THRISSUR VADAKKUNNATHA
TEMPLE
Friends,
Getting good response for my article on Lord
SHREE KIRATHA MOORTHY OF PALLASSANA VILLAGE, I venture of writing about LORD
VADAKKUNNATHAN (वृषभेश्वर IN SANSCRIT). The Name VADAKKUNATHAN came from VADAKKU - North NATHAN
denotes The Kailasa which is the abode of LORD SHIVA and which is the northern
boundary of Bharatha Desa, The word THRISSUR is the short form of T HIRU SHIVA PERUR. Why He is known as
VRISHABHESHWARA is because of VRISHABHA the Lord’s vehicle and body guard,
which is on the mound (or KUNNU in Malayalam) . The KOOTHAMBALAM or the dancing hall of the Temple is
said to have been constructed by PARACHCHI PETTA PANTHRRUKALAM FAMOUS
PERUMTHACHCHANN of 7th century. It is also corroborated by the story
of Adi Shankara who was born after 41 days Bhajan by his father, SHIVA GURU
with his wife ARAYAMBA to beget a good and intelligent Son whi is short-lived,
some-where during the said period in this temple It is also said that Adi Shankara built the
famous EDAYIL MATHOM, NATUVIL MATHOM,
THEKKE MATHOM AND VATAKKE MATHOM In Thrissur . Inside the temple one can see the
Adi Shankara’s place of death.( SAMADHI STHALAM ) also.In Kancheevaram it is
sad that AADI SHANKARA went on SAMAADHI. The Shiva Linga is said to be under a
huge BANYAN TREE ( ALMARATHTHIN KEEZHIL by LORD PARASHU RAMA under advise of
Lord Subrhamania , Goddess Parvathy etc The then Maharajah of Cochin under whom
Thrissur also included wanted to build a temple for lord , decided to remove
the Linga and place it in the Sanctum of the newly constructed building. From
the MOOLA STHANA, (ORIGINAL PLACE) But there was a doubt of falling a branch of
the Banyan tree and Hence he decided to cut the branch which was big. he
summoned a well-kown YOGATHIRIPPAD who after taking proper precautions asked to
cut the brances and then to remove SHIVA LINGA from its MOOLASTHANA which was
carried out. It so happened 0nce VILWAMANGALATHTHU SWAMIYAR who is well known
to all Keralites and who could see with his eyes all Hindu Gods and Goddesses went
to pay obeisance to the Lord could not see HIM any- where in the sanctum went
on PRADIKSHANA and to his dismay saw
LORD SHIVA sitting on the perimeter wall on the southern side. After paying his obeisance to
the LORD he asked the LORD as to why HE was saitting on the wall The LORD
replied that it was time of his dearest dame Kumaranelloor KAATHYAAYANI Bhagavathi, coming with all pomp and to see HER coming HE
was sitting there. This happened on the moth of VRISCHIKA ( SORPIO ) in
KRITHIKA STARDOM A pooja to LORD in the morning hours started from that day. Even now one can see it being
conducted.
Lord Shiva is also known as ARDHA NAREESWARA (
in Tamil அம்மயப்பன் ) since HE is the LORD OF DANCE
FORMS in ladies form He depicts PARVATHY DEVI who taught to USHA, Daughter of
Banasura who taught this form to the women of DWARKA. Parvathy is SHAKTHI.
Without SHAKTHI
ONE CANNOT IMAGINE Lord SHIVA and with-out Lord Shiva there is no Shakthi.
He Himself assumed the form of KIRATHA
and the Left side very fair and the rightside with JATA, and with Ganga and also black in color. LORD
SHIVA taught this art to THANDU.It is possible that Lord Shiva and Godesses Parvathy are
in the same shrine one towards west and the other
towards east respectively. Lord Sree Rama is facing west is located in
the two-storied shrine can be seen in
the southern side and between these two shrines we can see Lord SHANKARANARAYANA
facing west. These are the Mukha
Mandapams.
“A fairly large white bullock on the verandah of the Nalambalam is
worshipped as Nandikeswara. In the temple quadrangle.
,
Lord Ganesh in the temple is positioned facing the temple kitchen and offering of Appam (sweetened rice cake fried in ghee) to Mahaganapathy is one of the most important offerings at Vadakkunnathan temple. Propitiating Ganapathy here is believed to be a path to prosperity and wealth”.
Lord Ganesh in the temple is positioned facing the temple kitchen and offering of Appam (sweetened rice cake fried in ghee) to Mahaganapathy is one of the most important offerings at Vadakkunnathan temple. Propitiating Ganapathy here is believed to be a path to prosperity and wealth”.
In this temple MAHA SHIVARATHRI when Lord Shiva
is taken in precession and Aanayoottu are the temple’ s big festvals.
THE TEMPLE TIMINGS
3AM to 10.30 AM IN THE
MORNING HOURS
4 PM TO 8.30 PM
THRIPPUKA (THE LST RITE OF LORD
VADAKKUNNATHR ) 8.30 PM EVERY DAY,THRIPPUKA is known as THRIPPA ( திருப்புகை
) It is a custom when there is a connection with GOD we
use THIRU as in the case of ATHIRA or ONAM, THIRU-ANANTHA
PURAM, THIRU-SHIVA – PERUR.THIRU is only a word which denotes respect, to the
GODS.
This essay cannot be
complete without telling about THE
FAMOUS THRISSUR POORAM FESTIVALWHICH IS FAMOUS THROUGHOT THE WORLD. .Money is
collected from all shop keepers irrespective of what religion they belong and
the function is conducted. Small POORAMS to meet L/ORD From THIRU-AMBAADY(திருவமம்பாடி)LORD SREE KRSHNA temple side
KANNIMANGALAM (கண்ணிமன்கலம்) Lord
SHAASTHA Pooram comes first to meet HIS FATHER i.e LORD SHIVA known as
VADAKKUNNATHAR and thereafter comes
LAALOOR BHAGAVATHI, KATHYAAYANI of AAYAMTHOLE, NELLIKKAVI BHAGAVATHI,
and from PAARAMELKKAVU side CHEMBUKKAVU BHAGAVATHI,PAANAMUKKUMPALLYALLY SHASTHA.CHOORAKKOTUKAVU BHAGAVATHY, KARAMUKKU
BHAGAVATHY of POOKAAATIKKARA, and then comes the MAIN POORAMS are PARAMELKAVU
BHAVATHY TEMPLE AND THIUAMBAADY SRI KRISHNA TEMPLE .The PANDAL decoration is
looked after by the Muslims.
It is said that once ceremonial flag hoisting (കൊടിഏറ്റം) is done NADUVILAL and NAIKKANAL before seven days of
actual POORAM FESTIVAL which starts on POORAM
STARDOM i.e POORVAASHADA STARDOM in Malayalam month of MEDHOM. Those who reside in THRISSUR permanently should not
leave the place or even if leave the place of residence, they should return on
the same day. I feel this is because of lot of friends and relatives are expected to go to their recidence to see
THRISSUR POORAM. I opine this
because of the saying ATHITHY DEVO BHAVA (अतिथि देवो भवः)
People from all walk of life goes
to see MADHOTHIL VARAVU. Mpre than 200 artists play PANCHA VADDYAM consists of
mainly five instruments called THIMILA, MADAALAM ( different types 0f drums in
Malayalam Language ),TRUMPETS,( piped music) EDAKKA and KAI MANIKAL ( CYMBALS
).This
Ceremony denotes the stepping out
of THIRUVAMBAADY KRISHAN AND DEVI frim their respective abodes to BRAHMASWAM
DEVASTHANAM temporarily, to VADAKKUNNATHER TEMPLE TO MEET LORD SHIVA which is
the MAIN TEMPLE.
The second Main attraction is ILAMHITHTHARA
MELAM (ഇലഞ്ഞിത്തറമേളം) more
than 250 artists take part which is also known as Paady Melam (പാണ്ടിമേളം) starts atabout
2.30 PM at the place where Paramelkkavu Bhagavathy sat on a Stone under an
Ilanji Tree (बोकुल्, மகிழ மரம், ഇലഞ്ഞി മരം & Botanically
known as MIMUS ELANGI ) before reaching HER present
abode. This is a popular belief among the people of Thrissur and the Melam
performed to commemorate HER taking REST at this place. This goes on for about
4 hours.
The next attraction but not least of THRISSUR POORAM is changing of
umbrellas by the main two temples i.e. SREEKRISHNA temple of THIRU AMBAADY (തിരുവമ്പാടി) and PARAMELKKAVU (പാറമേല്ക്കാവു.People
from all over India and foreigners throng the entire area to witness this
wherein 25 fully decorated elephants from each side stand in one line. While
Paramel Kkavu elephants stand on the road opposite THEKKIN KADU MAITHAN തേക്കിന് കാടു മൈതാനം,
and. after paying obeisance to Shakthan Thampuran’s
Statue .the other enter through the western gate of SRI. VADAKKUNNATHAN TEMPLE
and come out through the southern gate and line up on the Thekkin kaadu Maithan
itself opposite of PARAMELKKAVU elephants The fans for the GOD AND GODDESS
called ആലവട്ടം & വെണ്ചാമരം throng
the entire area to see the changing of umbrellas of different colors and shapes
with golden borders which are feasts for
the people’s eyes. Whenever the umbrella is changed
the Aalavattam & Vencamamaram are shown to the GOD and GODESS. This
function of POORAM festival goes on for about 2 to 21/2 hours.
Display
of fire-works with in THEKKIN KADTU MAITHAN at about 2 AM on the next day by Shree Krishna Temple
and Paramel Kavu temple competing each other provide the crowed with the most
unexected and the best performance of THRISSUR POORAM FESTIVAL..Both sides
start their fire- works one by one.
While PARAMEL KAVU starts first with a കതന വെടി (a type of cracker generally
cracked in Temples of Kerala ) After they finish, The THIRU AMBAADY side starts
with bursting of കതന. This lasts
through-out night.
The
seventh day of POORAM FESTVAL which is called as DAY TIME POORAM ( പകല് പൂരം ) by the locals is bidding farewell by the two sides i.e PAARAMELKAVU
& THIRU AMBAADY sides where in the two sides Elephants (ONE EACH). This is a touching
scene where they bid farewell by shaking their trunks
i.e.twisting of their trunks.Most probably the meaning is that they will meet
each other during next year.
Despite being a Hindu festival, the
Thrissur pooram is attended by different sections of the Kerala society.
During thisa perid the Sanctum of Vadakkunnatha Temple is
closed and will be opened only after SHUDDI KALASHAM ( ശുദ്ധികലശം ), for pooja
,since many people from different Religions enter the temple premises.
Friends, this is only a short history in which I might
have ommitted many items.
REGARDS TO ONE AND ALL,
P.R.RADHAKRISHNAN
No comments:
Post a Comment