Vadakkunnathan Temple
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| Vadakkunnathan Temple | |||
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| Name: | Vadakkunnathan Temple | ||
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| Primary deity: | Shiva | ||
| Architecture: | Kerala | ||
| Location: | Thrissur, Kerala | ||
Vadakkkunnathan Temple is one of the largest temples in Kerala that is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple is located in Thrissur in Kerala and is over a 1000 years old. This temple is a classic example of the Kerala style of architecture with beautiful murals of the seventeenth century delineating graphically the story of Mahabharata. The shrines and the Koothambalam display exquisite vignettes carved in wood. It is believed that this temple was built by Parasurama.[citation needed]
Legends say that Adi Sankaracharya was born, after his parents, who were childless for many years, prayed at the Vadakkumnathan (vRashAcala) temple.
The sprawling Thekkinkadu maidan, en circling the Vadakumnathan temple, is the main venue of the Thrissur Pooram.
The temple is currently being renovated under the auspices of the ASI (Archeological Survey of India) with the help of liberal grants from the TVS group.
It is said that Tipu Sultan camped near this temple during his raid on northern Kerala. But this fact is disputed by a number of historians.
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[edit] Details of the temple structure
Vadakkunnathan temple is surrounded by a massive stone wall enclosing an area of nearly 8-9 acres. Inside this fortification there are four gopurams indicating the four directions - North, South, East and West.
Apart from these four gopurams there is a multi-shrined complex in the center with three principal shrines dedicated to Shiva or Vadakkunnathan, Shankaranarayana and Rama.
In the northern side there is a circular structure with the deity facing west. The figure of Shiva-Parvati faces east and is just behind Shiva, in the same shrine. The two-storied shrine of Sri Rama facing west is located in the south. Between these two srikovils stand a third one, circular and double storied in shape, dedicated to Sankaranarayana and facing west. There are mukhamandapams in front of all the three central shrines.[1]
[edit] More details
Vadakkunnathan temple is one of the oldest in South India according to the archaeologists. According to the legends, it was founded by Lord Parasurama and enshrines Lord Shiva as the principal deity. The idol of Shiva, which is not visible, is said to be covered under a mount of ghee, formed by the daily abhisheka (ablution) with ghee over the years. A devotee looking at the sanctum now sees a thirteen-foot high mount of ghee embellished with thirteen cascading crescents of gold and three serpent hoods at top. According to traditional belief, this represents the snow-clad Mount Kailas, the abode of Parvathy and Parameswara. Shiva here is more popularly known as Vadakkunnathan. Apart from Lord Shiva, Sree Parvathy, Sree Ganesh, Lord Sankaranarayana and Sree Rama are enshrined within the main nalambalam of the temple. Lord Vettekkaran (Siva in a hunter form) is also worshipped within the nalambalam enclosure.[citation needed]
Outside the nalambalam, there are shrines for Lord Krishna, Vrishabha, Parasurama, Simhodara, Dharmasastha and Adi Sankaracharya. Adi Sankara is believed to have been born to the Shivaguru-Aryamba couple of Kalady in answer to their prayers before Vadakkunnathan, as amsavatara of the Lord. Legend has it that Shiva appeared to both husband and wife in their dreams, and offered them a choice: a mediocre son who would live a long life, or an extraordinary son who would not live long. Both Shivaguru and Aryamba chose the latter. The son was named Shankara, in honour of Shiva.[citation needed]
The murals in the temple are known for its rarity and two of them - Vasukisayana and Nrithanatha - are even worshipped regularly. A fairly large white bullock on the verandah of the Nalambalam is worshipped as Nandikeswara. In the temple quadrangle, there are specified spots at which the devotees can offer their salutations to Lord Shiva of Kasi and Lord Chidambaranatha of Chidambaram, Lord of Shiva of Rameswara, Sree Kali of Kodungallur, Urakam Ammathiruvadi, Lord Bharatha (Koodalmanickam) at Irinjalakuda, Sree Vyasa, Sree Hanuman and serpent gods.[citation needed]
The temple theatre, known as koothambalam, has no parallel to cite anywhere else in the world. The four magnificent gateways called gopurams and the lofty masonry wall around the temple quadrangle are also imposing pieces of craftsmanship and skill.
Lord Ganesh in the temple is positioned facing the temple kitchen and offering of Appam (sweetened rice cake fried in ghee) to Mahaganapathy is one of the most important offerings at Vadakkunnathan temple. Propitiating Ganapathy here is believed to be a path to prosperity and wealth.
The devotees revere elephants as Lord Ganesh incarnate. It has been the regular annual practice at the Vadakkunnathan Temple for the last 20 years to conduct a large-scale Ashta Dravya Maha Ganapathy Havana and Aanayoottu (ceremonial feeding of elephants) on the 1st day of karkidakom month as per the malayalam calendar. Gajapooja also is conducted once in four years.[citation needed]
[edit] Tips for a worshiper
Not only in the case of physical structures, but also in the matter of rituals, poojas and even in the order of movement of a worshipper from sanctum to sanctum, the temple maintains a uniqueness of its own.
It is believed that you have to follow a certain order when moving between the temples. It is advisable to ask somebody inside this temple for this.
[edit] Time of worship
The temple opens at three in the morning and closes about 10-30 after the morning rites. For the evening worship it opens at four and closes at 8.30 at night after trippuka, the last rite for the day.
