Vadakkumnathan Temple

DEITIES/SHRINES MODE OF WORSHIP The Vadakkumnathan temple enshrines Lord Shiva as First outside the nalambalam pradakshinams are completed. its principal deity. The statue of Shiva, which is not Outside are nadas of lord Krishna, Sankaracharya, visible, is covered under a mount of ghee, formed by Dharmasastavu, lord Simhodharan, Vettekaran & the daily abhishekam with ghee over the years. Parasuraman. Entering of temple is allowed only after praying to lord Apart from Lord Shiva, Sree Parvathy, Sree Ganapathi, Vrishoban. Lord Sankaranarayana and Sree Rama are enshrined Inside the temple first sacred Nandi is worshipped. Then the within the nalambalam of the temple. main deity, Shiva, is worshipped. Next lord Ganesha. Then godess Parvathy & Ganesha, followed by lord Shankara narayana & lord Rama. Lord Vettekkaran is also worshipped within the After which lord Ganesha & lord Shiva are worshipped, nalambalam enclosure. completing 1 pradakshinam. The important offerings are neyyabhishekam to lord Shiva Outside the nalambalam, there are shrines of Lord and appam to Maha Ganapathi Krishna, Vrishabha, Parasurama, Simhodara, Dharmasastha and Adi Sankara. Location Vadakkumnathan temple is situated in the Heart of Thrissur town. LEGEND Vadakkunnathan temple is one of the oldest temples in South India and is Architecture believed to be over 2000 years old. According to legends, it was founded by Lord Parasurama. Vadakkunnathan temple is surrounded by a massive stone wall enclosing an area of nearly 9 acres. Inside this fortification, there are four gopurams each facing north, south, east and west directions. There is There is a belief that lord Shiva sent his gana, Simhodhara, to find a very also a multi-shrined complex in the centre with three principal shrines dedicated to Vadakkunnathan, good place for him to rest. It is said that Shiva came and sat in the place that Shankaranarayana and Rama. This temple is a classic example of the Kerala style of architecture with Simhodharan found. As Shiva himself came and sat there, the diety in this beautiful murals delineating graphically, various episodes from the Mahabharata. temple is Swayambhu. Festival Adi Sankara is believed to have been born to the Shivaguru-Aryamba couple In this temple, there are no annual festivals, other than Shivarathiri. Unlike other in other temples, the diety is not taken out in procession. Thrissur Pooram called 'the pooram of all poorams’ is celebrated in Vadakkumnathan temple complex. The of Kalady in answer to their prayers before Vadakkunnathan, as amsavatara Thrissur pooram, is celebrated every year in the month of Medam (mid-April to mid-may) as per the Malayalam calendar. of the Lord. Legend has it that Shiva appeared to both husband and wife in Elephant procession (Kudamattom) & Panchavadyam are the major attractions of this festival, followed by magnificent their dreams and offered them a choice. They could have either a mediocre fireworks at night. The Pooram commences with the ezhunellippu, which signifies the visit of Devi from Paramekkavu and son who would live a long life or an extraordinary son who would die early. Thiruvambadi temples to the Vadakkunnathan temple. Aanayoottu is conducted on the first day of Karkidakom month. Both Shivaguru and Aryamba chose the second option. In honour of Shiva, they named the son Adi Shankara.

The famous ‘Thrissur Pooram’, fathered by Shaktan Tampuran, is celebrated in the precincts of the temple. To facilitate the Pooram he cleared teak forests of 54 acres around the temple.

Thrissur Pooram Aanayoottu