Vadakkumnathan Temple : India’s Temple

The Vadakkumnathan temple is one of the oldest temples in the state. it is a classical example of the Kerala style of architecture and contains many decorative murals and pieces of art. it stands on a beautiful hillock at the center of Trichur overlooking the town. The vast ground around the temple is called Tekkinkadu or forest of teak woods. The massive stonewall enclosing an area of nearly 9 acres forms a strong fortification. The our lofty gopuras around the main shrine indicate the four cardinal directions-North, South, East and West. A complex having three principal shrines dedicated to Siva or Vadakkumnathan, Sankaranarayana and Rama are in the center of this vast enclosure.

A striking feature of the temple is the Kuttambalam, which can be seen on the left side as one enters the temple through the western gopuram. This is the theatre hall for staging kuttu, an ancient dramatic form of art famous in Kerala. The temple opens at 3.00 in the morning and closes about 10.30 AM after the morning rites. it opens at 4.00 PM for the evening worship and closes at 8.30 PM at night after the Trippuka, the last rite for the day.

This is the venue of the world famous Pooram festival celebrated annually in April-May. The fireworks at the Pooram Festival are a spectacular sight. Non-Hindus are not allowed entry into the temple.

it is noteworthy that the Union Government under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act has declared the Vadakkumnathan temple a national monument.
(more…)

Triprayar Temple : India’s Temple

The Triprayar Temple is located towards the south of Trichur and is one of the important temples dedicated to Lord Rama. The temple was originally under the domain of the Zamorin rulers of Kerala and later came under the possession of the Dutch, the Mysore sultans and the rulers of Cochin.

The image of Rama similar to the Chaturbhuja Vishnu form with four arms, holding a conch, a disc, a bow and a garland respectively. it is believed that the deity possesses some of the features of Shiva too. The image is adorned with necklaces and other fine jewelry. images of Sridevi and Bhudevi are on the two sides of the image. The image of Dakshinamurti in the sanctum faces the south. it is also believed that the Rama portrayed with a garland in his hands is indicative of aspects of Brahma.

The deity is considered to be a manifestation of the Trimurtis. An invisible manifestation of Hanuman is worshipped in a mandapam across the hall from the sanctum. There is also a shrine to Ganapati in Triprayar temple. The shrine to Saasta or Ayyappan is in the outer courtyard of the temple. it is believed that the Saasta shrine was placed originally at the place corresponding to the temple’s sanctum.
(more…)

Temples of Kerala

The architectural style of the temples in Kerala is different from the other areas in India. The geographical features of the place largely determine the temple style of a region. Kerala has rich forest cover together with good monsoon showers thus resulting in distinctive structures of the temples. The roofs of the temples are steep and needlelike covered with copper sheets. The roofs of the temples of Kerala are similar to the temples of the Himalayan regions and the East Asia.

The shape of the roof depends on the plan of the sanctum below. A circular plan has a conical roof, while a square plan has a pyramidal roof. The roof is made of wood and is covered with copper plates. Most of the temples in Kerala have undergone renovation several time ever since their construction because of the perishable construction materials.

The history of the construction of the temples of Kerala dates back to the Cheras of the 3rd century BC. The temples of Kerala are referenced in the works of the Tamil Alwar Saints and the Nayanmar Saints. Several works on the temple architecture were written in Kerala during the 15th and the 16th centuries AD. The Bhakti literatures of the 16th century played an important role in the temple culture of Kerala.The Maharajas of Travancore were ardent patrons of temples.

Temples have held an important place in the life of the people of Kerala. Several temples in Kerala trace their origins to antiquity. However, they were renovated frequently and the current structures that are seen are vastly a result of the numerous renovations.
(more…)