Panchayath/ Municipality/ Thrippunithura Municpality Corporation LOCATION District Ernakulam Nearest Town/ Thrippunithura – 1 km Landmark/ Junction Nearest Bus statio Thrippunithura Private Bus Stand – 1 km Nearest Railway Ernakulam South Railway Station -7.6 km statio ACCESSIBILITY Nearest Airport Cochin International Airport – 32.3 km Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple Kottakkakam Road, Thrippunithura - 682301 Phone: +91-484-2776655 CONTACT Email : [email protected] Website : www.sreepoornathrayeesa.net DATES FREQUENCY DURATION TIME November - December Annual 8 Days ABOUT THE FESTIVAL (Legend/History/Myth) Poornathrayeesa is a combination of words, Poorna (means complete), Thraya (means three), and Eesa (means God), which means the God of the Three Vedas – Rig Veda, Yajur Veda And Sama Veda. Some believe that Poornathrayeesa is the combined manifestation of holy Trinities – Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Siva. The origin of the temple is associated with the episode of Santhanagopalam of the epic of Bhagavatha. The antiquity of the temple can be traced back to Dwapara Yuga. According to legend, the temple was established by Arjuna, the third Panda Prince and Lord Maha Vishnu was worshipped by him as Santhanagopalamurthy – the protector of kids. Poornathrayeesa is the tutelary deity of Cochin Royal family. Narayaneeyam Bhasha Chambu, Kerala Mahatmyam, and Uma Keralam – three important literary works in Malayalam – have mentioned about the temple. The present idol of Lord Vishnu was recast in 1270 A.D. The structures of the temple were built at different periods starting from 952 A.D. to 1849 A.D. A massive fire accident was occurred in the year 1920 A.D. and caused heavy damages to the temple structures except the sanctum sanctorum and idol. The destroyed structures were re-built and the renovation work was completed in 1932. Local Approximately 1000 RELEVANCE- NO. OF PEOPLE (Local / National / International) PARTICIPATED EVENTS/PROGRAMS DESCRIPTION (How festival is celebrated) Ezhunnallippu The Vrishchikotsavam witnesses various temple arts like Atantha Melam Melam, Panchavadyam, Thayambaka, Madhalapattu, Nadappura Melam Kombupattu and Kuzhalpattu, all unique to Kerala. The Thrikketta Purappaadu Royal procession (Ezhunnallippu) of the deity is the most Kathakali fascinating sequence of this festival. Fifteen fully Kurathiyattom caparisoned tuskers will accompany the deity along with the Ottamthullal gigantic orchestration, Pancharimelam. One can enjoy the Sheethankan Thullal melodious Pancharimelam in all its perfection at the Patakom precincts of Sree Poornathrayeesan and it will last for about Sandhya Kali three and a half hours. The Pancharimelam is followed by Atantha Melam and concludes with the third and fourth division of the Chembada Melam which is famous here as Nadappura Melam. The acoustic structure of Nadappura is well suited for the resonant sound produced by Elathaalam (cymbals) in Chembada Melam. This rare blend of colourful procession and melodious rhythm (melam) is repeated for seven days and nights. The fourth day of the festival is significant for the Thrikketta Purappaadu. The great Vilvamangalam Swamiyar is said to have visited the temple and found the divine presence in the procession and not at the sanctum-sanctorum. From this day onwards the procession is given a lot of importance considering the presence of Poornathrayeesa in the procession. .