Alternate Spellings:
Vadakkunnathan Temple
Significance:
Vadakkumnathan Temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva at the city of Thrissur, of Kerala state in India. This temple is a classical example of the architectural style of Kerala and has one monumental tower on each of the four sides in addition to a kuttambalam. Mural paintings depicting various scenes from the Mahabharata can be seen inside the temple. The shrines and the Kuttambalam display vignettes carved in wood. The temple, along with the mural paintings, has been declared as a National Monument by India under the AMASR Act. According to popular local lore, this is the first temple built by Parasurama, the sixth avatara of Vishnu. Thekkinkadu Maidan, encircling the Vadakkumnathan Temple, is the main venue of the renowned Thrissur Pooram festival.In the year 2012 the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has recommended 14 sites, including Vadakkumnathan Temple and palaces, from Kerala to include in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The temple is also the first one among the 108 Shiva Temples in ancient Kerala, established by Parasurama.
Location:
Thekkinkad Maidanam
Address:
G6F7+QRR, Swaraj Round N, Kuruppam, Thekkinkadu Maidan, Thrissur, Kerala
Pin Code:
680001
District:
Thrissur
Google Tag:
10.524451806622315, 76.21446968465672
Phone No:
0487 242 6040
Temple Timings:
Tuesday 4–11am, 5–8:20pm Wednesday 4–11am, 5–8:20pm Thursday 4–11am, 5–8:20pm Friday 4–11am, 5–8:20pm Saturday 4–11:30am, 5–8:15pm Sunday 4–11:30am, 5–8:15pm Monday 4–11am, 5–8:20pm
Temple Type:
Dewaswom
Presiding deity:
Shiva
Sub Deities:
Parvati; Shankaranarayana; Vishnu (as Rama); Ganapati
Offerings:
Pushpanjali Rs.12.00
Ganapathy Homam Rs.90.00
Ennayattam (Sree Raman) Rs.600.00
Maala Pooja Rs.24.00
Lalitha Sahasranamarchana Rs.36.00
Vilwadhalarchana Rs.36.00
Special Neypayasam Rs.80.00
Palpayasam Rs.100.00
Appam Rs.145.00
Ottayappam Rs.100.00
Swayamvararchana Rs.36.00
Maala Rs.15.00
Dhara Rs.60.00
Vella Nivedhyam Rs.30.00
Umamaheswara Pooja Rs.120.00
Sumangali Pooja Rs.120.00
Mrithyunjaya Homam Rs.300.00
Noorum Paalum (Nagangal) Rs.60.00
Ashtadravya Ganapathi Homam (Big) Rs.600.00
Ashtadravya Ganapathi Homam (Small) Rs.300.00
Bagyasooktham Rs.36.00
Chandana Charthu Rs.480.00
Kettunira Rs.36.00
Maala Charthu (Onnu Nadakkal) Rs.330.00
101 Kudam (Rishaban) Rs.300.00
51 Kudam (Rishaban) Rs.210.00
Maha Mrithyunjaya Homam Rs.600.00
Sangabhishekam Rs.120.00
Chooroonu Rs.120.00
Vidyarambam Rs.60.00
Vahana Pooja Rs.360.00
Vivaham Rs.600.00
Aikyamathyam Rs.36.00
Avilkootu Rs.50.00
Naga Pooja Rs.120.00
Shaneeswara Pooja Rs.120.00
Sree Rudrajapam Rs.270.00
Veliyothu Pushpanjali Rs.36.00
Bhrahma Rakshasu Pooja Rs.120.00
Gouree Sankara Pooja Rs.120.00
Gandharva Pooja Rs.120.00
Neyyattam (Vadakkunnathan) Rs.1,320.00
Thrikala Pooja Rs.600.00
Niramala Chuttuvilakku Full Rs.10,000.00
Niramala Nadakkal Rs.1350.00
Udhyasthamana Pooja Rs.90,000.00
18 ½ Paranivedyam Rs.15,000.00
18 ½ Idangazhi Nivedyam Rs.1000.00
Swarna Thaali Rs.300.00
Pattu Rs.70.00
Thattu Panam Rs.60.00
Adima Rs.192.00
Nelppara Rs.150.00
Arippara Rs.250.00
Elluppara Rs.250.00
Sarkkarappara Rs.300.00
Manjalpodi Para Rs.550.00
Avilpara Rs.160.00
Panchasarapara Rs.300.00
Malarpara Rs.100.00
Annadhanam (A) Rs.20,000.00
Annadhanam (B) Rs.15,000.00
Neypayasam Rs.100.00
Enna Rs.9.00
Neyyu Rs.21.00
Thrikkai Venna Rs.60.00
Ellu Kizhi Rs.10.00
Neeranjanam Rs.60.00
Manjalpodi Rs.12.00
Karuka Homam Rs.60.00
Sreerudhradaara Rs.600.00
Innamala Rs.300.00
Ganapathy Homam Rs.90.00
Ennayattam (Sree Raman) Rs.600.00
Maala Pooja Rs.24.00
Lalitha Sahasranamarchana Rs.36.00
Vilwadhalarchana Rs.36.00
Special Neypayasam Rs.80.00
Palpayasam Rs.100.00
Appam Rs.145.00
Ottayappam Rs.100.00
Swayamvararchana Rs.36.00
Maala Rs.15.00
Dhara Rs.60.00
Vella Nivedhyam Rs.30.00
Umamaheswara Pooja Rs.120.00
Sumangali Pooja Rs.120.00
Mrithyunjaya Homam Rs.300.00
Noorum Paalum (Nagangal) Rs.60.00
Ashtadravya Ganapathi Homam (Big) Rs.600.00
Ashtadravya Ganapathi Homam (Small) Rs.300.00
Bagyasooktham Rs.36.00
Chandana Charthu Rs.480.00
Kettunira Rs.36.00
Maala Charthu (Onnu Nadakkal) Rs.330.00
101 Kudam (Rishaban) Rs.300.00
51 Kudam (Rishaban) Rs.210.00
Maha Mrithyunjaya Homam Rs.600.00
Sangabhishekam Rs.120.00
Chooroonu Rs.120.00
Vidyarambam Rs.60.00
Vahana Pooja Rs.360.00
Vivaham Rs.600.00
Aikyamathyam Rs.36.00
Avilkootu Rs.50.00
Naga Pooja Rs.120.00
Shaneeswara Pooja Rs.120.00
Sree Rudrajapam Rs.270.00
Veliyothu Pushpanjali Rs.36.00
Bhrahma Rakshasu Pooja Rs.120.00
Gouree Sankara Pooja Rs.120.00
Gandharva Pooja Rs.120.00
Neyyattam (Vadakkunnathan) Rs.1,320.00
Thrikala Pooja Rs.600.00
Niramala Chuttuvilakku Full Rs.10,000.00
Niramala Nadakkal Rs.1350.00
Udhyasthamana Pooja Rs.90,000.00
18 ½ Paranivedyam Rs.15,000.00
18 ½ Idangazhi Nivedyam Rs.1000.00
Swarna Thaali Rs.300.00
Pattu Rs.70.00
Thattu Panam Rs.60.00
Adima Rs.192.00
Nelppara Rs.150.00
Arippara Rs.250.00
Elluppara Rs.250.00
Sarkkarappara Rs.300.00
Manjalpodi Para Rs.550.00
Avilpara Rs.160.00
Panchasarapara Rs.300.00
Malarpara Rs.100.00
Annadhanam (A) Rs.20,000.00
Annadhanam (B) Rs.15,000.00
Neypayasam Rs.100.00
Enna Rs.9.00
Neyyu Rs.21.00
Thrikkai Venna Rs.60.00
Ellu Kizhi Rs.10.00
Neeranjanam Rs.60.00
Manjalpodi Rs.12.00
Karuka Homam Rs.60.00
Sreerudhradaara Rs.600.00
Innamala Rs.300.00
Festivals:
Maha Shivaratri
Maha Shivaratri is the main festival which is celebrated in the temple. Cultural and musical programmes are held in the temple premises. Around one lakh temple lamps (hundred thousand)are lighted in the festival. The idol of Vadakkumnatha is not taken out for procession. On this day, there will he continuous abhishekam with ghee and tender coconut. The temple is not closed in the night, and there will be special poojas with abhishekam on the day. Vadakkumnathan Temple’s Thekke Gopura Vathil lighted up during the Maha Shivaratri festival.
Aanayoottu
The Aanayoottu of feeding of elephants, is the second biggest festival held in the temple. The devotees refer to elephants as Lord Ganesh’s incarnation. The festival falls on the first day of the month of Karkkidakam (timed against the Malayalam calendar), which coincides with the month of July. It has been the regular annual practice at the temple for the last 20 years to conduct a large-scale Ashta Dravya Maha Ganapathy Havana and Aanayoottu on the first day of the Karkidakom month of the Malayalam calendar. It involves a number of unadorned elephants being positioned amid a multitude of people for being worshipped and fed. A large number of people throng the temple to feed the elephants. Gajapooja also is conducted once every four years.
Thrissur Pooram
Thrissur Pooram is called the mother of all Poorams in Kerala. In Malayalam it’s called “poorangalude pooram”. This is conducted in the Malayalam month of Medam. The deities from Parmekavu and Thiruvambady temple along with other small poorams come engage in festivities in front of Vadakkumanathan. It’s a 36 long hour festival which attracts thousands of enthusiasts from all over the state as well as visitors from other regions and abroad. The main attractions of Pooram are Madathilavaravu panchavadhyam, Elanjithara melam, Kudamattam and Vedikettu. The festival is a visual feast for all those who enjoy it
Maha Shivaratri is the main festival which is celebrated in the temple. Cultural and musical programmes are held in the temple premises. Around one lakh temple lamps (hundred thousand)are lighted in the festival. The idol of Vadakkumnatha is not taken out for procession. On this day, there will he continuous abhishekam with ghee and tender coconut. The temple is not closed in the night, and there will be special poojas with abhishekam on the day. Vadakkumnathan Temple’s Thekke Gopura Vathil lighted up during the Maha Shivaratri festival.
Aanayoottu
The Aanayoottu of feeding of elephants, is the second biggest festival held in the temple. The devotees refer to elephants as Lord Ganesh’s incarnation. The festival falls on the first day of the month of Karkkidakam (timed against the Malayalam calendar), which coincides with the month of July. It has been the regular annual practice at the temple for the last 20 years to conduct a large-scale Ashta Dravya Maha Ganapathy Havana and Aanayoottu on the first day of the Karkidakom month of the Malayalam calendar. It involves a number of unadorned elephants being positioned amid a multitude of people for being worshipped and fed. A large number of people throng the temple to feed the elephants. Gajapooja also is conducted once every four years.
Thrissur Pooram
Thrissur Pooram is called the mother of all Poorams in Kerala. In Malayalam it’s called “poorangalude pooram”. This is conducted in the Malayalam month of Medam. The deities from Parmekavu and Thiruvambady temple along with other small poorams come engage in festivities in front of Vadakkumanathan. It’s a 36 long hour festival which attracts thousands of enthusiasts from all over the state as well as visitors from other regions and abroad. The main attractions of Pooram are Madathilavaravu panchavadhyam, Elanjithara melam, Kudamattam and Vedikettu. The festival is a visual feast for all those who enjoy it
