Information of Vadakkunnathan Temple, Thrissur, Kerala

The Vaddakkunathan temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and is known to be one of the most ancient temples of the region. The temple is a highly revered one due to its antiquity and was recently recommended by the Archeological Survey of India to the UNESCO to list it as a world heritage site. This temple is a strict Hindu temple and people not belonging to the Hindu form of religion are not allowed to enter its premises. The temple is a grand one and is held in high reverence not only for religious reasons but also for its architectural magnificence and the murals that adorn it.

Vadakkunnathan Temple Religious Significance

This temple is one of the most holy temples in the region is visited by Hindus from all over. The main deity is Lord Shiva the destroyer and he is worshipped in the form of a Lingam. The Lingam however is not visible as it is covered with a huge mound of ghee poured over it as offering over the years. The temple recognizes and celebrates most of festivals that mark the Hindu calendar along with the daily rituals however the main festival that is celebrated here is the Maha Shivaratri. This festival is celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm and grandness. This festival is accompanied by many cultural and musical programmes which are held within the temple premises. There is also the ceremonial lighting of a hundred thousand oil lamps in the temple giving it a grand look.

The other festival that is celebrated with much gusto is Aanayoothu or the elephant feeding festival. This festival is celebrated on the first day during the Malayalam month of Karkkidakam which falls on the month of July in the Gregorian calendar. During this festival a large number of elephants that have not been adorned are worshipped and fed. The grandeur of the festival is witness of huge crowds, that makes the celebration more electrifying and colorful.

Vadakkunnathan Temple Mythology & History

The legend of the temple is mentioned in the holy book of Brahmanda Purana and some other religious texts too. It is said that Parasurama fought and killed the Kshatriyas 21 times and in order to wash away the sin of killing them he performed a huge yagna. After the yagna he donated the land that he had to Brahmins as an religious offering. He is said to have wanted to go away to some new lands to meditate and therefore he requested the god Varuna to give him a new piece of land from the sea.

Another legend speaks of Parasurama being approached by some sages after he finished his Yagna and asked him for some secluded land which he asked form Varuna, the god. He was granted this request by giving him a winnow and asking him to throw it into the sea. When he threw this winnow into the sea a large mass of land was thrown up by the sea and it is believed that Kerala is the land.

There is another legend that speaks of Parasurama was asked by varuna to throw his axe into the sea and when he did so a mass of land was spit out. In order to sanctify the land he went to mount Kailas to meet his guru Lord Shiva and request him to come to the new land to sanctify it. He was granted his wish by the lord who came with him along with Parvati, ganesha and Subramanya. The lord had stopped at Thrissur and then disappeared however Parasurama saw a radiant Shiva Lingam at the foot of the banyan tree. This lingam remained there for some time after which it was shifted onto the temple.

Vadakkunnathan Temple Architectural Significance

The temple has been built according to the rules laid down by the Sastras. It has four main gopurams, a temple theatre known as Koothambalam and houses plenty of ancient murals. It has shrines dedicated to Shiva, Parvati, Rama, Shankaranarayana and Ganesha too. The architect is simple yet eye catching, showcasing the beauty that depicts of the art and culture of the era.