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Description:
The temple was established
in 1565 A.D by Azheekal Yogakkars (G. S. Brahmins
of Vypeen) and the Pratishta
was done by Swami Yadavendra Tirtha, first Pontiff
of Shri Kashi Mutt. It is believed to be the first
GSB temple in Travancore-Cochin area.
Presiding Deity: Sree Varaha Moorthy. Sree Venkatachalapathy
with Lakshmi Devi and Bhoomi Devi on left/right
side is also installed in the Srikovil. Sree Varaha
and Sree Venkateswara installed side by side and
worshiped as single moorthy.
Temple specialities
The temple has a large open ground in the front, not
available in other gsb temples in Kerala, and typical
of major temples of Kerala like Trichur, Ettumanoor
and Kottayam.
The temple has a covered Seevelipura (a roofed pathway)
as seen in picture around the nalambalam. Such a structure
is not seen in other temples. Lord is taken around the
temple along the Seevelipura. The devotees also can go
around even in rain.
The dwaja with decorated roof (dwaja mandapam) with
wood carvings is a unique feature of this temple. The
Dwaja was constructed in 1900 AD.
History
Seven of the families who migrated to Cochin from Goa
in 16th century settled in Azheekal in the Vypeen island
near Cochin. A wealthy merchant among them, Krishna Prabhu,
was in possession of two idols - Sree Varaha and Sree
Vithoba. Both these idols were temporarily installed
at Azheekal and worshipped. Sree Varaha soon became the
Gramadevata of the Azeekal community. Krishna Prabhu
purchased extensive plots of land at Vypeen from Paliyath
Achan. A new temple was constructed at Azheekal and the
idol was consecrated in 1565 AD by Sri Yadavendra Tirtha
Swamiji, the first pondiff of Kashi Mutt. The temple
came to be known as Sree Varaha temple.
At the first settlement, four temples were installed
at Azheekal. Sree Varaha, Sree Vitobha - Kasyapa gotra,
Betala - Kaudinya gotra, Sree Gopalakrishna - Bharadwaja
gotra.
The Sree varaha temple was situated one and a half km
to the west of present Mallikarjuna temple at Vypeen
near the St. Teresas Church. This place is known as Teresa's
Strait - now a tract of shallow water. On eastern side
of the temple was the Paliyam Katchery. On the southern
and northern sides were the small temples of Sree Vitobha
and Sree Betala respectively. The Sree Gopalakrishna
temple was at Elankunnapuzha.
The Gopalakrishna temple was later shifted to Ernakulam.
The idol of Betala was shifted to Cherai and installed
in the house of Anantha Vadyar.
The idols in the temple at Azheekal were stolen in 1723
AD and could not be traced. Efforts were made to cast
new idols in Panchaloha but were found defective. So,
the mahajans of Azheekal approached the Cochin temple
and got two idols of Venkatachapathy and Mahalakshmi
and were installed in the temple in 1724 AD. Extensive
plots of land and properties were donated to the temple
by 32 families of the Yogakkars for the daily expenses.
Meanwhile, the stolen idols were recovered and it was
also installed in the temple by the side of SreeVenkateswara.
With new Prathista, Sree Venkatachalapathy was given
more importance and the annual flag festival was celebrated
only for Him. In 1857 AD, there was a major fire in the
temple. However, the temple was re-constructed shortly
after.
The temple at Azheekal was close to sea shore. Due to
continuous sea erosion and high tides, the temple and
the local community suffered many losses. Many Yogakkars
left the place in 1866 AD and migrated to nearby places
like Kuzuppally, Cherai, Ernakulam in Cochin state and
also to places in Travancore state. The mahajans purchased
land in Cherai in 1867 AD and constructed Agrasala and
installed the idols shifted from Azheekal. The old temple
at Azheekal was also dismantled and brought to Cherai.
A temple was then constructed and Prathista done in
1880 AD. This was also attended by Paliyath Achan representing
the Maharaja of Cochin. The eastern gopura, Anapandal,
Agrasalas, the temple tank (Sree Varaha Pushkarani) were
subsequently constructed. The Vahanas - Aswavahana, Simhavahana,
Hastivahana and Garudavahana were also constructed and
dedicated to the deities.
In
1897 AD, the temple was struck by lightning. A
devaprasnam was conducted and as revealed, Sree
Varaha Swamy was
treated as the presiding deity and annual flag festival
commenced to be celebrated for Him also, since 1898 AD.
The
temple owns paddy fields in Kumbalangi near Thuravoor.
The fields are leased
out every year for acquaculture
and earns income to run the temple
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