Sri Vadakkumnathan Temple

Vadakkumnathan Temple, Thrissur

Vadakkumnathan temple is one of the 108 Shivalayas consecrated by Saint Parashurama. Since Devi Parvathy was alongside Shiva when he gave darshan to the saint, Parvathy was also installed facing east in the temple. Lord Vigneswara and Lord Sri Rama were also added to complete the installation.

The mode of pooja for this temple was given by Sri Adi Sankara and this order is followed till date. Sri Adi Shankara was born for his parent's Tapasya at this temple.

The idol is not visible, as it is covered under 3-5 meter high and 5-7 meter wide mount of ghee, formed by daily abhisheka (ablution) with ghee over centuries.

In spite of high temperature, ghee does not melt and the collection is preserved as good as new even after centuries. It is believed that lord Shiva (Kiratha) had a head injury during his fight with Arjuna and lord Dhanvantri (Lord of Ayurveda) prescribed ghee ablution.

Outside this nalambalam, the temple theater "Kootthambalam" is situated. Exquisite vignette carved in wood, beautiful wooden pillars, acoustic treatments - an engineering marvel that has no parallel elsewhere. There was practice followed by carpenters to keep a small chisel at the most important place of the structure. It is predictive that there is something wrong and an emergency maintenance is due if the chisel falls down. And the chisel fell down during the year 1875 AD and Sri Vellinezy Jatadevan Nampoothiri remodified this in 1880. With more than 410 sq.m. built area, this is the biggest of this kind. The 41 day special program of "Koothu" (mythological story telling) and "Koodiyattom" (ancient form of dramatic dance) is performed here annually.

Mural of Lord Nataraja with 16 hands

Vadakkumnathan Temple, Thrissur

Mural Painting of Lord Nataraja with 16 hands is an amazing work of Madhurangattu Namboodiri. The fifteen hands are holding different armaments and the last hand is holding a flag post with flag. While one leg is pressing the embodiment of papa (Apasmaramoorthi) and the other one is in elevated form. The moment the last touch (Opening the Eyes) was over the picture started to dance - according to a legend. Another mural is the Vasuki Shayanam (Shiva). (exactly like Ananthasayanam where lord Vishnu rests on Ananatha) The sculpture of large bullock (Nandikeswara) which is also there in the nalambalam. These are worshiped regularly along with sapthamathas. 

The vast area in and around the temple is the location of 'Thrissur Pooram', the superb temple spectacle in Kerala during April - May which attracts lakhs of people.

Courtesy: http://thrissurpooramfestival.com/temples.html