Gopala says he knows V R Krishna Iyer? Did he know Gopala? P V Rajamannar and myself were very close ;he gave me the prize; so Can I also write? KR IRS 21624
On Thu, 20 Jun 2024 at 21:38, 'gopala krishnan' via iyer123 < [email protected]> wrote: > ERNAKULAM SHIVA TEMPLE (COMPILED) > > Dear friends, > > I had my darsan at the Ernakulam Siva temple only after my retirement, > halting at Ernakulam, visiting temples nearby and attending functions for > which the trip was mainly intended to Ernakulam. > > Our stay was always at Bharat tourist home, a pure vegetarian restaurant > with residency. Lord Siva temple is opposite to it. At one time it was > festival period and I had the opportunity to meet late Justice V R Krishna > iyer, came to watch the Ottamthullal. During festival time, on account of > the number of events, at a time, three programmes were conducted > simultaneously at three locations in the temple. I had the opportunity to > watch fireworks also, with all traffic regulations were made, and fireworks > carried out, greater than sample fireworks before Trichur pooram. > > Hope a divine reading. > > Gopalakrishnan 21-6-2024 > > 1. Introduction > > Located in the heart of Ernakulum city in Kerala, Ernakulam Shiva Temple > is one of the rare Shiva Temples where God faces sea towards west. Very > popular as Ernakulathappan, this temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Built > during the Maharaja rule, the temple is located in the Durbar Hall Ground. > Temple is in Durbar hall road, Kochi. > > Legend > > According to myth, this temple originated by the Arjuna. Once he > worshipped the Goddess Parvathy sincerely in this place. Lord Shiva masked > himself as Kiratha like a tribal hunter and appeared before Arjuna. At that > time a wild bear nearing Arjuna tried to attack him. At that time both of > them shot an arrow on it. Actually, it was a devil named Mookasura > disguised in the form of a bear. And later fight started between the Lord > Siva and Arjuna to concluding who killed really. And finally, the Lord > Siva wins in that. > > Then Arjuna created a Shiva Lingam in the mud and start to worshipping > the idol. Then he offered flowers to Lingam all fell on the Kiratha. Then > he realized that Lord Siva has only come before him. And Lord Siva and > Parvathy appeared before him gifted Pashupatha arrow to Arjuna. > > After some centuries later a boy called Devala is cursed by his Guru and > his head changed as a snake. Then he visited this place where the Arjuna > prayed the Shiva lingam. And he started to worship the god sincerely and > got relieved from his curse. Then the god appeared before him and told to > take a dip in the pond where the present pond is located inside the temple. > Then he was relieved from his curse. So the place got its name Eranyar > kulam(Abode of lord Siva) Later that place is turned as famous Ernakulam > Siva temple. > > 3 History > > The existence of temple was first mentioned in Sangam Literature as one of > the major temples under Chera Dynasty. Cheras were adherent worshipers of > Lord Shiva. When Chera dynasty ended, the place fell into the hands a few > Nair nobles who renamed the place as Ernakulam (corrupt form of original > word- Eere Naal Kulam meaning Pond with water always) in recognition of the > famous sacred pond of this temple. > > Soon this area came under reign of Kochi Kingdom. The Kochi Rulers, due to > the siege of Fort Kochi by the Dutch in the 17th century, moved their > capital to Ernakulam and established a Palace close to this temple, facing > the temple pond (The Tank Shed Palace seen behind current Durbar Hall). > This helped the temple to gain prominence, due to royal patronage. The > temple deity was declared as protector of Ernakulam city (Nagara Devata), > > It was one of the 7 royal temples of Kochi Maharajas but now it is > controlled by administration of Cochin Devaswam Board. It is one of the 108 > Shiva temples in Kerala dedicated by Lord Parasurama. > > Lord Shiva temple , is considered as the city temple, with the presiding > deity as the protector of the city, as per local Hindu faiths and > traditions. As per the common practice in Kerala, the deity is reverently > called Eranakulathappan, which means Lord of Eranakulam. > > 4. Reconstruction > > The second phase of the temple came in 1842 when Diwan of Kochi, Sri > Edakkunni Sankara Warrier felt to renovate the temple which was in > dilapidated condition. Works were started in 1843. Two new Gopura Mandapams > (Entrance Towers) were constructed in traditional Kerala style similar to > Sree Poornathrayesa Temple of Tripunithura which was the Chief Royal temple > of Kochi Maharajas. > > The new temple complex was opened to public in 1846. The temple was > elevated to a royal temple and brought under direct administration of Kochi > Government's Devaswom Board. In 1949, when Kochi acceded into India Union, > the Devaswom Board came under new Government's control, which still remains. > > 5 Ernakulam Kshetra Kshema Samithi > > As part of increasing local participation in temple management, the > Ernakulam Kshetra Kshema Samithi consisting leading Hindu members of > Ernakulam city did participate in the fund collection to purchase the land > adjacent to the temple. They purchased the property which was in the > possession of Corporation of Kochi. The activities of Ernakulam Kshethra > Kshema Samithy did well to the overall development of the temple. > > It is the one of the rarest temple the idol of the god facing in the west > direction. It is decorated with a golden flagpole. > > The temple is one of the major Shiva temples in Kerala counted along with > the Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple, Kaduthruthy Mahadeva Temple, Vaikom > Temple, Chengannur Mahadeva Temple, Vadakkunathan temple, and > Sreekanteswaram Mahadeva Temple, Thiruvananthapuram > > 6 Structure > > The temple is an example of Kerala temple architecture > > The entire temple is located in 1.2-acre (4,900 m2) land. The temple is > built in typical Kerala temple architecture. The Sanctum complex is > circular with fine sculpted walls. The roof is covered with copper tiles. > The temple has two gates, the western Gopuram is a two storied structure in > typical Kerala architecture with gabled roofs and slanting windows. The > eastern gopuram is recently renovated similar to the western side. The > Devaswom office is located near the western Gopuram. Recently a new > marriage hall and Oottupura (dining hall) is constructed at the northern > side. > > 7 Presiding Deity > > The presiding deity of the temple is Shiva in Gourisankara form, located > in main sanctum sanctorum, facing west towards the Arabian Sea. The > Lingam in the main sanctum sanctorum is considered to be Swayambhu > (Divinely derived). > > 8 Other deities > > On the northern side of the main sanctum sanctorum, there is the small > shrine of Kirthamoorthy which is believed to the original Lingam worshipped > by Arjuna. > > On the southern side, there is a small shrine for Shiva's son Ganesha. > There is a small area behind the main sanctum sanctorum, considered as the > shrine of Shiva's consort Parvati, hence the east gate is known as the Devi > Gate. > > Outside the Inner temple circle, Ayyappa and Nagaraja are worshipped in > shrines. > > 9 Pooja Timings > > Nadathurakal Time: 3.30 AM Nirmalyam: 3.30 AM > > Abishekam: 4.00 to 4.45 AM Shankhabhishekam: 5.15 AM > > Ushapooja Nadathurakal: 5.45 AM > > Yethertha Pooja Nadathurakal: 6.15 AM > > Ethirtha Sheeveli : 6.30 AM > > Pantheeradi Pooja: 7.30 to 8.15 AM > > Uchcha Pooja: 9.30 to 11AM > > Vykunneram Nadathruakal: 4.00 PM > > Deeparadhana According to sunset > > Athaazhapooja Nadathurakal: 7.30 PM > > Thripuka Nadathurakal: 8.00 PM > > 10 Festivals > > The Uthsavom (temple festival) of Shiva temple is one of the grandest > festivals in the Kochi city, normally celebrated during Makaram month. The > festivities starts with Kodiyettam (hoisting of the temple flag ) on the > first day evening. On the seventh day there is Pakalpooram, when the deity > is being taken out in procession with caparisoned elephants with > Panchavadyam and finally terminating at Durbar Hall Ground after the famous > Pandimelam and colourful fireworks. On the final day around evening, in a > solemn ceremony the flag is lowered and the deity is then taken for the > Arattu ( holy bath ) in the nearby temple tank. After that starts the > famous Arattu procession with the accompaniment of Panchavadyam. The > procession terminates at Durbar Hall Ground. The grand fireworks then bring > the curtain down to this weeklong festival. During all these days Sheeveli > is arranged inside the temple and the best available Chendamelam artists > are arranged for this. Special poojas connected with the festival are > conducted every day by famous priests from Chennose and Puliyannur Mana. A > variety of cultural programmes are also arranged during these days. Special > emphasis is given to promote temple arts like Ottamthullal, Paatakam, > Thayambaka, Kathakali, Classical dances, Classical music concerts, Bhajans > etc. Annadanam is also arranged. Thousands of people throng the temple to > witness these programmes. Watching the Pakalpooram and Arattu processions > will be an unforgettable experience for anybody. The adjacent Durbar Hall > ground becomes a beehive of activities during the Uthsavom. > > Along with this, Maha Shivratri in the month of Kumbham, Thiruvathira in > the month of Dhanu, Pradosham, Mondays, etc. are also celebrated in a grand > manner. > > 11 Know before you go > > No shorts or sleeveless allowed. Ladies should be covered from shoulder to > ankle. > > It is best to avoid anything too tight, too short and too revealing. > Generally, it is better to wear too much rather than too little when > visiting a temple. > > Footwear should be removed outside the temple. > > Do not sit with feet pointing toward the Deities, the priests or another > person. > > 12 The Murugan temple > > Adjacent to the main Shiva Temple, two other temples are constructed in > the temple grounds, which makes the Ernakulam Temple Complex. On the > Northern side, a Murugan Kevil built in Tamil style can be seen. It was > constructed by Tamil residents of Kochi during the administration of Diwan > Venkataswamy who was a Tamil Brahmin. The Muruga Kovil is managed by > Tamil Brahmin Association of Ernakulam and all rituals in this temple are > in accordance to Tamil style. The presiding deity is Lord Muruga with his > consorts Valli and Devanyani. > > There are two separate shrines for Navagrahas and Ganesha, apart from > regular poojas for Vishnu, Dakshinamoorthy and Durga Devi. > > 13 The Hanuman temple > > On the eastern side, a Hanuman temple built in Kannadiga Udupi Udupi > Madhwa Sampradaya style can be seen. It was constructed by Diwan Venkat > Rao, a Tulu Brahmin, in year 1850 as part for his dream to have a temple in > traditional Udupi Madhwa Sampradaya style. This is one of the very few > temples constructed in Madhwa Sampradaya without Krishna as main deity. > The presiding deity is Lord Hanuman facing towards Shiva temple on western > side. > > A small idol of Lord Rama also worshiped in main sanctum sanctorum. > Apart from this, shrines for lord Nagaraja and Raghavendra Swami are also > worshipped. A 200-year-old banyan tree can be seen near to Hanuman temple. > > The present Ernakulathappan Temple complex consists of these three > temples, which exist together without any interference in others' customs. > This also shows a mini version of South India, excluding Telugu culture. > > 14 Temple Pond > > Apart from the temples, the famous Ernakulam Temple pond is located in > eastern side, facing opposite to Murugan temple. > > There are also offices of Ernakulam Brahmin Association and its marriage > hall apart from offices of Temple advisory committee. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "iyer123" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/iyer123/1626328557.5313536.1718937526499%40mail.yahoo.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/iyer123/1626328557.5313536.1718937526499%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. 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