram Palam. The ruling king became suspicious of the change that it was his wealth in the garden and tortured a sage. The sage cursed the king. The king was afraid and in redemption, he consulted a group of sages. They suggested a thatch of bamboo and created a light with "Koraipul", a grass which helped him redeemed from the curse.[14]
Onam festival
Thrikkakara temple is considered to be a centre of Onam celebrations, as
- Arts performances: During the period of 10 days, the temple showcases performances in several cultural arts such as Ottamthullal, Kathakali and Patakam [16] as well as dance and musical performances such as Panchavadyam and Thayambaka. Each day also has its own ceremonial significance, and the temple authorities perform several ceremonial rites which involve the main deity and the other deities housed at the temple (namely Lord Ayyapa, Devi, Lord Krishna and Rakshassu). The Shiva temple located beside the main temple is also involved in these rites. In 2015, the Malayali actress Navya Nair presented a dance performance named 'Shivoham' at the temple.[17]
- Flag-hoisting and lowering: The temple festival begins on the first day (Atham) with the Kodiyettu (കൊടിയേറ്റ്) ceremony, which is a flag-hoisting ceremony common in festivals in temples in Kerala.[18] The festival ends on the 10th and final day, which starts off with a symbolic welcome of the Asura king Mahabali.[6] The closing of the festival is marked with the lowering of the flag and bathing of the idol, referred to as Aarattu (ആറാട്ട്).[18]
- Atthachamayam procession and finale: The festival is flagged off all over Kerala by a grand procession beginning at Thrippunithura near Kochi called Athachamayam (അത്തച്ചമയം). In olden days, the Kochi Maharaja would head a grand military procession in full ceremonial robes from his palace to the Thrikkakara temple.[19][20]
- Onam feast: A highlight of the festival is the grand banquet, or Sadya, held on the last two days of the festival at the temple campus.[6][15][16] The feast has grown significantly in magnitude each year, and is currently attended by more than twenty thousand people.[21] People belonging to different faiths and religions turn out in large numbers for the sadya in keeping with the spirit of the festival.[6][15][16]
- Decoration of idol: The Chaarthu (ചാർത്ത്) is a form of decoration of the Vamana idol using mainly sandalwood paste, ornaments and clothing. On each day, the idol is decorated in the form of one of the Ten Avatars of Vishnu, including the Matsya (fish), Kurma (Tortoise), Varaha (boar), Narasimha (half-man half-lion), Vamana, Parashurama, Rama, Balarama, Krishna, Kalki and Trivikrama (another form of Vamana).
- Processions: The Pakalpooram (പകൽപൂരം) is a grand procession held on the penultimate (9th) day of the celebrations. A similar procession, called Seeveli (ശീവേലി), is also held on the final day.[6] The procession involves leading the main deity Vamana on a ceremonial elephant around the temple campus, along with a group of about eight caparisoned elephants and accompanying Panchavadyam. The procession pauses at each of the gates of the temple (East, West, North and South), and proceeds to return the idol back to its inner sanctum. The procession is similar to the one held in festivities at the Guruvayur temple.
Gallery
-
Kapila Theertham (Temple tank) -
Temple Entrance -
Temple Premises -
Temple Premises -
Temple Premises -
The Aarattu procession at the Onam festival celebrations -
Thrikkakara Temple
See also
- Onam
- Temples of Kerala
- Thrikkakara
Notes
- ^ "Thiru kAtkarai".
- ^ a b c "New Siva temple at Thrikkakara to be ready by Onam". The Times of India. Kochi, India. 13 August 2013.
- ^ "Nammalvar : Poems and Biography". Poetry-chaikhana.com. Archived from the original on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
- ^ Elayavalli, Venkatesh K. "108 Divya Desam: A Virtual Tour". Archived from the original on 19 July 2011.
- ^ a b "Myth, mystique and traditions of Onam". The Hindu. Kochi, India. 21 August 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "Grandeur marks Onam celebrations at Thrikkakkara temple". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 11 September 2011.
- ^ a b "Thiruvonam celebrated with enthusiasm". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 11 September 2011.
- ^ "Let a million lamps glow". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 11 September 2011.
- ^ a b "ഓണക്കാലത്തിന്റെ വരവറിയിച്ച് തൃക്കാക്കരയില് ഉത്സവത്തിനു കൊടിയേറി". Asianet News. Kochi, India. 31 August 2015.
- ^ "The many shades of Onam". The Hindu. Kochi, India. 21 August 2015.
- ^ Parmeshwaranand, p. 1337
- ^ Hoiberg 2001, p. 217
- ^ "Sri Thiruvikrama swamy temple". Dinamalar. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ R., Dr. Vijayalakshmy (2001). An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam (1st ed.). Chennai: International Institute of Tamil Studies. pp. 468–9.
- ^ a b c "5,000 partake of onasadya at Thrikkakara". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 16 September 2005. Archived from the original on 3 March 2007.
- ^ a b c d "Ritual lunch marks Onam at Thrikkakara". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 24 August 2010.
- ^ "Navya Nair's New Experiments In Dance : 'Shivoham' In Thrikkakara Temple". Asianet Youtube. Kochi, India. 16 September 2005.
- ^ a b "Aranmula temple festival begins with Kodiyettu ceremony". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 8 January 2010.
- ^ PTI (14 August 2010). "'Athachamayam' Festivities held at Tripunithura". The Hindu. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
- ^ "And Onam is here, officially". The Hindu. Kochi, India. 14 September 2016.
- ^ "Thrikkakara temple gears up for Onam". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 24 August 2013.
References
- Parmeshwaranand, Swami (2001). Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Puranas, Volume 1. Sarup & Sons. ISBN 9788176252263.
- Hoiberg, Dale; Ramchandani, Indu (2000). Students' Britannica India, Volumes 1-5. Popular Prakashan. ISBN 9780852297605.
External links
