Thiru Chitraru Imayavarappan Temple, Chengannur, Alappuzha, Kerala
Thiru Chitraru Imayavarappan Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located at Chengannur Town in Alappuzha District of Kerala. Presiding Deity is called as Imayavarappan and Mother is called as Senkamalavalli. This Temple is also called as Thrichittatt Maha Vishnu Temple, Dharma Raja Temple and Thiruchenkundrur. Constructed in the Kerala style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, by Nammalwar, one of the saint poets of the 8th century. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam praised in Nalayira Divya Prabhandams.
It is one of the five ancient shrines in the Chengannur area of Kerala, connected with the legend of Mahabharata, where the five Pandavas are believed to have built one temple each; Thrichittatt Maha Vishnu Temple by Yudishtira, Puliyur Mahavishnu Temple by Bheema, Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple by Arjuna, Thiruvanvandoor Mahavishnu Temple by Nakula and Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple by Sahadeva.
Legends
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History
Earliest references to this temple appear in the poems and hymns composed by the greatest of Alvar saints - Nammalvar, in circa 800 AD. Stone inscriptions in the temple date it back to the Second Chera Empire (800 - 1102 AD). In modern times, the temple is administered by Travancore Devaswom Board of the Government of Kerala. There are no historical records to indicate when the temple was built. As per local legend, the temple was believed to have been built by Devas.
The Temple
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Temple Opening Time
The temple is open from 04.00 am to 11:00 am and 05.00 pm to 08.00 pm and is administered by Travancore Devaswom Board of the Government of Kerala.
Festivals
The major festivals celebrated in the temple are Panguni Ashta Nakshatram 10-day Brahmotsavam, Dasavatharam Utsavam, Vaikunta Ekadasi and Thiruvonam. The Lord goes on a procession to the Pamba River for an Abhishekam during Thiruvonam Nakshatram Aarrattu (last day Utsavam). Another most important festival observed in the shrine is Ashtami Rohini – Birthday celebrations of Krishna (August or September). From 1957, the festival of Gosala Krishna Temple at Thiruvanvandoor commences from Thrichittatt Maha Vishnu temple when 25 caparisoned elephants are paraded to the Thiruvanvandoor. During Dasavatharam Utsavam, the Lord gets decorated in different Avatharams. On the last day, he takes on the Mohini Avatharam. Bhagavatham Parayanam takes place every day on 7-day Sapthaham Festival during January.
Religious Significance
It is one of the five ancient shrines in the Chengannur area of Kerala, connected with the legend of Mahabharata. Legend has it that the Pandava princes, after crowning Parikshit as king of Hastinapura left on a pilgrimage. On arriving on the banks of river Pamba, each one is believed to have installed a tutelary image of Krishna; Thrichittatt Maha Vishnu Temple by Yudishtira, Puliyur Mahavishnu Temple by Bheema, Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple by Arjuna, Thiruvanvandoor Mahavishnu Temple by Nakula and Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple by Sahadeva.
Literary Mention
Imayavarappan Perumal temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabhandham, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by Nammazhwar. The temple is classified as a Divyadesam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the temple finds mention in several works like 108 Tirupathi Anthathi by Divya Kavi Pillai Perumal Aiyangar. Nammalwar describes Chengannur as a town where the smoke emanating from the Vedic ritual yagnas fills the sky and as a place surrounded by rich lush vegetation (of bananas and coconuts). Nammalwar had sung 11 Paasurams on the Lord of this Temple. The town where the temple is situated is Chengundrur. The river flowing near the temple is Chittraru. Name of the Lord is Imayavar Appan. It is noteworthy that Nammazhwar has used all these three words in his Mangalasasanam hymn.
Prayers
It is strongly believed that Lord pardons wrong doers if they honestly and sincerely seek Lord’s grace. Devotees perform Tirumanjanam to Lord and Mother.
Contact
Imayavar Appan Temple,
Thrichittatt, Chengannur,
Alappuzha District, Kerala
Phone: +91 479 245 6672 / 246 6828
Mobile: +91 94976 74799
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 200 meters from Puthenthiruv Bus Stop, 500 meters from Thrichittatt Temple Junction Bus Stop, 1.5 Kms from Chengannur Railway Station, 1.5 Kms from Chengannur K.S.R.T.C Bus Station, 4 Kms from Puliyoor, 8 Kms from Thiruvalla, 10 Kms from Aranmula, 43 Kms from Alappuzha, 101 Kms from Ernakulam and 125 Kms from Cochin International Airport. Chengannur is well connected by Rail, Road and Air. Chengannur Railway Station is a major hub in the Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram) - Ernakulam line. It is just 90 minutes away from Ernakulam by most of the super-fast express trains that ply on the Thrissur-Kottayam-Kayankulam-Trivandrum rail route. Nearest Airport is located Cochin.
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