thiruvananthapuram temples

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Sree Padamanabha swami Temple:

The Dravidian style 30-metre Gopuram (tower) is built with 365 pillars, equalling a year’s days, into the inner corridor. A visitor or a pilgrim cannot contain the beauty of the idol in one visit. The task is tiresome. The unlettered details lay in three doors. The Lord’s feet is in one door, the lotus in the second and the face in the third.
There is a shrine of Lord Krishna which has a nicely carved Japamandapam(prayer meeting venue) and a shrine to Kshetrapala (the temple guardian) with lively geometrical in its ceiling and bright murals on the inner walls. Outside the inner sanctum there is a hall with 1000 pillars. Unfortunately, the entry is only for Hindus.

Janarddhana Swamy Temple:

The deity of the temple is Vishnu. It is believed the water in the pond of the temple is holy and it will nullify the sins.

Sri Pazhanchira Devi Temple:

The idol was installed by a Siddha Yogi who used to worship Devi. Years a later a temple was raised here by the devotees and theYogi who died meanwhile was accorded a place in the western side of the sanctum sanctorum. Outside the sanctum there is a Snake Grove with many trees. Here Naga Pooja (Snake rituals) is performed. There is a belief that offering a Naga Pooja enables one to get cured of skin and eye ailments.

There is 7-day festival in the month of Meenam (March/April). 5th day of the festival is earmarked for Naga Devatas (snake gods). Special rituals performed for Nagas on this day. Using multi-coloured rice power, Naga Kalam (snake circle) of Naga Devatas is drawn. This is done by Pulluvan tribes who are settled mostly in North Kerala. Songs pleasing snakes accompanied by mud-pot musics follow. A male folk who has undergone Vritam (fast) sits in the Kalam (drawn snake circle) and make snake-like movements in frenczied state and offer Prasadam (blessed token ritualized stuff) to the devotees.

Mahanavami is celebrated with Kanyaka Pooja (homages for unmarried girls). Unmarried girls are worshipped and presented with dress material and gifts. A Samooha Leksharchana (community floral ritual) attended by hundreds of devotes is also conducted. On Vidyarambam day (the day of initiation to letters) hundreds of children get initiation to letters by the Priests.

Mukkalkkal Sri Varaham Bhagawati Temple:

The deity is goddess Bhagawati. There are sub-deities of Mahaganapathy, Nagar and Brahma Rakshas. The idol with eight manifestations made of Panchaloha (five metals) facing north is seen beside a self-grown Puttu.

Bharani in the month of Meenam (March/April) is celebrated here with pomp and show as Uruttulsav. It is a 7-day long festival. There is Parakkezhunnullath on the 6th day. Parakkezhunnallathu is a procession with deity’s idol on the neck of an elephant for accepting Para, a full messure of paddy, from the houses of devotees in the villages around the temple. During the festival the surrounding places will be in festive mood.

Karikkakom Sri Chamundi Temple:

Karikkakom Sri Chamundi Temple is Situated 7-km east of Thiruvandanthapuram city. Though the cardinal deity is goddess Chamundi Devi, Rektha Chamundi, Bala Chamundi, Sastha, Vinayaka and Yogeshwara are also accommodated. During the period of King’s rule this temple was the venue for imparting justice and truth. Truth and justice were tested on oath and solemnization and the punishmentsf meted out accordingly. The people of all castes and creeds, even from far away places, come here to seek justice. Oaths for non-repeat of sins are also a regular feature here. The procedure to the solution of the problem is simple and inexpensive. The plaintiff and the defendant are ordered to have a bath in the temple pond. Thereafter they are directed to stand up with folded hands before the deity and take oath. If the oath is false, sudden retribution is the result.

There is Raktha Chamundi Nada (Raktha Chamundi front path) on the right side of Devi Nada (front path). This Raktha Chamundi Nada has no idol. Instead, there is wall painting of Devi in Rowdra Bhava (ferocious state) in the wall of Nada. Years back this Nada was used to elicit truth from suspected culprits. This practice is still prevalent, but it is done before the deity of Chamundi Devi.

The temple conducts numerous rituals such as Bali Sadhya, Nirayum Puthiriyum, Uthrada Taneerkuda, Kodi Charthu, Vinayaka Chaturthi Pooja, Karthika Vilakku, Ayilyam Ootu, Sasta Pratishta Dinam, Ulsava Mahamagam, Vishu Kani etc. Among these, Kodi Charthu is more famous. During this ritual the devotees give yellow attire to the Devi as offering.

Attukal Bhagawati Temple:

The devotees who visit the famous Padmanabha Swami temple in Thiruvananthapuram also visit Attukal Bhagawati. The figures of Goddess Kali, Rajarajeshwari, Mahishasuramardini, Parvathi, Shiva and numerous other Goddesses accommodated in and around the temple are enticing and revealing. The corridors bear the depictions of various Gods and the epic versions of Dasavathara, (ten incarnations of Vishnu) and carvings and sculptures of Ganesh, the serpent God and Shiva. Front Gopuram (tower) is a giant one which narrates the story of Kannaki. Dhakshayaga is depicted on the southern Gopuram and the decorative entrance gate is a fine example of refined and intricate architecture.

All important religious events celebrated here. Notable among them are Shivaratri, Mandala Vritham, Pooja Vaipu, Vinayaka Chathurthi, Karthika, Ayilla Pooja, Aiswarya Pooja, Ramayana Parayanam, Akandanama Japam etc. Almost all special offerings and rituals in major temples are also conducted here. An atmosphere of divinity prevails all around.

The major festival is Pongala in which participants are women alone. The Pongala is a 10-day event. It is held in Kumbham (February/March) on Karthika star day. The festival concludes with Kuruthi Dharpanam (sacrificial offering) in the night. The surrounding areas of the temple which include compounds of the houses of all castes, creeds and religions, premises of commercial institutions and government offices, open fields, road sides etc serve as venue for conducting Pongala rituals. Several thousands of ladies participate and the event is akin to Kumbamela Festival of North India.

Alappuzha | Eravikulam | Idukki | Kannur | Trivandrum | Thrissur | Wayanad | Varkala