Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple

Introduction

Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple is a place of worship dedicated to Krishna, a celebrated Avatar of Lord Vishnu. It is located in Thrikodithanam near Changanassery in the Kottayam district of Kerala. The presiding deity is worshipped as Athpudha Narayanan, a Vishnu form, and his consort is Goddess Karpagavalli. This temple is classified as a Divya Desam, a chosen abode of Vishnu; for, it has come under praise in the sacred hymns of the great Azhwar saints. This is one of the 5 temples said to have been built by the Pandavas, and hence is connected with the Mahabharatha epic. Sahadeva, the youngest of the Pandava brothers, is believed to have established this temple.

It is also believed that Kutakkuttu, the dance form, where ladies hold umbrellas in their hands and dance, started in this temple.

Temple Legends

The 5 Pandava brothers, after completing their reign, crowned Parikshit, Arjuna’s grandson as the King of Hastinapura, and came on a pilgrimage to Kerala. There, they were said to have installed the images of Krishna, their friend, benefactor, and guide on the banks of river Pamba, and erected temples for him. There are 5 such ancient temples along the Pamba banks, established by each of the Pandava brothers. And of these, Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple is believed to have been constructed by the youngest Pandava, Sahadeva. As per another legend, Rukmangatha, the king from Surya Vamsa, observed the sacred Ekadasi Vrata here and earned a lot of virtue, but gifted them all to the Devas, and attained the heavens, as a result. It is also said that a servant in the temple delayed opening of the temple doors, and so, was cursed by the deity. The statue found in front of the temple is said to be this servant’s image.

The Architecture of Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple

This is a Kerala style temple. It has a two-tiered Gopuram, the tower, built of wood and stones, that has a hall used for playing music during the festival times, known as Kottupura. Kshetra-Madilluka, the compound wall, runs around the temple and encloses the shrines and other temple structures. While Chuttambalam, the outer pavilion, is located inside the compound wall, Nallambalam, the inner structure with pillared halls, contains the Namaskara Mandapa, the worship Hall, Balithara, the sacrificial altar, and the sanctum sanctorum. The metal-plated Dwajasthambam, the flag mast, and the Deepasthambam, the lamp post, are in front of the main shrine. Sreekovil, the sanctum is circular-shaped with a granite base and a conical roof and lies on an elevated platform. Athpudha Narayana, also called Amrutha Narayanan, is seen standing in the sanctum, facing East. He is 6-feet tall and is said to be Krishna in Vishvaroopa form, which he showed to Arjuna in the Mahabharata war. Goddess Karpagavalli is his consort. While the outer walls of the sanctum contain rows of lamps that are lit during festivals, the temple roof and some of its pillars sport beautiful wooden carvings and stucco images, mainly depicting scenes from Ramayana and Mahabharatha. There are also 18th-century paintings in the temple. There are shrines for Lord Narasimha and Krishna, here, too. The roof of the sanctum is Punniya Koti Vimanam, whereas Bhoomi Theertham is the temple tank.

Kazhuvetti Kallu is a strange statue located in the temple complex. This shows a man laid flat on a 6-foot tall pillar, with only his waist resting on it and the rest of the body extending outside. He is seen holding a conch shell and wearing a sacred thread. This is said to denote the exemplary punishment given to evildoers.

Temple Festivals

The festival of lights known as Shravana Deepam, is performed here with enthusiasm. It commences on the Shravana (Thiruvonam) star day in the Malayalam month of Vrischikam (November-December), with the hoisting of flags, lighting of lamps, and processions.

Benefits of worshipping the Lord of Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple

Vishnu is the supreme protector who can shower his grace on devotees who worship him with sincerity and faith and help them lead a life of happiness. Devotees also worship in this temple for growth and a good future.