Complete Guide about Vadakkunnathan Temple
Vadakkunnathan Temple
About Vadakkunnathan Temple
One of the state’s oldest temples, the Vadakkunnathan Temple is an architectural marvel made of wood and stone that dominates a nine-acre walled spot of green in the centre of Thrissur. Due to the fact that it is centuries old, this temple brilliantly exemplifies Kerala’s rich cultural legacy, for which it was also given the “Award of Excellence” at the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. This enormous, 1,000-year-old temple and historical building is renowned for the Nataraja Mural, which is located next to the main gate. It has a collection of exquisite mural paintings, some of which are more than 400 years old.
You will be treated to an exhilarating blend of the architectural beauty, culture, history, and tradition of the location while strolling around the tranquil environs of the temple. The building still has its original colours with little care. There is also the Vadakkumnathan temple, which has been totally submerged in ghee for generations without melting. The temple also has the shrines to Shankararayan and Mahavishnu. The biggest Dance Hall there is named Koothambalam, and it showcases the distinctive architecture of Kerala. Nangyar Koothu, a traditional performance, is presented there. The Thiruvambadi Krishna Temple and Paramekkavu Devi Temple, which are believed to be Vadakummnathan’s sister temples, are located right outside the temple compound.Hindus only are permitted access to this Temple. Non-Hindus are not permitted inside, although they are permitted to stand outside and view the photographs.
Sreewadakkunathantemple Temple Official website Link www.sreewadakkunathantemple.org
The History
In the Indian state of Kerala, the city of Thrissur is home to the historic Hindu temple Wadakkunathan Temple, which is devoted to Lord Shiva. The temple is located in in the middle of town on an elevation with a spectacular view of the surrounding neighbourhoods. The exact moment this temple was built is unknown to historians and academics. The origins of this shrine are only known to us via tales. According to folklore, Lord Parasurama, a manifestation of Vishnu, created the first “Prathishta,” which was supposedly completed at least 4,000 years ago. This temple is a prime example of Keralan architecture and features magnificent temple theatres called “koothambalam” in addition to formidable towers on all four corners.
There are mural paintings within the temple that reflect numerous puranas events.
The “Koothambalam” and Shrines showcase vignettes made of wood. The Wadakkunathan Temple’s “Tekkinkadu Maidan” is the major gathering place during the Thrissur Pooram. Lord Siva is the primary deity of the temple, although there are other idols of Sree Parvati, Ganesha, Sankaranarayana, and Sree Rama present. Parvati is blessed in the shrine of Lord Shiva by herself, facing the other way. On the circumambulatory walk, there are separate sanctuaries for Adhishankara, Naga Devatas, Dharma Sastha Vettakkara, Simhodhara, Krishna, Rishabha, and Dharma Sastha. There are memorials for Adhishankara’s passing, Parasurama, Kasinatha, Chithambaram, Ramaswaram, Kodungallur Bhagavathy, Urakaathamma, and Koodalmanikyam. Daily poojas include the veneration of a mural artwork of “Nrithanantha”.Here, the main attractions are a white bull by the name of “Nanthikeswara” and an unique picture by “Vasuki Sayana.”
In the “Brahmanda Purana,” the history of how the Wadakkunathan Temple came to be is briefly told. Kshatriyas were wiped off twenty-one times by Parashurama. He carried out a “yajna” to atone for the transgression, and at its conclusion, he handed all the land to Brahmins as “dakshina.” He asked the sea deity Varuna to throw up a fresh piece of land from the sea since he wished to retire to some new place. Another account claims that at the conclusion of the yajna, a group of sages approached him and asked him to grant them access to some remote region. Then, for their benefit, Parashurama requested the action from Varuna. He was given a winnow (surpa) by Varuna, who instructed him to throw it into the water.As he did, the water immediately threw up a sizable area of land; this area that emerged from the sea was Kerala. The term “Surparaka,” derived from the word “Surpa,” which means winnow, was used at the time. Another account claims that Varuna instructed Parashurama to throw his axe into the water. Now, Parashurama desired to provide this new territory with a celestial garb. He then travelled to Mount Kailash to see his spiritual guide, Lord Shiva, and asked him to settle in Kerala so that the state would be blessed. Shiva travelled with Parashurama to fulfil his disciple’s request, accompanied by his wife Parvati, sons Ganesha and Subrahmanya, and his parshadas.Shiva arrived at a location that is now known as Thrissur to take a seat. After he and his entourage left, Parashurama observed a brilliant and luminous Shiva “linga” (an image of Shiva) at the base of a large banyan tree. The “Sreemoolasthana” is the location where Shiva initially made his presence known through the “linga.” This is referred regarded be the Sree Wadakkunathan Temple’s origin myth.
The linga lingered at “Sreemoola Sthana,” at the base of a massive banyan tree, for a while. Later, a monarch of Cochin State, of which Thrissur was a part, made the decision to move the “linga” and construct a temple in a more practical location. Soon plans were formed to replace the idol in its new location. But there was a problem at first. The only way to get rid of the “linga” was to severely damage the banyan tree. There was a chance that if the tree’s limbs were chopped, a piece may fall and hurt the idol. The “Yogatirippadu” offered a solution when the monarch and the others were at a loss for what to do.He asked the workers to chop the tree while he laid over the idol, totally encasing it. To everyone’s amazement, as chopping started, not a single piece of the tree landed close to the statue. The idol was relocated in accordance with the necessary procedures, and it has since been left there.
Architecture of Vadakkunnathan Temple:
The Vadakkunnathan Temple is built in Kerala’s customary architectural style. The fortress has four gopurams that face north, south, east, and west and is built on a mound that is enclosed by a large stone wall that covers an area of 9 acres. The temple’s square is surrounded by a towering stone wall and four imposing gopurams, which show off the expertise and workmanship used to build the structure.
The complex’s three primary shrines are those to Vadakkunnathan, Lord Rama, and Hari-Hara or Shankaranarayana, and it is also known as Nalambalam or Chuttamabalam. A stunning building with a copper-plate sloping roof and the Koothambalam theatre are to the left of the entrance. The theatre has certain ancient ceremonial forms of Keralan art preserved. A historical museum with antique wall murals, wood carvings, and artwork from bygone eras is also located inside the temple.
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