The Poornathrayeesa Temple is in Thripunithura subarbantown of Kochi.this is one of
the Mahakshetrams of Kerala.
The Principal presiding Diety is Vishnu and is as much famous as Shri Padmanabha swamy
Temple,at tTrivandrum & Guruvayoor temple in THRISSUR District.
The temple is just 10 KM from Ernakulam City.This Mahakshetram is also very near to
the famous Devi Kshetram at Chottanikkara
The main yearly celebration in the Temple is in the Month of Vrishchikam( November-December).the it's am is called Vrishchikatsavam.
The Diety is also known as SANTHANAGOPALAMOORTHY and is considered to be worth of worshipping by those who do not
have children.The legend based on which this belief was formed was A story which can be also considered as the
History behind this Temple.
It is believed that Lord Vishnu once offered a Idol of Sree Poornathrayeesa to Arjuna the third of the Pandava
brothers,when Arjuna made a request to give re-birth to 10 Children of a poor Brahmin
who lost the children.
Arjuna took the Idol & 10 Children to the Brahmin.He went there in a chariot.The Brahmin
who was overwhelmed with joy on seeing the children vowed to built a Temple There in the form of a chariot.He built a Temple with Sanctum- Sanctorium in the shape of a chariot
in memory of his children who were brought in a Chariot by Arjuna.
Arjuna directed Lord GVanesha to find a suitable place for installing y\the Idol of
Vishnu.The idol until then was kept in Poonithura Kottaram.
Lord Ganesh found ther Sanctum in the shape of a chariot builty by the Brahmin &liked
the place.He was deligted by the tranquility of the vedic village &occupied the
sanctum himself
Arjuna ,however,on seeing this thrown Ganesha to the southern side of the sanctum
where the idol of Vishnu was installed.Usually in all temples the position of Ganesha
is in the south Western side.ARJUNA FOUND THE PLACE WAS COVERED BY mUSTARD FIELDS.
He gathered some mustard to light the lamps around the sanctum Sanctom.
it is believed that the Valiya Vilakku (Big Lamp) in front of the Idol was the one
lighted up by Arjuna&the oilb in it has medicinal effects.
The Legends alsdo say that Sree Poornathrayeesa was the elder brother of the Goddess
of Chottanikkara.
It is also believed that the Lord was married to a Namboodiri girl Nangema from
Vadakkedathu Mana.
During the Temple festival occasions,Dieties from Perumthikkovil(Lord Shiva) &Pishri
Kovil(Lakshmi) visit here for a combined procession
This is locally called Sankaranarayana Vilakku(Shiva&Vishnu)and Lakshmi Narayana \
Vilakku(Goddess Lakshmi&Vishnu)
The Aarattu (The Holy bath of the Diety) of Sree Poornethrayeesa takes place at the
Temple pond of Chakkamkulangara Shiva Temple,which is situated North REast to
Poornathrayeesa Temple.
THE PRESIDING DIETY POORNATHRAYEESAN:
The Presiding Diety POORNATHRAYEESAN is Mahavishnu as said earlier.The Temple was
redesigned in 1921 by the Great Architect Eacharawarrier.The first floor of the Two
storied Gopuram consists of a Mandapam. And 8 beautifully carved pillars to support
the Mandapam.
Even today one can find many Palatialbuildings here.
The Temple is very big & the Idol is sitting on the serpent God Ananthan whose hood serves as a canopy for the
Lord.The Diety looks magnificent with his right leg folded at knees & perched on the seat and Left leg hanging
down.He carries Conch and Discuss in two hands and the third hand holds a Lotus and
the fourth hand is resting on
the seat.The Sanctom Sanctorum is circular in Shape and on the south side there is a
Shrine of Lord Ganesha.Facing West side is the Shrine for Ananthan.The door of the
shrines always remains closeand the Idols can be viewed through a small slit in the
wall.A lamp always glows inside round the clock and is gracefully called
KEDAVILAKKUwhich means a Lamp that keeps glowing always round the
clock.The Idols are excellent in Brass moulded with artistic perfection around the
circular Walls of theTemple
The Kerala temple Premises are well known for Cleanliness as people take perfect care
to clean them every day.
The Poornathrayeesa Temple is not an exception to this convention.The Local people
take a lot of care about this.
The Area of the Temple is around 5 Acres
There are view Galleries on the South& West side. These were meant for the Royal
Family members in the olden days to assemble in large numbers to view the Festivals
and listen to various Classical& Artistic Performances.
The Devotees & Worshippers visiting the Temple for Darshan have to observe a strict
Dress code prevailing here.Men are expected to wear the Traditional Mundu( Dhothi and
accompanying Angavastrams.The womenSaris& Chooridars.Wearing of Western dress is not
allowed inside the Temple.Some Temples in Kerala allow Trouser to wear inside the
Temple But never Shirts & Vests while entering the Restricted Areas.
There are two main Festivals here ONAM& the other in November which lasts for 8 days.
The Athachamayam In the beginning of the Agricultural Festival of Onam is colorful in
Many respects.Earlir days the Procession of Athachamayam used to proceed upto
Thrikkakkara another Mahakshetram of Vishnu in the form of Vamana.
The festival in November called Vrishchikotsava is famous for the Crowd and the whole
Town gears up one week in advance with a view to making the event a big success.
The Festival turns into a village fair with much decorations on the Road sides and ]
archesWith glorious illumination.
The main attraction of the festival is the Seeveli.It is the procession of Caprisoned
Elephantscarrying the Idol atop.14-15 Elephants Get lined up for this event& indeed it
is a spectacular show of Temple festivals in Kerala.
Another important Festival is the Temple fire Utsav.This festival is of recent origin
to remember a big fire that engulfed theTemple years ago.
The Abode of Mahavishnu here is considered to be an Important Holy Place for Hindus
The Birth Star of the God is Uthram.on this day thousands of people gather here .
There is Lakshminarayana Vilakku on this day which has been brought out in earlier
paragraphs.
The main attraction on this day is the Annadanam meant for over 35 to 40,000 people.
It would not be complete if I don't mention about an old Baniyan Tree in front of the
Temple which was existing for more than 400 years.It was fell & no more since a few
days back.A sacred & befitting Funeral was offered to the Old tree & in it's place a
new Spling was planted.
So to conclude ,the Poornathrayeesa Temple is one of the Mahakshetrams of Kerala & is
worth visiting on a pilgrimage.
The Temple is very near to the Famous city of ERNAKULAM.There are enormous means of
Transport s to reach the Place from Ernakulam.
So next time when you are in Kerala make it convenient to pay a visit to this
magnificent Temple of Cultural& Artistic importance..
AUM MAHAVISHNU NAMA:
SreedharanMundanat
Thursday,August 7,2014
at5-42AM(IST)
Good one
ReplyDeleteThank you.
ReplyDeleteDad
I am very thrilled to see this long blog on the deity of our 'desham'. I have seen and enjoyed the contents in many sites which are often very rhetoric about our Valiyampalam. But when a blog on our deity comes from someone in our family the thrill and enjoyment multiply several folds.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sreedharettan!.
What about the 'Parayedupputsavam'?
It is an 8 day celebration when Poornathrayeesan visits the houses of his devotees in the four cardinal directions.
Just like in many other temples high-handedness in the name of the God by some vested interests impedes the smooth functioning of the temple. But God, as he is, is much above the petty money related squabbles among wealth and fame hungry devilish minds.
Quite comprehensive, Sridharetta.
ReplyDeleteOne of the few temples with so many festivals. One festival of 8 days in Chingam, another in Vrischikam and yet another in Kumbham. Then firefestival in Thulam and thirunal in Kumbham, and Lakshmi Narayana Vilakku.
Gun salute when Lord goes on procession is also unique, I think
ReplyDeleteGreat Temple Wishes @ Local Packers Movers in Kochi
ReplyDelete