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THRIKODITHANAM
PANDAVAS
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Prathishta: Pandavas
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Dist: Kottayam
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Thaluk:
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Panchayath:
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Festival:
10 day celebrations during the lunar month
of Vrishchikom. Sree Krishna`s birthday
is also an important event celebrated here.
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Importance
/ Main offerings:
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Description:
Thrikodithanam
Mahavishnu Kshetram, also known as Adbhuta Narayanan Temple, is a famous
temple located at Thrikodithanam, about 2 km from Changanacherry in Kottayam
District. It is one of the five Pancha-Pandava temples in Kerala, dating
back to the 9th century. This ancient temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu,
and is considered among the 108 Vishnu temples in India. The presiding
deity is Adbhuta Narayanan, made of Aanjana-kallu. The speciality is
Narayanan is presiding along with his consort Karpagavalli.
You can find sub deities here namely, Krishna, Narasimha (incarnation
of vishnu), Siva, Ganapathy, Nagas and Kshethrapalan.
It is believed that Sahadeva (youngest of pandavas) installed this temple.
Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple is mentioned in the poems and hymns
composed by the greatest of Alwar saints, Nammalvar, in the year 800.
The temple is noted for the mural paintings and stone inscriptions. Circular
walls are adorned with beautiful mural paintings and the scenes from
the popular pot dance and umbrella dance. These paintings also give an
idea of the bygone era. The main attraction is the 16 panels of beautiful
mural paintings in the circular wall around the sanctum.
The
double storied sanctum is famous for its architectural excellence.
Aadhisthaana, the base of the sanctum, is made of three ft high
rounded granite stones. These base stones bear about 13 ancient
inscriptions in the Vaatezutthu Tamil script. Copper tile plates
are used to cover the sloping roof. The main entrance of the shrikovil
is reached by four steps of polished black granite. Nalambalam,
the space around the sanctum, has a sacred platform called Beli
Kallu. Dwaja Sthamba, the ceremonial flag mast is another draw.
The
boundary wall of this temple is believed to have been raised in
AD 700. There is a beautiful pound close to the eastern entrance
of the temple. Kazhivetti-kallu, a strange granite statue is positioned
between the eastern entrance and the pond, and attracts a large
number of devotees. This granite statue is of a man flat on his
back, held up stiff and straight on a stone pillar about six ft
high. Only his waist rests on the pillar, rest of the body is unsupported.
Sri Subramanya Temple is the nearby attraction
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Thanthri:
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Trustee: Travancore Devaswam Board
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Address:
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Any
other information:
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| Photo: |
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Route: You
can reach this temple by getting down at Changanacherry
Railway Station. Hardly
2 kms from Changanassery.
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