Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple, Kottayam – Other Shrines

Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple, Kottayam – Other Shrines

Ayyappan Shrine:

There is a shrine for Shasta towards the south-western side in the compound, outside the Pradikshina Path (ceremonial pathway). This temple was installed at the beginning of the Malayalam Era (ME) in 825 AD. Apart from Shasta, the idol at this little shrine also represents Manikandan (another name of Ayyappa) and Paazhayil Ashaan, a victorious army commander. Every festival season, a special percussion session called Panacchikaletta is held to welcome and escort this hero to witness the Deepa ceremony. As in many other temples across Kerala, it is quite possible that this site holds the remains of a Buddhist shrine that occupied the main temple area, before the revival of Vaishnavite Hinduism in 800 AD.

Nagas:

Under a Banyan tree near the Shasta shrine are the Nagadevas (snake gods), represented by roughhewn granite stones.

Kshetra Pala:

Towards the left of the Shasta shrine is Kshetra Pala represented by a rough Beli-stone (uncommon location). Another Beli-stone is also there for him on the north-eastern side of the temple.

Rakshas:

Two Rakshas are housed behind the Sastha shrine. One legend has it that the Rakshasa represent the spirits of two persons – a young boy and his maternal uncle. A long, long time ago, both were seriously engrossed in a board game inside the Koothambalam (located above the gateway), when the uncle suddenly discovered that he had been beaten by his nephew. In a fit of rage, he is said to have killed the boy and then later, in abject remorse, committed suicide himself. The shrines were built to placate their troubled souls.

Goddess of Thirumanthakaavu:

This sub-shrine was built recently to the Goddess of Thirumanthakaavu in deference to astrological directives. Tradition holds that 10 Namboothiri families who managed this Maha-Vishnu temple came from Thirumanthakaavu.