In this temple there are two seperate sreekovils for Lord Vamana and
Lord Shiva. Five poojas - Ushapooja, Ethruthapooja, Pantheeradypooja, Uchapooja
and Athazhapooja - and three Sheevelis- Ethrutha Sheeveli, Ucha Sheeveli and
Athazha Sheeveli are conducted daily. The sub-deities of Vamana temple are Sree
Bhagavathi, Sastha, Gopalakrishna, Nagam, Rakshass and Yakshi. The Shivalinga
in this temple is believed to be worshiped by Mahabali himself and is situated
on the southern side of Vamana shrine. Devotees must visit the Shiva shrine
before visiting Vamana shrine. The Shiva temple or Thekkumkara Thevar temple
has shrines of Parvathi, Durga, Bhagavathi, Subramanian and Ganapathy. It is
interesting to note in this context that though Thrikkakkara Appan or Vamana is
worshipped during Onam celebrations, Mathevar or Mahadevar is also worshipped
with equal fervour and the reason remains unexplained. The temple pond in the
northern side is called Kapila Theertham and is considered holy. Only the
temple priests are allowed to enter into this pond compound. The seat of King
Mahabali is located infront of the Mahadeva sreekovil.
Once a farmer prayed to Thirkkakkarayappa that he would present with a
bunch of golden bananas if his plantation yielded fruits. Thirkkakkarayappa
blessed the land and there was a heavy yield of Kadalipazham a type of
plantain. The farmer kept up his promise by making golden bananas and at the behest
of the priest he left the bunch of golden bananas outside the Sreekovil and
left the place. When the priest returned after bath, he was shocked to see the
bunch missing. As only a yogi was present there, he suspected the yogi and the
matter was reported to the king. People started accusing the yogi for the
theft. Next day, when the pujari performed abhishekam to the Lord, he observed
that the abhisheka water was getting stagnated . This was because the drain
hole was blocked with the golden bunch of bananas. The pujari realized his
mistake and the king and others along with the pujari approached the yogi for
forgiveness. But the humiliated yogi before committing suicide cursed them that
they would lose their wealth and that his curse would end only after the town
lost all its wealth. Accordingly,the town lost all its wealth. The yogi became
a brahma rakshass due to his untimely death and the people to protect
themselves from the wrath of the brahma rakshass constructed a small shrine and
offered prayers to him. Even today, after nivedyam is offered to
Thirkkakkarayappa the same is offered to the brahma rakshass too.
Vamanamoorthy Temple is of great mythological significance. Most number
of stone manuscripts were found in this temple amongst Kerala temples. The
Thrikkakkara temple has about 18 important stone inscriptions dating back to
10-13 A.D. The inscriptions which were published in the Travancore
Archeological Series in 1916 by Mr. T.A. Gopinatha Rao (1916) and Mr. K.V.
Subramania Iyer (1923) are in Vattezhuthu, the prototype of Malayalam.
Thrikkakkara or Thirukalkarai, as it was known in the days of the Kulasekharas,
was the capital of Kalkarainadu, a fiefdom under the Kulasekharas, it is
believed. But there is no documentary evidence to prove it.
From
the Thrikkakkara edicts emerges a picture of the Kulasekhara empire which
existed till about 1102 A.D., as well as the socio-political and religious
milieu of the times. It is believed that Kalakarainadu constituted the present
Thrikkakkara, Edappally and surrounding areas. The names of a few chieftains
appointed as naduvazhis of Kalkarainadu by the Kulasekhara kings who ruled from
their capital Mahodayapuram are mentioned in the inscriptions most of which
were written during the reign of the Kulasekhara kings Indukothai Varma (944 -
962) and Bhaskara Ravi Varman I (963 - 1019). One record also mentions the
existence of Arunoottuvar or the 'Group of 600' who helped and controlled the
naduvazhis.
During
the reign of Kulasekharas who were great patrons (and followers) of
Vaishnavism, Hindu temples flourished in Kerala and Thrikkakkara was a major
beneficiary of this royal patronage as can be seen from the inscriptions which
mention generous to the temple.
By
the turn of this century, Thrikkakkara Temple was in utter ruins with only the
Adhishtana remaining. All the standing structures were dilapidated and the
image of the deity was also broken down. After repeated pleas from the
Vaishnavaites and the report of the Archeology Department the Maharaja of
Travancore reconstructed the temple in its present form. Remnants of the old
temple wall described by Nammalvar as 'kodimathil' can still be traced beneath
the new structure and the pathway surrounding the temple. The
Thrikkakkara Temple that dates back to ancient times has no mention whatsoever
about the Namboodiris, the community that held sway over Kerala after the
advent of Hinduism. Neither is Edappally Swaroopam, the erstwhile principality
with a Namboodiri ruler that had adjoined Kochi and had played a major
historical role in Kerala, mentioned in the records.
The temple and
inscriptions might be older than the emergence of Namboodiris as a force and
the formation of Edappally Swaroopam. But later the ruler of Edappally became
the official priest there and till recently held the right to nominate the
priest.
The
inscriptions describe the celebration of Onam as an occasion when all local
chieftains assembled at Thrikkakkara to pay their respect to the Kulasekhara
Chakravarthi (Emperor). The festivities started from the star of Thiruvonam in
the Malayalam month of Karkatakam and lasted for 28 days till Thiruvonam in the
month of Chingam. The last 10 days saw the peak of celebrations. Later the festival
was confined to these 10 days beginning from the Atham star in Chingam. The
records describe the celebrations in detail and the roles assigned to each
king. It is not clear whether the festival had any religious significance at
that time. The festival of Onam that first began to be celebrated at
Thrikkakkara has spread from there, spanning caste and creed, penetrating the
farthest corner of the world where Malayalees have reached, even as the cold
inscriptions from a bygone era remain silent spectators for all the pomp and
splendour of the celebrations raging around every year.
Thrikkakara Temple is one of the few temples in India dedicated to Lord
Vamana the fifth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is situated in Thrikkakara, 2kilometers east of Idapally near Cochi. The name Thrikkakkara means the holy
place where Lord placed His foot. Thiru-kal-kari later became Thrikkakara.
The legend is closely linked with the story of Mahabali and Lord
Vishnus Vamana or Trivikrama incarnation. Mahabali was an efficient and
popular Asura king. His kingdom stretched the earth, the patala (the underground),
and was threatening the skies. The gods (suras) grew worried of Mahabalis rule
and popularity. Vishnu, in his avatar as Vamana, asked Mahabali for a piece of
land only three paces wide. Bali, ever the generous king, granted this wish,
whereupon Vamana grew to an immense size and covered the heavens with one step
and the earth with another. There was no space left for Vamana to measure his
third pace. "Where is my third foot of space?" asked Vamana. Tricked
by this deceit, but as one who would never go back on his promises. Mahabali
offered his own head for Vamana to place his third step. These events were
happened at this place. As he was pushed down into Suthala, King Bali made a
last request. He requested that he be allowed to visit Kerala once in a year to
ensure that his people were still happy, well fed and content. Lord Vishnu was
pleased to grant Mahabali his wish. Mahabali comes to visit his people and his
land during Onam. This is the legend behind the Onam festival. Another legend
associated with this temple is that Kapila maharshi did penance here and Vishnu
pleased with the rishis penance appeared before the rishi. At the behest of
the rishi, Vishnu decided to stay in this place.
In pasurams of Nammalvar Thrikkakara is refered as Thirukkaatkarai, Lord
Vamana as Sree Kaatkarai Appa Perumal and Thayar (Mahalakahmi) as Perunselva
Naayaki or Vaathsalya valli.
The traditional festival of Kerala - Onam historically too related with
this temple. The 10 day long annual festival in this temple is held in the
month of Chingam (Augest - September). The utsavam begins with kodiyettu on
Atham day and ends with arattu on Thiruvonam day. Thiruvonam is the birth day
of Lord Vamanamoorthy. Those who could not attend this utsavam celebrated it in
their own home by making beatuiful Pookkalams and by offering special nivedyams
to Thrikkakkarayappan. This was strictly follwed in every home because it was
an order given by the then ruling Cheraman Perumal, the king of Kerala. These
celebrations and special offerings to Lord Vamana is now commonly known asOnam. The famous Athachamayam at Tripunithura was a triumphant march of the
Maharaja of Kochi, with or without military intent from Tripunithura, the then
capital of the Cochin state, to the Vamana Temple at Thrikkakara to attend the
kodiyettu ceremony. It is merely a celebration to herald Onam, the festival of
peace and equity, remembering the days when everything was in abundance. The
Onasadya or the Onam feast will be held on Thiruvonam day in a grand manner in
the temple with a large number of people cutting across religious barriers
participating in it.
Do:
- Do pray your Ishta Devata before pilgrimage to Temple.
- Do contact Temple Devasthanam information centre for enquiry, temple information and for Pooja details etc.
- Do reserve your travel and accommodation at Temple well in advance.
- Do bath and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
- Do concentrate on God and Goddess inside the temple.
- Do maintain silence and recite your Istamantram to yourself inside the temple.
- Do observe ancient custom and traditions while in Temple.
- Do respect religious sentiments at Temple.
- Do deposit your offerings in the hundi only.
Don't s:
- Do not come to Temple for any purpose other than worshipping of God and Goddess.
- Do not smoke at Temple.
- Do not consume alcoholic drinks at Temple.
- Do not eat non-vegetarian food in the Kshetram.
- Do not approach mediators for quick Darshanam. It may cause inconvenient to others.
- Do not carry any weapon inside the temple.
- Do not wear any head guards like helmets, caps, turbans and hats inside the temple premises.
- Do not perform Sastanga Pranama inside the Sanctum Sanctorum.
- Do not take much time while performing Sparsa Darshanam to God in Garbhagriha.
- Do not buy spurious prasadams from street vendors.
- Do not encourage beggars at Temple.
- Do not spit or create nuisance in the premises of the temple.
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