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Vadakkunnathan
Temple - Kerala
One of the oldest temples
in the state, the vadakkumnathan temple is a classical example of
the Kerala style of architecture and has many decorative murals and
pieces of art. This is the venue of the world famous pooram festival
celebrated annually in april - may. The fireworks at the pooram are
a spectacular sight. Non hindus are not allowed entry into the
temple.
No visitor to Trichur can
miss the Vadakkunnathan temple, "one of the most unique,
ancient and
important" of the sacred shrines of Kerala. It stands on a
beautiful hillock at the center of Trichur overlooking the town. The
vast maidan around the temple is called Tekkinkadu or forest of teak
woods and Trichur town literally revolves round the temple.
The massive stone wall
enclosing an area of nearly 9 acres and forming a strong
fortification and the fourlofty gopurams overtopping the central
shrine and indicating the four directions-North, South, East and
West -and above all the dozens of peepal trees scattered on the vast
grounds of' the temple gives Vadakkunnathan temple a unique and
magnificent appearance.
In the center of this vast
enclosure on a level ground is a multi-shrined complex having three
principal shrines dedicated to Siva or Vadakkunnathan,
Sankaranarayana and Rama.
In the northern side, a
circular structure, and the deity facing west. The figure of Siva-Parvati
is facing east and just back to Siva, situated in the same shrine.
At the southern and is located the two-storied shrine of Sri Rama
also facing west. Between these two srikolis stands a third one,
circular and double storied in shape, dedicated to Sankaranarayana
and it also faces west. This shrine has beautiful murals of the
seventeenth century delineating graphically the story of Mahabharata.
There are mukhamandapams in front of all the three central shrines.
A striking feature of the
temple is the Kuttambalam, which one sees on the left side as one
enters the temple through the western gopuram. This is the theatre
hall for staging kuttu, an ancient dramatic form of art famous in
Kerala
The temple opens at three
in the morning and closes about 10-30 after the morning rites. For
the evening worship it opens at four and closes at 8.30 at night
after 'Trippuka', the last rite for the day. It is a pleasing
feature of the times and this temple especially that hundreds of men
and women flock to the temple for darshan from the early hours of
the morning after taking their bath at all seasons of the year.
It is noteworthy that the
Union Government under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological
Sites and Remains Act has declared the Vadakkunnathan temple a
national monument.
Temples
Guruvayoor
Temple || Irinjalakuda
KoodalManikyam Temple || Padmanabha
Swami Temple
Kodungallur
Bhagavathy Temple || Vadakkunnathan
Temple
Sabarimala
Temple
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