Thrikkakara Temple

Thrikkakara Vamanamoorthy Kshethram
Thrikkakara Temple Entrance
Thrikkakara Vamanamoorthy Kshethram Location within Kerala
Name
Proper name	Thrikkakara Vamanamoorthy Kshethram
Malayalam	തൃക്കാക്കര വാമനമൂർത്തി ക്ഷേത്രം
Geography
Coordinates	10°2′8″N 76°19′48″E / 10.03556°N 76.33000°E / 10.03556; 76.33000Coordinates: 10°2′8″N 76°19′48″E / 10.03556°N 76.33000°E / 10.03556; 76.33000
Country	India
State/province	Kerala
District	Ernakulam
Locale	Thrikkakara
Culture
Primary deity	Vamana(Vishnu), Thrikkakarayappan, Bhagavati
Architecture
Architectural styles	Dravidian architecture (Kerala style)

Thrikkakara Temple is one of the few temples in India dedicated to Lord Vamana. It is situated in Thrikkakara, a village panchayat near Kochi (formerlyCochin) in the state of Kerala, South India. It is located 10 km north east of Ernakulam between Thrissur-Ernakulam highway (NH 47), Seaport-Airport Road, Cochin University of Science and Technology and Model Engineering College. The temple houses lithic records of historic significance, and it finds mention in many of the hymns sung by the Tamil Vaishnavite Alwars, particularly Nammalvar who lived 5000 years back. It is the center of celebrations and place of origin for the popular Onam festival of Kerala.^[1] The temple is around two millennia old.^[2] It is also listed as one of the 108 Divya Desams (divine places).^[3][4]

The main temple festival is during the Onam season, which falls on the month of August or September. The most important event of the religious calendar here is Onam. The Onasadya or the Onam feast is held in a grand manner in the temple with a large number of people cutting across religious barriers participating in it. In earlier times the Onam festival was jointly organized by the 61 Naduvazhis (local rulers) under the leadership of the Maharaja of Travancore. Communal harmony continues to be the hallmark of the celebrations, with people belonging to different faiths and religions turning out in large numbers for the Sadya in keeping with the spirit of the festival.^[5][6] Apart from Onam, the temple also observes important festivals in the Hindu calendar such as Vishu, Diwali, Makar Sankranti,^[7] Navrathri and Saraswati Puja.

Architecture and deities

The Chuttu-Vilakku (surrounding lamps) lit up during Onam at Thrikkakara temple

The temple complex, which is enclosed in a large area in picturesque surroundings, holds the main sanctum dedicated to Lord Vamana. The sanctum sanctorum of the main shrine houses the idol of Maha Vishnu. The idol is in the form of Lord Vamana preparing to place his foot on the Asura King Mahabali.^[8] Lord Parashurama is said to have established the temple.^[8] The temple also houses records containing the earliest mention of the celebration of the Onam festival dating to 861 A.D.^[9] 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 Shiva temple beside the main Vamanamoorthy temple, which was renovated in 2014.^[2] It houses idols of the deities Shiva, Ganesha, Karthikeya and Durga. Not much is known about the age and origin of the Shiva temple except that it underwent renovation around a hundred years ago.^[2]

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 avatar to restore the authority of Indra over the heavens, as it had been taken by Mahabali, a benevolent Asura King. Bali was the grandson of Prahlada, the son of Virochana. King Mahabali 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 Brahmin carrying a wooden umbrella, went to the king to request three paces of land. Mahabali consented, against the warning of his guru, Sukracharya. Vamana then revealed his identity and enlarged to gigantic proportions to stride over the three worlds. He stepped from heaven to earth with the first step, from earth to the netherworld with the second. King Mahabali, unable to fulfill his promise, offered his head for the third.

Vamana then placed his foot and gave the king immortality for his humility. In worshiping Mahabali and his ancestor Prahláda, he conceded sovereignty of Pátála, the netherworld. Some texts also report that Vamana did not step into the netherworld, and instead gave its rule to Bali. 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.^[10][11][12]

Onam festival

Vamanamoorthy idol in the Aarattu procession at Thrikkakara temple

Thrikkakara temple is considered to be the centre of Onam celebrations over the world, as Thrikkakara is considered to have been the abode of the King Mahabali.^[1][6] The celebration of the Onam festival is the main religious event in the temple. The festival is celebrated over a period of ten days in the Malayalam month of Chingam. The temple houses the main deity Lord Vamana.^[13][14] During the Onam celebration period, a pyramidal statue symbolizing Lord Vamana is installed as a symbol of honour at all other sites of the celebration, and named Thrikkakara-appan. The temple is the site at which the king Mahabali is said to have been sent to the underworld Patala by Lord Vamana with his foot, hence marking the genesis of the Onam festival. The etymology of the name Thrikkakara ('Thiru-kaal-kara' meaning 'place of the holy foot') is also derived this way. Some features of the Onam festival at Thrikkakara are

• Arts performances: During the period of 10 days, the temple showcases performances in several cultural arts such as Chakyar Koothu, Ottamthullal, Kathakali and Patakam ^[14] 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.^[15]
• 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.^[16] The festival ends on the 10th and final day, which starts off with a symbolic welcome of the Asura king Mahabali.^[5] The closing of the festival is marked with the lowering of the flag and bathing of the idol, referred to as Aarattu (ആറാട്ട്).^[16]

Seeveli at Thrikkakara temple

• 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.^{[17] [18]}

• 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.^[5][13][14] The feast has grown significantly in magnitude each year, and is currently attended by more than twenty thousand people.^[19] People belonging to different faiths and religions turn out in large numbers for the sadya in keeping with the spirit of the festival.^[5][13][14]
• 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.^[5] 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

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

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thrikkakara Temple.

• Vaikhari.org
• Ekm.kerala.gov.in
• The Hindu report on the Onam celebrations at the temple, 2005
• The Hindu report on the Onam celebrations at the temple, 2010
• The Hindu report on the Onam celebrations at the temple, 2011
• Thrikkakara temple complex