Onattukara
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Onattukara (meaning the land of Onam) was a principality of ancient Kerala. Also known as Odanadu (meaning the land of bamboo), Onattukara was at times part of the kingdom of Venad and was comprised of the present day Taluks of Kayamkulam, Mavelikara, Karunagapalli, Karthikapalli etc.
Historical evidence shows that centuries ago Onattukara area was a flourishing centre of a Buddhist culture and civilization that was destroyed and possibly consciously erased from history after the revival of Hinduism post 8th century A.D. Names of towns and villages in the Onattukara region carry the “palli” suffix, which was common usage in Pali, the language of Theravada Buddhism. Karunagapalli, Karthikapalli, Pallickal, Pallippuram, Puthupalli are examples of such historical and present names of places in the Onattukara region. The temple festivals and customs such as the Chettikulanga Kutthiottam and Kettukazhcha are considered to have originated from Buddhist customs and practices. Also large temples, such as the Kandiyoor Mahadevar temple, could possibly have been Buddhist viharas in their initial days. The ancient Buddha statue placed today in Mavelikara town, at Buddha Junction in front of the Krishnaswamy temple, was excavated more by accident in the early 1900s from a paddy field near the Kandiyoor temple. It is possible that a lot more of the vanished Buddhist civilization of Onnattukara still lies buried in history, yet to be unearthed.
The name Onattukara is even today officially used for one of the many revenue villages included in Mavelikara Taluk.
Eruva Sreekrishna swamy temple located 2km north kayamkulam town is one of the important places in onattukara.
[edit] Evoor Sri Krishnaswamy Temple, (Onattukara's Guruvayoor)
The ancient Sri Krishnaswamy temple at the place Evoor is in the Onattukara region . This temple had originated in the presence of Bhagavan Sri Krishna Himself.
Evoor temple is one of the most important 26 Maha-Vishnu shrines in the world . It is linked to ‘Khandava-dahanam’ (burning of Khandava forest), described in ‘Mahabharata’. The remains of burnt trees being widely found here, confirm this . Further evidence are, nearby ‘Mannarassala’ and ‘Pandavarkavu’ temples.
The great Kanva Maharshi (one of the top 7 Rishis) , had been living in this part of Onattukara . ‘Kannamangalam’ (Kanva-mangalam) is nearby. His ‘Ashramam’ (hermitage) later became a temple. Evoor Krishnaswamy’s yearly ‘Arattu’ (ceremonial bath) is held in this temple’s tank .
Origin of Evoor Temple
Agni-deva (Fire God) had been suffering from a severe stomach ailment . As a remedy, Lord Brahma advised him to consume the herb-rich Khandava forest . Unfortunately, Takshaka the serpent-king and a close friend of Lord Indra, was residing there. Whenever Agni tried to consume the forest, Lord Indra’s thundershowers dutifully extinguished the fire. Once, Sri Krishna and Arjuna were visiting this place . Appearing in the form of a Brahmana, Agni-deva sought their help and they agreed.
Then Kanva Maharshi arrived there to save his ‘Archa Murthy’ (a four armed image of Maha-Vishnu). Bhagavan Krishna granted a boon that the ‘Murthy’ will not be harmed by fire.
Soon, Agni started consuming Khandava forest. Lord Indra used thundershowers promptly but on Sri Krishna’s advice, Arjuna constructed a “Sharakoodam” (shelter of arrows) to complete ‘Khandava dahanam’.
Thus Agni’s ailment was cured. The thankful Agni-deva sought permission to install that “Murthy” in a new temple there to facilitate worship .
As instructed by Sri Krishna, Arjuna fired an arrow to determine the location. A new temple was soon consecrated where the arrow had landed. (Evoor is the shortened form of 'Eytha ooru', meaning the place from where the arrows were showered to make the 'sharakoodam').
Bhagavan Krishna Himself infused His divine power into the ‘Moorthy’. And Arjuna performed its first pooja. A ‘Moorthy’ of ‘Bhoothanathaswamy’ (‘Kiratha Moorthy’ form of Lord Siva) together with ‘Yakshi Amma’ (Devi Parvathy) were consecrated as the Sub -Deities. The ancient trees roofing them are the survivors of Khandava-forest . Fire and Re-construction
About 125 years back, this temple was destroyed in a fire . When the ‘Sree Kovil’ (Sanctum sanctorum) was caught fire, so many people tried to remove the Deity, but failed. At last, an old Brahmana-devotee of the adjacent house , after taking a dip in the temple tank, entered the raging flames and brought out the Deity, safely.
Sri Moolam Thirunal, then king of Travancore, was in ‘’Kasi’’ at that time. Appearing as a Brahmana-boy in his dream, Sri Krishna asked the king to re-construct the Evoor temple. Immediately , the king returned home and constructed a huge temple complex . It contained royal facilities such as security trenches atop the roof all around and underground drainage network to discharge the ‘abhishka water’ from ‘Srikovil’ to adjacent temple tank.
The renowned ‘Tharananalloor Tantri‘ (whose ancestor had been brought to Kerala by Sri Parashurama) was appointed as the traditional ‘Tantri’. Immense wealth (including lands and other assets) was arranged to ensure self reliance. Also, extensive neighborhood facilities and all necessary infrastructure were put in place for the temple.
Prayoga Chakra Prathishta
Evoor Bhagavan’s Deity is the unique Prayoga Chakra Prathishta . Live ‘Sudarshana Chakra’ in rear right hand ;Panchjanya Sankha in rear left hand ; Butter in frontal right hand ; and the frontal left hand is held on the hip as a mani-bandham .
Bhagavan is in a combative mood ready to release ‘Sudarshana Chakra’. He is the 72 year old Sri Krishna at His peak glory and power.
Vedic experts have confirmed the extremely rare divine presence of “Sri Chakra” on this Deity. Consequently, “Raktha-pushpanjali” is a special offering here which is unavailable in Vishnu temples elsewhere.
Evoor temple is popularly known as the “Guruvayoor of Onattukara”.
How to reach Evoor
Evoor temple is situated near the Cheppad Railway station ( Between Kayamkulam and Harippad . It is the "Theera Desa" ( coastal route ) and not the main railway route ) . It is more easy to reach there by bus . Cheppad is about 7 km north of Kayamkulam Bus stand . From Harippad Bus stand Evoor is about 5 km south . You can get down at Cheppad Junction and go by an auto-rikshaw to Evoor temple . Alternatively , you can get down at the bus stop ( south of Cheppad and north of Ramapuram Devi temple ) on NH-47 and walk up to the temple which is about 1 km east of NH-47 .
