Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple, Kottayam – Legends

Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple, Kottayam – Legends

Adbhuta Narayanan:

It is one of the five ancient shrines around 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 Yudhishthira, Thirupuliyur Mahavishnu Temple by Bheema, Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple by Arjuna, Thiruvanvandoor Mahavishnu Temple by Nakula and Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple by Sahadeva.

It is said that while the four oldest Pandava brothers were wandering around Kerala, finding Deities to install and worship in their own temples, Sahadeva, the youngest, could not find a suitable image of the Lord to worship. In despair, he decided to immolate himself. Just as he was about to leap into a huge flaming pyre, an idol of Vishnu appeared miraculously, thus the Deity is named Adbhuta Narayanan. When the Deity was installed, consecration rites at Thrikodithanam were performed by Lord Agni, who is specially honored here during festivals.

Statue of a Temple Servant:

Another legend is that temple servant being cursed by the deity to turn into a stone as he delayed the opening of the temple doors making the devotees to wait for Darshan. The statue of the servant can be seen in front of the temple. A monthly Sravana Deepams (festival of light) is performed.

Kazhuvetti Kallu:

Between the pond and the eastern entrance, near a public platform for arts and discourses, is a strange granite statue. It is a man flat on his back, held up stiff and straight on a stone pillar about six feet high. Only his waist rests on the pillar, rest of the body is unsupported. He holds a Shanku (conch shell) in his left hand and wears the sacred thread indicative of the Brahmin castes. At one time the statue wore a crown as well. The idol is a stern reminder that bribery, cheating and dishonesty cannot be tolerated.

Anybody who goes after these evils will be met with the capital punishment, such as, that met with the man lying on the stone. Common folklore about this stone idol has a story of jealousy, indiscretion and swift retribution. The ruler of Chembakacherry kingdom was a renowned Nambudhiri Brahmin who took pride in the prosperity of his own kingdom and Krishna Temple.

Since temples were then considered keystones to a kingdom's spiritual and temporal well-being, the King decided to embarrass the rulers of Nanrulainattu (capital-Thrikodithanam) by making a deliberate, untimely visit to the famous Vishnu Temple. He arrived in Thrikodithanam after the Seiveli puja (the last ceremony of the day) and after the temple had closed. It is considered very inauspicious to open a temple after the gods are put to rest, but still, the King forced an entry by bribing a caretaker.

When the rulers of Nanrulainattu discovered this indiscretion, they were furious. The caretaker was beheaded and, soon, the Chembakacherry king too fell ill and died. So, this stone figure was installed near the temple entrance to deter any future offenders and to remind everybody of the consequences of disturbing the gods. Another version of the story lays the blame on the king of Ambalapuzha for this surreptitious Darshan.

Prathyaksham for Rukmangatha:

Lord Athpudha Narayanan gave his Seva (Prathyaksham) for Rukmangatha, who is one of the king of Surya Vamsa (generation). It is also believed that this village was ruled by Rukmangatha, a king of the Solar race. He had a great thought for the world people and worked for their life. He greeted all the Gnanis, Yogis and bhaktaas of Vishnu and gave them proper respect and satisfied their needs. On hearing this, Vasishta Maharishi told about the great character of Rukmangatha to Indiran.

To test the great character, Indiran send Narathar to Rukmangatha. Rukmangatha welcomed Narathar and gave him lots of respect by doing Padha poojas and wore him with a special garland which had some peculiar flowers in that. Narathar getting the proper respect from him, left that place by blessing him. Narathar went to Indira Lokam with the garland that is given by Rukmangatha. On seeing the beauty and the smell that came out from the flower, Indiran was very much attracted by it and ordered his soldiers to get the flower from the Garden of Rukmangatha.

As ordered by Indiran, the soldiers daily stole the flowers from the Garden and gave it to Indiran. Rukmangatha was surprised to see the flowers being plucked and placed some soldiers to check who is stealing the flowers. But, the deva loka soldiers, without being seen by the soldiers placed in garden, stole the flowers. The garden soldiers fired some garlic plants to get the light, so that using the light, they can easily catch the person who is stealing the flowers.

The smell of Garlic is said to have the character of minimizing the Sakthi of Gods. At this stage, the smoke of that came out of the Garlic plants mixed with the air and all the soldiers of Indiran lost their powers and the soldiers in the garden also lost their power and as a result of this, they were caught and finally they said that they belong to Indira Lokam and explained all the things. On hearing this, Rukmangatha didn’t get angry, instead gave them proper respect and treated them well.

But, simultaneously all the soldiers, Devars in Deva Lokam lost their power and that day is said to Ekadesi day. All of them asked at least minimum amount of credit from the person who is doing fasting on Ekadesi. Rukmangatha searched for a person who is fasting on Ekadesi. But, he could not identify not even a single one. Finally, a woman who led her life by washing clothes of the village peoples fought with her husband and because of this, she didn’t have her food for the day.

Without knowing the day is Ekadesi, she did the fasting. He explained all the things to her and asked her to give the credit of the Viradha, thereby helping the devars of Deva Lokam. She also accepted it and gave one part of her Viradha to them and to regain their power. Rukmangatha thanked the women and gave lots of precious ornaments and money to her. It is believed Lord Vishnu gave darshan to him here.

Bhoodathan Kotta:

There is a stone fortress called Bhoodathan Kotta around this temple. According to local legends, the fortress was built out of a single stone, overnight, by a spirit (Bhoodam).