Vadakkunnathan Temple, Thrissur – The Temple

Vadakkunnathan Temple, Thrissur – The Temple

The temple is situated in an elevated hillock in the centre of Thrissur City and is surrounded by a massive stone wall enclosing an area of nearly 9 acres (36,000 m2). Inside this fortification, there are four gopurams facing four cardinal directions. Between the inner temple and the outer walls, there is a spacious compound, the entrance to which is through gopurams. Of these, the gopurams on the south and north are not open to the public. The public enter either through the east or west gopuram. The inner temple is separated from the outer temple by a broad circular granite wall enclosing a broad corridor called Chuttambalam.

Entrance into the inner temple is through a passage through the corridor. This temple is a classic example of the Kerala style of architecture with beautiful murals of the seventeenth century delineating graphically the story of Mahabharata. The shrines and the Koothambalam display exquisite vignettes carved in wood. It is said that Tipu Sultan camped near this temple during his raid on northern Kerala. But this fact is disputed by a number of historians.

Gopurams:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2019/07/vadakkunnathan-temple-thrissur-gopurams.html

Sanctum:

The main deity of this temple, Lord Shiva, is worshipped in the form of a huge lingam, which is covered under a mound of ghee, formed by the daily abhishekam (ablution) with ghee over the years. A devotee looking into the sanctum can now see only a 16-foot-high (4.9 m) mound of ghee embellished with thirteen cascading crescents of gold and three serpent hoods on top. According to traditional belief, this represents the snow-clad Mount Kailash, the abode of Shiva. This is the only temple where the lingam is not visible. It is said that the ghee offered here for centuries does not have any foul odour and it does not melt even during summer.

Nandikeswara Shrine:

Located on the verandah of the Naalambalam is a large white bull Nandikeswara.

Rama Shrine:

The two-storied rectangular shrine of the god Rama facing west is located in the south.

Sankaranarayana Shrine:

Between the sanctums (Srikoils) of Shiva and Rama, stands a third one, circular and double-storied in shape, which is dedicated to Sankara Narayana, the combined form of Shiva and Vishnu, facing west. Lord Sankaranarayana is also called Madhyanathan (Lord of center - may be because it is in the center of Rama & Siva temple). As per the rule we have to pay dharshan 4 times to both Siva and Rama temple. But to Sankaranarayana it is 6 times. There is no practice to give any type of prasadam from this shrine. However, Lord Sankaranarayana is the custodian of all movable and immovable assets of Vadakkunathan temple.

Ardhanarishvara Shrine:

In the northern side, there is a circular structure with Shiva facing west and behind him, Parvati facing east, denoting their combined form Ardhanarishvara.

Vettekkaran Shrine:

Lord Vettekkaran (Shiva in a hunter form) is also worshipped within the Naalambalam enclosure.

Dharmasastha Shrine:

There is a shrine for Lord Ayyapan (also called as Dharmasastha), son of Lord Shiva in the Temple premises.

Adi Sankaracharya Shrine:

Adi Sankara is believed to have been born to the Shivaguru - Aryamba couple of Kalady in answer to their prayers before Vadakkunnathan, as Amsavatara (incarnation) of the Lord. Legend has it that Shiva appeared to both husband and 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 and Aryamba chose the latter. The son was named Shankara, in honour of Shiva. There is a Shrine dedicated to Adi Sankara in this Temple

Rishaba Shrine: 

It is located on north-west side of the northern entrance. The idol is a bullock in sleeping posture carved out of fine granite stone. Earlier, the Rishaba was in standing position and was worshipped from the front side (east). One morning the idol was found lying and later front door was closed, and instead side view was opened. Since the idol is a sleeping deity, the Rishaba should be worshipped after waking him up by clapping your hands. A piece of thread from your dhoti is to be presented as an offering to the God to cover up his nakedness. There is a school of thought that the idol is of Digambara of Jainism.

Ganesha Shrine:

Ganesha Shrine in the temple is situated opposite to the temple kitchen. The offering of Appam (sweetened rice cake fried in ghee) to him is one of the most important offerings at the temple. Propitiating him here is believed to be a path to prosperity and wealth. It has been the standard yearly practice at the Vadakkunnathan Temple throughout the previous 20 years to lead a substantial scale Ashta Dravya Maha Ganapathy Havana and Aanayoottu (stately nourishing of elephants) on the first day of karkkidakom month according to the Malayalam Calendar. Gajapooja additionally is directed once in four years.

Gosala Krishna Shrine: 

Saint Vilvamangalam who has having a close rapport with all deities, once noticed a hallo on the northern side of the temple, which then slowly turned into a cowherd and cows. The saint felt the presence of lord Krishna and as per Vilvamangalam direction the Gosala Krishna Shrine was built.

Parashurama Shrine:

After completing his duties Saint Parasurama disappeared at the north east corner of the temple (Eeshana cone - north-east corner), where you will see a small area earmarked with walls and lightened with a lamp. The kings, the arch enemies of the saint, used avoid this holy place hence the nearby bypass.

Simhodara Shrine: 

Simhodara Shrine is situated next to the eastern pathway connecting the east gopuram. Simhodara is the trusted lieutenant of lord Siva and is guarding the main Siva temple, by watching the "thazikakudom" (There is a hole - triangle in shape - in the main wall, through which you can have the dharshan of the temple's "Thazhikakudam"). The real name of this deity is "Sarvaka" who was a student of wrestling to Nandikeswara (the holy bullock). During the trail the central part of the body of sarvaka was elongated and the name Simhodara (belly of lion). Lord Siva agreed to be in Kerala as per the request of saint Parasurama and Sarvaka was deputed to find a suitable place. Sarvaka travelled all over and found all are suitable places. He was tired from the journey and was taking rest when Lord Siva came along with Devi. He kicked Sarvaka to the present place (kadikuzhi- the drainage).

An ardent devotee of Vadakkunathan used to pray for a humble request to have dharshan of Kasi Viswanatha. As per the recommendations from Sree Parvathy, lord made a direct tunnel to Kasi and invited the devotee to travel along with. The moment they touched Kasi, Sree Parvathy requested Simhodara to close the tunnel (you will see a balikallu here to mark the spot). It is believed Sree Parvathy had a second thought that Ganga may use this tunnel. The devotees are advised to put a stone as a helping hand to the closure. However, this practice was banned as per a devaprasana, recently.

Sambuthara:

This is the platform at south east corner where you pray Lord Chidambara by facing east and Lord Rameshwara by facing south. Lord Siva used to dance as "Nataraja" (King of Dance) in Chidambaram which is reflected in Rameswaram as well. As per Nandikeswara (the holy bullock) advice, Anandha, the 1001 headed Serpent king watched the shadow - sitting on this platform - of this dance and was blessed to notice the same at the entrance of the sanctum of Vadakkunnathan temple as "Nirtha Nathan".

Amma Thara: 

This is a platform where "Oorakathamma" and "Sree Koodalmanikya Swamy (Sree Bharatha)" are prayed.  A part of the holy spirit of Sree Kamakshi accompanied the ardent devotee Thiruvalayannur Bhattathiri (Poomulli Namboothiri) to stay near Sree Parvathy at Vadakkunathan premises. Yielding to the prayers of Bhattathiri, Kamakshi was allowed to settle at Oorakam, which is located at around 10 Kms southwards, as Oorakathamma. Similarly, the idol of lord Bharatha was to be installed adjacent to Srirama temple. But as per the humble prayers of Vakayil Kaimal, the idol was installed at Irinjalakuda, 20 Kms southwards of Vadakkunathan. It is believed that every day both Sreevparvathy and Srirama pay a visit to this Ammathara to see their sister & brother respectively.

Kali Sila: 

Kali Sila, the small stone kept within the walls of the temple, is gradually growing in terms of height and when it reaches the height of the western gopuram, the Kaliyuga ends. To prevent this, devotees throw the balance of the Siva Prasad on it.

Ganapathy Shrine (Venmadakoil):

Vadakkunathan had 12 days Utsavam during Uttharayana season and discontinued due to various reasons. Once the coffer was empty and the Yogadirippad had an oracle to remove the Ganapathy idol. A dark room (nilavara) was found below the Peetam and a golden lizard lightening the whole place. The room was full of gold and jewels. The chieftain took only whatever needed to conduct Utsavam. You will see a stone carving of the lizard to commemorate this. (behind the left door to the main entrance of the Valiyambalam). Touch and pray for the prosperity here. There is a mural painting near the sopanam of the Lord Siva temple. It is the "Sundara yakshi" (Beautiful apsara). If you touch and pray on this portrait, this charming young lady will marry you.

Koothambalam:

The temple theatre, known as Koothambalam, has four magnificent gateways called Gopurams and the lofty masonry wall around the temple quadrangle are imposing pieces of craftsmanship and skill. The Koothambalam is used for staging Koothu, Nangyar Koothu and Koodiyattam, an ancient ritualistic art forms of Central Kerala. Koothambalam can be seen on the left side as you enter the temple via the western entrance gopuram.

According to folk lore, before the new Koothambalam was built, there used to be an old and dilapidated structure. The then Diwan T. Sankunni Menon ordered to demolish the structure and construct a new Koothambalam. He gave this task to Velanezhy Nambudiri, a famous Thachushasthranjan or master craftsman. He prepared a mental sketch and built a beautiful Koothambalam there. Velanezhy Illom is in Venganellur Gramam, Chelakkara town.

Arjuna's Villkuzhi: 

During the Mahabharata war Jayadratha was killed by Arjuna to retaliate his son Abhimanyu's heroic death trapped in Chakra Vyuga. Jayadratha was an ardent devotee of Lord Siva and hence the arrow that killed him fell in to the Vadakkunathan temple courtyard. As per Lord Krishna's advice, Arjuna prayed to Lord Siva and was condoned of his sin for killing Jayadratha. A deep well was formed where the arrow fell, and legend says that Arjuna cleaned his arrow with the water from this well.

It is customary to wash your feet with water from this well before starting dharshan in this temple. Few meters away from this Villkuzhi, towards north there are two granite pillars. Zamorin of Calicut paid an offering "gold Thulabharam" to Vadakkunathan. To perform this offering (articles weighed against one's own weight) this giant pillars were made.

Murals:

The temple is famous for the rarity of the temple murals, of which the Vasukishayana and Nrithanatha murals are of great importance and are worshipped daily. The temple also houses a museum of ancient wall paintings, wood carvings and art pieces of ancient times. A study done by Archaeological Survey of India on two paintings in the temple has revealed that it is 350 years old. These two rare paintings were a reclining Shiva and a Nataraja with 20 arms.

Outside Temples:

Outside the main temple, there are shrines for Lord Subrahmanya and Lord Ganapathi.