TEMPLES IN TRIRUVANANTHAPURAM

ARUVIPPURAM SIVA TEMPLE

Aruvippuram Siva Temple near neyyattinkara, 6 kms via perumpazhuthur.consecrated by Sree Narayana Guru.(Owned by Sivagiri Madhom). Sivarathri is the main festival.

 The temple situates in Parumkadavila Panchayat of Thiruvananthapuram district. The presiding deity is Siva, facing the west. The temple is owned by Sivagiri Madam.
The main festival is the Sivarathri. One kilometer away from Neyyattinkara-Kattakada route this historically important temple remains as the place when one can pray irrespective of cast and creed.
This Temple is considered to be the Origination of Kerala’s “silent social revolution” led by Narayana Gurudev. The natural beauty alongwith the mountainous rivers which creates huge waterfalls and culminates in the Arabian Sea might have attracted Gurudev in building this Temple here! From Aruvippuram South East lies the place known as ‘Kodithookimala’ which lies about 1000 ft above sea level, believed to be the meditation spot where Gurudev used to be in ‘Samadhi state’. On the western side of the mountain just below 80 ft lies the Cave where Gurudev used to meditate. Pulivathukkal house is the place where Gurudev used to visit. It is said that a tiger used to guard the cave from outside when Gurudev meditates, since the name came into effect. The owner of the house once cut the neem tree under where Gurudev used to meditate. At this, Gurudev asked him,

“ Do you want me to go from here? ”.
In reply, the owner said,
“ Yes, I mean it.”
Since then, Gurudev shifted from Aruvippuram to Shivagiri. Later on it is to be noted that one member of that family is said to be an abnormal (lunatic) from each generation! Gurudev’s first disciple was Ayyappan Pillai who later on came to be known as ‘Sivalingaswamigal’ As a child, Ayyappan Pillai used to go out to collect green fodder for the cattle at his house. He saw a tall man standing alone in the opposite forest. It was Narayana Gurudev! who then called the boy and asked him if he could get some tapiyoka (a root-vegetable grown in Kerala) since he was hungry. The boy immediately brought them and even cooked it in the fire and gave to Gurudev. He then became a frequent visitor at Gurudev’s place and lateron became Gurudev’s first disciple against much opposition and hurdles from his parents.
Velayudhan Vaidyar (Ayurvedic Physician) who became acquainted with Gurudev once went to the nearby temple for a darshan. They had the diety’s darshan from outside the temple as the prevailing custom (low caste people were not allowed to enter the hindu temples, they could only have darshan only from outside the temple, at a distance). The Prasad was given to them from a distance. This incident prompted Velayudhan Vaidyar the necessity for a temple for the low caste, who then requested Gurudev to build a temple for them. After a long thought Gurudev finally granted his desire. The Supernatural Powers of a ‘Yogi’ was thus brought out to the world after this first prathishta.
Prathistta ( Diety) :
‘ Shivalingam’ - The peedam (base) was carved from an existing black rock shown by Gurudev. The Prathishta decision was announced just only two days before, by Gurudev. It was decided to Perform the task in a very simple athmosphere, but due to Shivaratri there was a good gathering of local devotees who used to assemble there for reciting bhajans and fasting. On that day Gurudev was found to be more pensive and thought provoken. All arrangements were made ready in the Prathista spot. Gurudev then proceeded to take a bath in the Aruvippuram river.
On the contrary Gurudev moved to the deep area of Sankaran Kuzhi spot . The people who were watching the scene waited for him. After a long wait there was no sign of him! There was utter confusion and worry there as time passed ahead. But just before mid-night Gurudev emerged out of the water with the idol (Shivalingam). At that tme there was flash of brightness in the sky. Gurudev’s face was shinning with devotion. Gurudev then performed the Shivalinga Prathista. Later he called Sri. Bhairavani, a poor humble illiterate low caste man, taught him how to perfom The pooja activities and appointed him as the first poojari.
Date of Prathishtta : March 12, 1888 (Saturday) – ‘ Shivarathri ’
Special features : A great Pilgrim and Tourist attraction
Address : Aruvippuram Temple
Aruvippuram Post,
Neyyattinkara,
Thiruvananthapuram Dist.
Pin Code: 695 124

BHAGAVATHI TEMPLE,ATTUKAL

Attukal Bhagavathy Temple is located at Attukal, 2 km away from the city. 'Pongala' is the favorite offering to Attukal Bhagavathy. This temple is considered as the Sabarimala of the Women. Women form the major portion of the devotees here. The Goddess is worshipped here as the Supreme Mother. The pilgrims who visit the Sri Padmanabha Swami Temple also visit Attukalamma without which their pilgrimage is not considered as complete.
According to the legends, the Attukal Bhagavathy is the divinised form of Kannaki, the heroine of the famous Tamil work Chilappathikaram. Kannaki is considered as an incarnation of Goddess Parvathi, the consort of Lord Shiva. The Pongala festival is celebrated during the Malayalam month 'Kumbha' ( Feb-March) in the 'Makam' Nakshathram. The ten-day- long celebration commences in the Malayalam month of Makaram-Kumbham (Feb - March)on the Karthika star. Kuthiyottam performed by boys and Thalappoli by girls are two popular rituals made on the Ponkala day. A large number of devotees throng the temple during the festival times. The Pongala ceremony is exclusively for women.
The temple structure is a blend of Kerala and Tamil styles of architecture. There are beautiful carved figures of Mahishasuramarddini, Goddess Kali, Rajarajeswari, Sree Parvathy with Lord Paramasiva and various other depictions of the Goddess in and around the temple. The depictions of various other Gods and Goddess are seen in the corridoors of the temple. The ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu are also depicted here.

PAZHAVANGADI GANAPATHY TEMPLE

It is said that by unique offering of breaking of coconuts for this deity is special.Presiding deity is Lord Ganapathy. You can find Sree durga devi, Lord ayyappa and Nagaraja as sub deities here. The idol is different in shape if we compare with other Ganapathy temples. Deity is seated and worshipped here with right leg folded.ute:This Temple is 1 km southwest of Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station and Thiruvananthapuram Central Bus Station, and hardly 8 km east from Trivandrum International Airport.
Pazhavangadi Ganapathy Temple, dedicated to Lord Ganapathy, is located at East Fort in Thiruvananthapuram. Deities of Goddess Durga, Lord Ayyappa and Nagaraja are also found in the temple complex.Pazhavangadi Mahaganapathy idol is entirely different from other Ganesh idols, as the right leg is in folded posture. Breaking of coconut is the main nivedyam (offering) at the temple. The rituals conducted are nityanidaanam, masavisesham, and attaviseshams. A bhajana mandapam is also attached.The famous Padmanabhaswamy Temple is at a walking distance. Sree Maha Ganapathy Temple is 1 km southwest of Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station and Thiruvananthapuram Central Bus Station, and 8 km east of Trivandrum International Airport.

JANARDHANA SWAMI TEMPLE

Its about 800 years old and as well as an altar to Vishnu, also holds shrines to Ayapan and Hanuman. There is an enormous banyan tree in the courtyard under which musicians stand and play their ‘violins.’ They will sing a song of offering on your behalf and place your name inside the song.

There’s another tree where hundreds of worshippers have tied pieces of ribbon to the branches and left dozens of plastic dolls. When you see this inside a shrine in India, it usually means that couples have prayed for fertility here then offered a ‘child’ if they’ve been successful.

KARIKKAKOM TEMPLE

he annual Pongala festival at Karikkakom Sri Chamundi Temple is on 27th March 2010, Saturday. Karikkakom Chamundi Devi Temple is one of the highly revered Devi Temples in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Karikkakom Devi Temple enshrines Goddess Chamundi Devi, an incarnation of Goddess Durga, as the main deity.
The Karikkakom pongala starts when the Chief Priest of Karikkakom Devi Temple lights the main hearth from the divine fire inside the sanctum sanctorum. Then this fire is exchanged from one oven to another. The pongala is offered to the goddess usually in the afternoon.It is believed that the Devi’s star is Makam in the Malayalam month of Meenam and hence every year devotees offer Pongala to Karikkakom Chamundi Devi on Makam Nakshatra in the Meenam month. Pongala is a Hindu religious festival usually celebrated in Goddess temples, where women devotees offer porridge made of rice, sweet brown molasses, coconut gratings, nuts and raisins, to the goddess.
Karikkakom Temple is situated 2 km from Chackai and 7 km from Trivandrum City. Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station is the nearest major railway station to reach Karikkakom.

KANYAKUMARI TEMPLE

Kanyakumari represents the site where the spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda spent days in meditation upon a rock off of the coast. A memorial built in his honor is accessible via ferry. There is also a recently built memorial to Tiruvalluvar, the author of the philosophical work Tirukkural - a treatise on the Indian way of life.
The Kanyakumari temple is an ancient one and has been mentioned in the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and the Sangam works Manimekalai and Puranaanooru. It is believed that the image of Kanyakumari was installed and worshipped by Parasurama, who is credited with reclaiming Kerala from the ocean, and building several shrines.Legend has it that the demon Baanaasuran wreaked havoc on the inhabitants of this world, and that Mahavishnu requested the Gods and the humans to request primeval energy Paraasakthi to vanquish the demon. Answering the prayers of the oppressed, Shakti appeared as a young virgin girl at Kanyakumari and commenced penance with the desire of marrying Shiva at Suchindram.

PADMANABHA SWAMI TEMPLE

Thiruvananthapuram's most interesting temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple is a blend of the Kerala and Dravidian style of architecture. It is a best example of South Indian architecture, with an impressive seven -story gopuram (tower).A flagstaff encased in gold stands in the huge courtyard.It is known for its murals and carvings. In the main courtyard, the Kulashekara mandapam, there is some intricate granite sculpture and nearly 400 pillars are supporting the temple corridors. Only Hindus are allowed inside the temple and they have rules of clothing. Even the male Hindus, must enter the temple wearing only white dhoti.

SREE PARASURAMA TEMPLE

n a recent segment, we visited the Brahma Temple at Thirunavaya, which was consecrated by Lord Parasurama in honor of Brahmadeva, his 'Brahma-Kshatriya' Guru. Today we'll cover another temple in which Lord Brahma is worshipped, this one dedicated to Parasurama himself.

The Thiruvallam Parasurama Temple is located 10 km. from Trivandrum (Thiruvanantha), on the Kovalam route, where it sits on the banks of the river Karamana. Thiruvallam Parasurama Temple, built entirely of granite, dates back to the late 12th, early 13th century, in late Pandyan period. Now a protected monument, it is said to be the only temple in Kerala dedicated to Parasurama. The temple is thought to have been constructed by Athiyaman Perumal, a legendary Chera King.
Commonly known as the Thiruvallam Temple, the temple complex sits at the confluence of the rivers Killi and Karamana, where a cluster of shrines are all enclosed by a high stone wall. The foundation-to-ceiling granite construction of the main temple makes it an imposing building. A row of bhuthaganas, lions, elephants, floral ornaments, and bearded faces line the upper surface. The main sanctum is round, with a rectangular mandapa in front. There is little other sculpture or ornamentation. In 2007, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) completed a renovation of the Parasurama Temple, repairing the roof of the chuttambalam, which had developed a heavy leak over the years.The presiding deities here are the Trimurti, in the personality of Parasurama (Visnu), Lord Brahma, and Lord Shiva. This is the only known temple where Lord Parasurama is the personification of Visnu in a Trimurti installation of deities. Consequently, the temple is referred to as 'Thrimurthi Ellam' (Thiruv-allam). There is a sect of brahmins in North India called the Mohyal Brahmins, who are the kshatriya descendents of Lord Parasurama. Dronacharya was said to be among this group. While the Mohyal Brahmins build Parasurama bhavans in various places, they don't worship Parasurama, but rather worship only Sri Krsna and Rama.
These prathishta shrines of Parasurama, Brahma and Shiva are positioned in a row along the south side, from west to east. Parasurama and Brahma's shrines are facing north, while Shiva's is facing east. The Parasurama and Shiva shrines have separate flagpoles. There are five full pujas and other offerings performed here daily, making this a mahakshethra, or 'great temple'. Separate worship is offered to the presiding deities. There are also shrines to ten upaprathishta, or secondary deities, including Krishna, Nrsimhadeva, Matsya, Mahishasura Mardini (Bhadrakaali), Ayyappan, Ganapati, and the saint Vedavyasa.The deity of Parasurama has four hands, two of which hold conch and chakra. The traditional weapons of Parasurama, the parasu and hala, are hardly distinguishable. The weapon in the right front hand appears to be a gada.
The shrine of Brahma is also built of dressed granite. The Brahmadeva deity has four heads and four hands and is seated in the padmanasa pose, on a lotus pedestal. A kamandalu with spout and an open lotus flower are held in two of his hands, while the other two are in mudra pose.
On the base of the Brahma shrine, to the west, is an inscription in Vattezhuthu about a transaction made in the month of Makaram in 399 ME, when Jupiter stood in Vruchikam. Veera Kerala Varman, who ruled Venad, gave paddy and ghee from buffaloes for the daily offering. There is one incomplete inscription, from 411 ME, which deals with an assembly convened by Mukundottama Bhattrar.

SREEKANTESWARAM TEMPLE

SREEKANTESWARAM IS known for the temple of Lord Shiva. There is another temple by the same name at old Puthenchantha (the area near Overbridge), which has over the years acquired the name Pazhaya Sreekanteswaram.
The Pazhaya Sreekanteswaram temple is located at an inconspicuous place, at the end of a lane opposite the SMV School for Boys on M.G. Road. The lane is flanked on both sides by buildings. The temple has two main deities - Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. There are a few eateries in the vicinity of the temple. The fragrance of camphor and incense sticks wafting across the compound of the temple is smothered by the smell of meat being roasted in spices at the eateries. The importance of this temple began to wane with the rise of the new Sreekanteswaram, but one can still find references to it in the Mathilakam records (documents relating to the administration of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple), dated 1587. The Chirikandeswaram mentioned in the record could bear reference to the old Sreekanteswaram. The old Sreekanteswaram was on the route taken by the King during Pallivetta, a ritual connected with the festivities of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
The new Sreekanteswaram is located to the southwest of the old temple. It is bounded by Punnapuram and Kaithamukku on the west, Puthenchantha on the east, the Fort on the south. The railway line bisects Chettikulangara, which is to the north of Sreekanteswaram.
Among the old topographical features of Sreekanteswaram, one would find that two aristocratic, old Brahmin houses - the Koopakkara madom and Kallanthattil madom - had some historic importance. Koopakkara madom once overlooked the vast lands, Pandara vilakom, belonging to the King. The Koopakara Pottis constituted one of the nine hereditary trustees of the ettara yogam of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple. These Brahmins occupied a pride of place in the history of Venad before the rise of Maharaja Marthanda Varma. The ettara yogam also included the King of Travancore.
The Koopakara madom owned a priceless collection of very old palm-leaf manuscripts. Many came here to seek knowledge and refer to the manuscripts, including Chattambi Swamikal.
The Kallanthattil Namboothiris belonged originally to Kolathunadu in Kannur. One of them came to Padmanabhapuram during the reign of Maharaja Marthanda Varma seeking to train the heir-apparent in martial arts. But, prior to entrusting him with the training, the King wished to test the trainer's skill and agility. gurukkal, After becoming convinced of his martial skills, the King invited the gurukkal to stay at Sreekanteswaram, which was close to the royal kalari at Sree Paadam palace. This was during the 18th century, when the capital of Travancore was shifted to Thiruvananthapuram. The story of how the gurukkal succeeded in impressing the King is narrated in Kottarathil Sankunni's `Aithihyamala' (`The Legends of Kerala'). Many years later, some of the members of the Kallanthattil family shifted to Thiruvalla. Poet Vishnu Narayanan Namboothiri's mother is a descendant of this family. Sreekanteswaram was also home to Sreekanteswaram Padmanabha Pillai (1864-1945), lexicographer and scholar, who compiled the `Sabdatharavali', an authentic Malayalam dictionary.
Old timers also recall another interesting figure, Bhaktan Parameswaran, who used to frequent the temple. A writer and publisher, Bhaktan Parameswaran used to promote low-priced religious books. Many a poet - right from Irayimman Thampi to Tulasivanam (R. Ramachandran Nair) - has sung the glory of the Lord of Sreekanteswaram.