One of the largest temple complexes in South India is a classical example of rich Kerala temple Architecture. The main temple complex is spread over nine acres on a small hillock encircled by 64 acre Thekkinkadu maidanam. The 4 gopurams (magnificent gateways) beautifully carved out of wooden pillars and wooden bracket figures and the towering "pallamathils" ( boundary walls of laterite built in the shape of elephants belly) are imposing piece of skill and taste. The rare architectural techniques adopted are the mixture of many rituals, geometry, iconography, astrology, vastusastra, tantra sastra and murals with organic pigments. Most of the other temples in Kerala show one or more of these features but in Vadakkumnathan it is near to perfection and so it is unique.
Kanimangalam Sastha Temple
The Kanimangalam Sastha is the first God "who is the incarnation of "Brahspathi" (Deva Guru) - which is the premier pooram entering Sree Vadakkumnathan.
Starting its journey on pooram day at 4 O'clock in the morning accompanied by Nadapandy and Nadaswaram and associated with 3 elephants and reaches Kulassery temple at Veliyannur. More chenda artists with a strength of 100 numbers accompanied by Pandymelam, it reaches to Manikandanal pandal from were it turns east and enter through Southern Gopuram of Vadukkumnatha Temple and reaches Elinjithara. Sree Vadakkumanathan pay great respects to Deva Guru and Honour him opening Lord's Thirunanda. After the Pandymelam the deity with 14 elephants passes through western gopuram in front of Sreemoolasthanam were the Pandymelam at its brisk point performed and finally ends the day times pooram.
The same process repeated in the evening at 6.30pm and the Pooram ends by 9 O' clock. The next day there is Uthram Vilakku at Sastha temple with Aarattu and with Thanthrika Poojas and other ceremonies the curtain of Kanimangalam Pooram ends in the temple. The hoisted flag on a temporary areca nut tree have been pull down by the elephant.
Chembukkavu Karthiyani Temeple
One among another 108 Durga kshetras "Karthyiayani" with Vigneswara and Dharma sastha are deities here. Since the deity is allergic to sunstroke is forced to return on pooram day before the temperature rise and pleased to travel again in the wee hours according to legend. However the foremost offering is "Nai Vilakku" (Ghee is used instead of oil to lighten the lamp) in this temple substantiate the story of "Headache". The chieftains of the foremost among the 32 grammas of Kerala (to be translated as corporations) Thrissur Namoodiries and Dutches had a long legal battle about the ownership of this temple. The history long back to 280 years. Another version of the story is simple, innocent and straight forward namboodiri families were drawn to this politics between His Excellency of Kochi & the Dutches.
It is believed that while digging for foundation the parts of this Kshetra was found and hence this temlple. The ooralan was Cungrath menon family. Sri Kathiayani temple at Chembukkavu coming under the direct control of the Cochin Devaswam Board. With its proximity to the Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady temples and its rich tradition of giving spiritual solace to hundreds of its devotes, the temple plays a major role in the Thrissur Pooram every year.
Panamukkumpally Sastha Temple
The Panamukkumpally Dharma Sastha Temple is situated about 2 kilometers east of Sree Vadakkumnathan Temple Thrissur. The idol, which is said to be 2500 years old, symbolizes Sree Dharma Sastha mediating Padmasanam with a pot filled with Amrit in hand. It is very rare to see such a posture of Sri Lord Sastha. The other idols of the temple are Lord Shiva, Vinayaka and Nana Durga. It is believed selfless devotion and prayer, with complete dedication to the Lord Sastha can cure even major diseases. It is also very auspicious to begin education of children in divine presence.
Thekkemadom Swamiar who migrated from Kottayam to Thrissur constructed this temple at Kizhakkumpattukara for "SRI AYYAPPA" which they have brought along with. The decedents of Madom make customary visit to the Temple and offer Pushpanjalis to the Lord.
Karamukku Temple
The famous Pookkattikara-Karamukku Temple is situated 5 kilometer from Vadakkumnathan Temple under Thrissur corporation. Through Ernakulam route or Thrissur - Kodungallur route the temple can be reached. Pookkattikkara - Karamukku Temple is built around paddy fields accompanied by the 2 acres wide "Karamukku Pond" a reservoir which is very helpful for perennial water supply for residents of the area and for sacred bath for devotees.
This temple is a multi temple viz, Pookattikkara Siva temple & Karamukku Bagavathy temple. The earlier temple was in the southern side of the "Pookattikkara" village and brought to this place. Lord Parasurama brought some Namboodiri families from north Malabar to do the "Poojas" of Sri Vadakkumanatha temple. It is believed that this family brought their family deity "Lord Siva" along with them and hence the Pookattikkara temple. Karamukku Bagavathy is one among the 108 Durgalayas made by Bargava Rama. The Karthiyani Devi along with her brother Krishna is the main deities of karamukku temple. Edampiri Ganapathy, Nandi (the holy bullock) and Siva are the deities of "Pookattikkara" Temple. When this is combined the Pookattikkara-Karamukku temple. Two prominent double Vatta SreeKovil (holy shrines), and another single Vatta Sreekovil is the the miniature of Sree vadakkumanatha temple. The three (two big and one small) Balikallus shows the importance of this temple.
Laloor Sree Karthiyayini Temple
Laloor Sree Karthiyayini Temple is one among 108 Durgalayas found by Saint Parasurama. This temple is located at Laloor, 5Kms away from Sree Vadakumnatha temple in south - west direction. Laloor Sree Karthiyayini temple is distinct in many ways. There is no sub - shrines in the temple. The size of the "Valiya Balikkallu" is nearly 8 Feet high which shows that the type of prathistha. Temple architecture is closely connected to Sankaranarayana temple in Vadakkumnatha complex. The priests were from the same family who were head priest of Sree Rama temple of Vadakkumnatha temple. The sanctum sanctorum and mural paintings are in the shrines. The Kerala style of architecture, the gothic style of mural painting of the temple are without any parallel. The temple was owned by Mannath family. Due to various reasons the temple was taken over by Cohin Dewasam Board.
Laloor:Gramadevatha of "Aranattukara". "Chathur bahu vigraha". OORALAN: Moolathadam Nair Family.
Pooram: Laloor pooram has the privilege of the first pooram to hoist the pooram flag before noon of the "Kodiyettam" day. System followed is "Padahadhy" style. The next day o f "Kodiyettam" Laloor Bhagavathy, after daily rituals travels to Pookkattikkara - Karamukku temple. After the poojas there, Devi travels back to Laloor along with Karamukku Bhagavathy. It is believed that this courtesy call to fellow pooram participant was another extinct rituals where all ten participants followed once.
Laloor Pooram: On the seventh day after Tantric Poojas. Laloor Bhagavati's "Ezhunnallippu" starts Pooram muhurtham at 6.30 a.m. Along with "Nadhaswram" and Panchavadhyam with five elephants, the Ezhunnallippu reaches at Naduvilal of Swaraj round. During the course of time the number of elephants increases to nine. The melam starts procession moves to Sreemoola Sthanam with Pandymelam and ends at 10.30 A.M. the deity go inside temple to pay respects to Lord Vadakkumanathan and exit to Southern gopuram and returns to Laloor.
Night Pooram starts at 6.30 p.m from the temple and the day time routine is repeated. Next day after "Kodikkal Pooram", "Kodikkuth" and "Uthram Pattu" the celebration ends.
Choorakkottukavu Durga Temple
Choorakkottukavu Sree Durga Temple situates under the valley of vilangankunnu, the famous Tourist Kendra in Trichur. It locates on the Eastern side of Trichur - Kunnamkulam Road. The distance from the Temple to Trichur town is only 8 K.M. this is one of the oldest Temples in Kerala. According to mythology the "Prathishta" of this Temple was done by Parasurama. After defeating the adamant Kshathriyas Parasuraman created 108 Durga Temples and 108 Sastha Temple in Kerala.
"CHORAKOTTUKAVU" Nanadurga. Sub temple of Ramanchira. No Sub shirens.
Choorakkottukavu Sree Durga Temple is one of the famous Durga Temple. After passage of time the deity was surrounded by choral bushes. When the laborers cleaning premises the Sickle hit on the Deity and blood was ousted. Then the public realized there is some sanctity for the place and a Temple was constructed there. One of the peculiarities of this Temple is that there is no roof for the Sanctum Sanctorum. The Deity faces to the Western side. On the front side of Sree-Kovil there is a Mukha-Mandapam. Followed by Valiyambalam and compound wall. The major festivals of this Temple is Pooram (Trichur Pooram) and "Karthika Vilakku" in Malayalam month Vrischikam, also celebrate Vijayadasami, Mahasivarathri and "Ramayanamasom".
"Karthikavilakku" is a major festival of this temple. We celebrate it for 3 days. There will be various cultural and spiritual programmes on these days. On "karthikavilakku" day there will be "Ezhunnellippu" with Elephants and "Panjavadyam".
Another major celebration of this temple is "Pooram" (Trichur Pooram). This temple is one of the major participants of Trichur Pooram. The Pooram celebration commences by ritual named "kodiyettam". After "kodiyettam" there will be "Aarattu" every day till "Kodikkal Pooram". There will be "parayeduppu" also. On the part of parayeddppu Bhagavathy on the top of caparisoned Elephant accompanied by Melam visits every house and accepts offerings. During these 7 days there will be various cultural programs also in the night. On the Trichur Pooram day at 6.30 A.M. Bhagavathy with all pomp and pageantry goes to Trichur Town accompanied by "Nadhaswaram". The villagers and devotees follow to participate in the pooram. Pakal Pooram commences at 9.30 A.M. and ends at 11 A.M .After pakal Pooram Bhagavathy takes rest in Paramekkavu Temple. Out "Rathri Pooram" commences at 10 P.M. and ends at 12 o clock. On both occasions Chenda artists perform "Pandimelam". Immediately after "Rathri Pooram" Bhagavathy returns to temple. On the next day by a ritual named "Kodikkal Pooram" our Pooram celebrations come to an end.
Ayyanthole Karthyayani Temple
Sree Karthyayani Temple is located in the vicinity of Ayyanthole Civil Lines, the nerve center of district administration, which is about 4 KMs North West of famous Vadakkumnathan Temple. Sree Karthyayani Mahamaya, the deity of this temple presides over with all prowess, strength and prosperity making the people of the area feel her presence day in and day out.
An enquiry into the origin of the temple will definitely reveal a lot of information and its connection with stories shrouded in our Puranas. One of the stories related to this temple is 'Dakshayaga'. When Siva started his Thandava dance carrying the dead body of Sathi Devi, who gave up her life in the Yagna Sala unable to suffer the humiliation any more, Lord Vishnu to pacify the outrages Siva shot an arrow and cut the body of Sathi Devi into fragments. It is said, Sathi's bodies was cut into 108 pieces and one of the pieces is believed to have fallen in the place where this temple is located. Later on during 'Thretha Yuga' , Lord Vishnu reborn as Parasurama found out this place and performed penance to have Darsan of Devi. Pleased with this penance, Devi appeared before Parasurama and later immediately made an idol identical to Devi’s appearance and he duly performed the installation ceremony on his own according to the custom and entreated Devi to protect the people of the area from all adversities and calamities. The idol of this temple is exactly the same that was installed by Parasurama in the 'Thretha Yuga'. Another story connected to this temple, in the Bhagavatha is as follows. 'Lord Vishnu' was reborn as a child of Devaki as Sree Krishna and at the same time 'Adi Parasakthi' took birth as a daughter to Yasoda. As directed by the Lord, Vasudevan exchanged the children and King Kamsa saw a female child born to his sister. As his usual practice, Kamsa wanted to kill this daughter also by striking it against the rock. When he lifted the child by her feet in his attempt to strike on the rock, the beautiful child escaped from his hand by pushing herself by kicking on the shoulders of Kamsa and flew away in the space and at last came to the Temple in Ayyanthole and merged with the idol installed by Parasurama. Ayyanthole is so called because; it is the place that Devi chose for merging with God after kicking on the shoulders of Kamsa. On account of the divinity acquired by this temple in ways more than one, the prowess and strength of the Devi is not only unprecedented about also inexplicable. The auspicious Devi of the Temple (Karthyayani) may be worshipped by the Devotees according to the belief and imaginations. Devi presiding in this Temple is very generous in granting the wishes of believes. The form of the Devi is also beautiful that nobody will be satiated by seeing and looking at her who is in a standing posture with a shining sweet face and has Conch shell, whirling disc, Lotus and 'Kadibandham' in her four hands. The idol available in the sanctum sanctorum of this holy temple is exactly the same that was installed by Parasurama. Made of Anjana stone (that is black stone) and well covered by Pancha Loha (an alloy of five of different metals) the idol of Devi with a pleasing face and semi closed lotus eye is also beautiful that the devotees want to see her face again and again every day. Famous astrologers have also expressed their opinion against any change or modification of the Pancha Loha covering or the 'Prabha Mandalam' around the deity.
Nethilakkavu Bagavathy Temple
Naithalakkavu temple is situated, 6 km north of Thrissur city in a village called Kuttur. It is under Cochin Devaswom Board. The temple has been considered to have connections with Cochin Royal family, in the days of their reign the Amma of Naithalakkavu had a special place in Shakthan Thampuran's Palace then. The Amma is considered to be the deity of the village Kuttur, which has been surrounded by Siva Temples. The Naithalakkavu Amma has the sole authority to open the Thekke Gopuram(South Gopuram) of Vadakkunatha temple for the Thrissur Pooram.
The sanctum sanctorum of Shiva in this temple is one of the largest rounded sanctorum in Kerala. Besides Siva and Naithalakkavu Amma, Sri Durga, Shastra, Ganapathi, Anthimahakalan, Rashasu & Dampathu Rashasu is been present as Upadevas. A Rashasu named Kelumman is installed under Alstonius (Pala) tree outside the walls of the temple. The Naithalakkavu Amma is faced towards west, while Siva is faced to east direction. It is an important temple among Vadakkunthan's Rishabhagiri temples.
