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Padmanabha
Swami Temple - Kerala
Padmanabhaswamy
Temple : The temple
is located inside the East Fort. The temple is a blend of the Kerala
and Dravidian styles of architecture. It is known for its mural
paintings and stone carvings. This temple a sprawling complex with a
magnificent seventeen storied tower houses the idol of Lord Vishnu
in the form of Ananthapadmanabha (the lord who upheld creation on a
lotus that sprang forth from His navel). The 6 m image of Vishnu
reclining on Anantha the Serpent, partly covered with gold and
embellished with precious stones is viewed in three sections through
three doors. One among the 108 sacred Vishnu temples in India . Only
Hindus are allowed inside the temple. Historical records show that
in 1750, The Maharaja of Travancore on being victorious in a battle,
laid down his sword and offered himself to this temple's deity.
Since then, all his successors have ruled the land as
Padmanabhadasas (servants of Padmanabha). Arattu is an important
festival here.
The temple architecture in Kerala is different
from that of other regions in India. Largely dictated by the
geography of the region that abounds in forests blessed with the
bounties of the monsoons, the structure of the temples in Kerala is
distinctive. The roofs are steep and pointed, and covered with
copper sheets. The Kerala roof resembles those found in the
Himalayan regions and those in East Asia.
The shape of the roof is in accordance with the
plan of the sanctum below. With a circular plan, one sees a conical
roof, while with a square plan the roof is pyramidal. The roof is
constructed with wood and is covered with copper plates. Most of the
temples seen in Kerala today, have undergone several phases of
renovation, given the perishable nature of the construction
materials.
The history of Kerala dates back to the Cheras of
the third century BC. The temples of Kerala are referenced in the
works of the Tamil Alwar Saints and the Nayanmar Saints. Kulasekhara
Alwar and Cheraman Perumaal (one of the Nayanmaars) belonged to the
Cheras of the ninth century AD. There are several works on temple
architecture written in Kerala during the 15th and the 16th
centuries. The Bhakti literature of the 16th century played an
important role in the temple culture of Kerala.The Maharajas of
Travancore were ardent patrons of temples.
Temples have held an important place in the life
of Keralites. Several temples in Kerala trace their origins to
antiquity. However, they were renovated frequently and the current
structures that are seen are vastly a result of the numerous
renovations.
Temples
Guruvayoor
Temple || Irinjalakuda
KoodalManikyam Temple || Padmanabha
Swami Temple
Kodungallur
Bhagavathy Temple || Vadakkunnathan
Temple
Sabarimala
Temple
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