Mahakshetrams of Kerala-Shri Vadakkumnathan Temple

Thrissur has a rich& vast History.The cultural Heritage& Archaelogical wealth of Thrissur have made it to be knownas the Cultural Capital of Kerala From ancient times this part of Kerala called Thrissur District has played a significant role in the political& Cultural History of South India.Many Rulers & Dynasties like Zamorins of Kozhikode,Tipu sultan of Mysore and Europians including Dutch and the British have had a hand in moulding the Destiny,Characterand cultural history of this District& Thrissur Region. Raja Raja Varma popularly known as Shakthan Thampuran was the real architect of Thrissur Town. Thrissur is also known as Trichur which is the anglicized version of THRISSUR and this is the abbreviated form Of Thri-siva-perur which means the Abode of Lord Shiva. Thrissur District has played a significant role in the History of South India from pre- Historic period to Modern times.Scholars assign the age of the Megalithic monuments found in various parts of the district to a period ranging from the third century B.C to The First century A.D or even earlier. The district played very important role in developing trade relations between Kerala and outside world in the ancient and medieval periods SHRI VAKKUMNATHAN TEMPLE: Sree Vadakkum Nathan Temple is also known as Dakshina Kailasam.This is the first Siva Temple stated to have been created by Lord Parasurama.Shiva the Diety of this Temple is called Vadakkumnathan.The Temple is the and in the Heart of the Thrissur city. The Temple is surrounded by a massive and classic stone wall enclosing an area of nearly 9 acres. Inside this fortification there are four Gopuramsin the four directions North,South,East&West.Besides these Gopurams,there is more importantly the Multishrined complex in the centre with three principal shrines dedicated to Lord Paramasiva or Vadakkumnathan,Sankaranarayana , Rama and Lord Vettekkaran(Shiva in the form of Hunter) is also worshipped within the Nalambalam enclosure. In the northern side there is a circular structure with the Diety Shiva facing west. The figure of Shivaparvathi faces East and is just behind Shiva in the same Shrine.The two storied shrine of SreeRama facing west is located in the south.Between these two shrikovils stand a third one,circular&doublestoried in shape dedicated to Sankaranarayana &facing West.There are Mukhamandapams in front of all the three central Shrines. The idol of Shiva which is not visible,is covered under a mount of ghee,formed by the daily Abhisheka,with ghee over the years.After Abhisheka ,a portion of the ghee is returned to the devotees and they take it home with the belief that the Ghee has miraculous powers to cure all diseases.A devotee looking at the Sanctum now sees a thirteen feet high mount of Ghee embellished with thirteen cascading crescents of Gold and three serpent hoods at the top. According to traditional Belief,this represents the Snow-CladMount Kailas,the Abode of Parvathy and Parameswara. Outside Nalambalam there are ShrinesLordKrishna,Vrishabha,Parasurama,Simhodara,Dharmasastha,and AadiSankaracharya.Aadi Sankarais believed to have been born to the Sivaguru-Aryamba couple of Kalady in answer to the prayers before Vadakkumnathan as amsavathara.(incarnation)of the Lord.Legends have it that Shiva appeared to both Husband&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&Aryamba are said to have been opted for the later choice. Thus the son was born.The son was named Sankara,in homour of Shiva. The Vadakkumnathan Temole is Unique not merly for the structure around .The Temple is also showing the unique features of Rituals&Poojas.The Temple is also famous&unique for the movements of Devotee/Worshipper from Sanctum to Sanctum.It has a uniqueness of it's own in the routine of Darshan procedure to be followed by worshippers.There is a notice board of directions to the devotee the ways to be followed during Darshan.This notice Board is available at the entrance to the Temple.Those who violate the methods knowingly are supposed to be denied of the benefits of Darshan by the Bhagvan Himself. Of Course these are all Beliefs of Hindus.For that matter every Religion including Islam&Christinity have their own beliefs based on which they are growing.After all everyreligions has been established based on belief&is still surviving on belief. BELIEF!!!I*S THAT NOT EVERYTHING ON WHICH HUMANITY SURVIVE!! The Temple opens everyday at 3-00AM&closes around 10-30AM.Again in the evening opens at 4-30PM &closes at 8-30PM after the final Pooja/rite THRIPPOKA. There are Murals at this Temple.They are very rare of their kind.The VASUKEEYAM and NRITHANATHA the two Murals are worshipped regularly. A large White Bullock on the Varandha of Nalambalam is also being worshipped regularly as a Diety called NANDIKESWARA> There is another Speciality/Peculiarity about the Temple worth mentioning.These are the specified speciality Spots for offering Salutations to LORD SIVA of KASI (KASI VISWANATHAN),Lord CHITHABARANATHA Of Chidambaram,Lord Shiva of Rameswaram,Sree Kali of Kodungallor,Urakam Ammathiruvadi,Lord Bharatha Of Koodal Manikyam,Irinjalakkuda,Sree Vyasa,SreeHanuman&Serpent Gods. So,Sree Vadakkumnatha Temple is an Ideal Place for Devotees to visit during the Ramayana Punya Maasam of July-August. There is a Temple Theatre known as KOOTHAMBALAM which has no parallel to cite anywhere in the World. The four Magnificent Gopurams and the Lofty mansonry Wall around the Temple Quadrangle are so imposing that they remain as unparellel Glorious pieces of Craftmanship& Skill. The LORD GANESH in the Temple is situatedfacing the Temple Kitchen and offering of Appam to MAHAGANAPATHYis one of the most popular& significant offering in the Temple of Vadakkumnathan.The devotees even consider Elephants here Lord Ganesh's incarnated & Elephants are being treated as a sacred animal& loved by everyone in Thrissur.It has become a regular practice at least during the last 20 years to perform the Ashta Dravya Mahaganapathy Havana & a ceremonial feeding of Elephants called ANAYOOT at the Temple every yearOn the first day of MalayalamMonth Karkidakam(mostly in July.Once in Four years Gajapooja is also being performed In the Temple. The VADAKKUMNATHAN TEMPLE is one of the oldest in South India according to Archaeologists . This Temple is the largest in Kerala dedicated to Lord Shiva.This Temple is a classical example of Kerala Style Of Architecture with beautiful Murals of the 17th CenturyDepicting classically & graphically the Story of Mahabharatha.The shrines& KOOTHAMBALAM exhibit a display of ExquisiteVignettes carved in wood. It is believed that Tipu Sultan had camped near this Temple with his Troops during the raid of Northern Kerala but spared this Temple from Destruction because for his Troops to cook food ,the vessels from the Temple were provided.As a rare expression of gratitude he did not destroy the Temple. The peculiarity of this Mahakshetram is that there is no specific festival for Vadakkumnathan. The important ceremony of this Temple is Shivarathri.But again as a speciality the idol of Vadakkumnathan is not taken out in procession . On the Thrikkarthika day the Special Pooja in Vadakkumnathan is conducted in the Southern Compound wall. It is believed that the Lord Vadakkumnathan would sit on the Compound wall looking for his wife Kumaranellor Kathiyani Devi returning in Procession after her Thrikkarthika Bath in the Meenachil River. It is also believed this was detected by Villwamangalam Swamiyar who on a Thrikkathika day on looking for Vadakkumnathan in his shrine could not find him& on search found him sitting on the Southern Compound wall. So it was Villwamangalam who started the Pooja in the South compound wall on the Day of Thrikkarthika. The World Famous Festival THRISSUR POORAM is ,however,held every year in the months of April& May.the festival Is supposed to be performed in a competition by the Paramekkavu Temple& Thiruvambadi Temple In THRISSUR. The Bhagavathy of Paramekkavu& Sreekrishna of Thiruvambadi participate in competition of the Festival. The Vadakkumnathan is not participating in the Festival & his Idol is not taken out in Procession. Vadakkumnathan is just an observer of the festival offered in his respect by these two Temples. The competition is existing in every aspects of the Pooram like Poojas,processions,Mela& most popularly the Fireworks. The THRISSUR Pooram is so famous that no introduction about it's conduct & success every year & no mention Is needed to make. However,the Elanjithara Melam,a two hour Chendavadyam with five instruments neart Koothambalam, by topmost artist in the state.The Caprisoned Elaphants assemble outside South Gupuraqm face to face.This scene is known as "Koodikkazhcha" of Paramekkavu&Thiruvambadi.TGhis is also accompanied by Panchavadyam by famous artists in Kerala. Later in the evening of the Pooram Day the most spectacular event of Kudamattom is staged in front of the South Gopuram.The Ornamental silken Parasols unfurled ,of several colours are changed competitively.It is an expression of popularfascination for sound&Color &because ofv the pageantry,it appeals to all people.For witnessing this event alone several people from all pparts of Kerala,India&abroad gather here Of late High tech Umbrellas are also being used for Kudamattom. The climaxc of the Festival is the xhibition of Thirty Elephants followed by world famous wSpectacular Fire works. at 2-30 AM next daty of the Pooram. Besides the history,rituals&festival about the Tjhrissur Pooram ,a few words about the importance of Thrissur is that The Pooram is the basic element behind the development of t6he City.The business in Thrissur flourish because of Pooram.Many people from the suburbs of Thrissur come daily to Thrissur for job.In other words many people in and around Thrissur depends upon the Pooram festival for their day today life. The Thrissur Temple has a reputation unlike other Temples that the Rituals &mehods here teach a system of organised Dicipline among prople. The Authority of Shree Vadakkumnathan is unquestionable and holds the final word as far as the system followed in the Temple. there are many unwritten rules®ulations that are being observed by everyone visiting the Temple. AUM NAMASIVAYA SreedharanNund 4th August,2014,