Yes Mr Venlataraman  I agree and I read the qualification in some text long
ago; if you know those verses , may be agama or something else if you
remember and can write more It will be wonderful  Thank you KR

On Sun, 7 Jul 2024 at 21:38, venkat raman <[email protected]> wrote:

> Namaste. Vaikom Mahadeva Kshetram is not only a Mahadea Kshetram but also
> a Mahakshetram. To be a Mahakshetram , it must satisfy conditions.
> Koothambalam[ the dance hall], Aanakottil [ Elephant shed], Four Gopurams,
> Maryada[ the compound wall, Kotimaram [ the mast], Pond, Large kitchen
> other than the thidappalli, oottupura[ the refectory]. The cited are other
> than shrikovil[ the inner shrine], Namaskara Mandapam, Mulayara,
> chuttambalam/ naalambalam, Balitthara, etc.
>
> Venkataraman
>
> On Mon, 8 Jul 2024 at 00:31, Rajaram Krishnamurthy <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>> Mr G unwittingly states as EVR was once a believer and only later turned
>> atheist without any basis. The research paper reproduced below would show
>> what was he really  :
>>
>>   Periyar on God: A Commentary -Dhivya Sivaramane and Thiruppathi P
>>
>> “There is no god, there is no god, there is no god at all. He who
>> invented god is a fool. He who propagates god is a scoundrel. He who
>> worships god is a barbarian.” – Periyar
>>
>>  This statement on god by Periyar E. V. Ramasamy is the most widely cited
>> and popularized quote in the Tamil public realm, which is also a quote that
>> has been subjected to extensive criticism for its denunciation of belief
>> and devotion in god. Believers and traditionalists have referred to this
>> quote on god, to attack Periyar for hurting godly beliefs and religious
>> sentiments. This quote on god has been misinterpreted and sensationalized
>> as an attack on Hindu divinities and the religious sensibilities of the
>> Hindus particularly, which has been done so, with a motive to vilify
>> Periyar and his message of humanity, rationalism and self-respect for
>> establishing a humane society. In a socio-political situation where
>> Periyar’s critique of god and religion is depicted as anti-Hindu and
>> anti-brahmin, a comprehensive reading of Periyar’s speeches and writings
>> informs us that, his critique of god and religion was not focused only on a
>> single religion or on any particular community but that it also involved a
>> criticism of godly beliefs and religious prescriptions of other religions
>> and practices of non-brahmin communities. Periyar raised his critique
>> against godly beliefs, social traditions or practices of any religion that
>> imposed incontestable obedience to norms and behavior that  impeded
>> rational thinking  and  enslaved  people  to a  system  of  disrespect,
>> ill-treatment, inequalities,  cruelties  and  oppression.  He  voiced  his
>> dissent  against  religious  preachers  and practitioners  for  deceiving
>> people  into  such  belief  structures  that  inferiorized,  subdued  and
>> humiliated them.  His quote on god does not carry an explicit attack or an
>> exclusive condemnation of god of any particular religion and does not
>> directly refer to religious heads or propagators of any specific religion.
>> It has to be read and understood properly and rightly as a critique against
>> any individual or community, any norm or behavior, any custom or practice,
>> any organization or society that prohibits people from thinking,
>> questioning and reasoning, thereby coercing them to blindly follow and
>> accept  life  as  it is  given/exists  and  creates  social
>> stratifications  of  indignities  whereby preventing humans from living a
>> life of self-respect, equality, freedom and dignity.
>>
>>       His declaration on god has to be read as a view promoting humanity
>> and social justice. In this context, it becomes necessary to delve into the
>> compiled writings of Periyar, focusing especially on his thoughts on god,
>> to understand what Periyar meant by his statement on god and the message
>> that he sought to communicate to people.  Early people, Periyar says, were
>> afraid of any phenomenon which they could not see, know or understand. In
>> such moments of vulnerability, people created a higher power that will
>> protect and   save them and anything that was imperceptible/ unexplainable
>> to humankind was named as god or deemed as godly. God was mostly cited to
>> explain the creation and the existence of universe. The thought of god,
>> Periyar observed, had arisen in humans in the days when they had no
>> knowledge of science, telling how humans ascribed divinity/sacrality to
>> natural occurrences that were beyond their comprehension, perception and
>> knowledge.  Periyar explained how god  was  a  social construction,
>> mentioning  how the feeling  of god does  not occur  naturally  or
>> instinctively in humans, but arises through the teaching of others about
>> god to us. Periyar elaborated how humans had to introduce god, describe
>> tales and deeds of god, take efforts to brief on gods’ potential and create
>> belief in the powers of god. He mentioned how the propagators of god took
>> the prerogative of explaining of what constitutes the divine, how we are
>> required to believe, accept and follow the all-encompassing power of god.
>> Periyar asked those who believed in god to think about how so many gods
>> came into being, how different images of god came to be created and
>> ordained with human features and how did gods come to have family,
>> children, allies, enemies, feuds and conflicts. He called on people to
>> think about how jewels, weapons, ceremonies came to be created for god and
>> how did wells, ponds, tanks, lakes come to have divine powers and how did
>> such spaces come to have differences of high and low and asked what made
>> humans believe, worship and show devotion to god.
>>
>>        Periyar stated how  believers  of  god  differed  in  their
>> perceptions  of  the  reasons,  forms,  features,  powers, potentials,
>> devotion and worship of their respective gods and to Periyar, the
>> differences in human’s perceptions and emotions towards god existed because
>> such beliefs and faith in gods did not occur in humans instinctively or
>> naturally but was ingrained in the minds of the humans through the
>> preaching, propagation and inculcation of godly beliefs and religious rules
>> in them.  Periyar pointed out how those who preached about gods, spoke
>> about god in terms of gods’ utility in human life, referring to claims of
>> how worshipping gods will lead to fulfillment of our desires and demands,
>> on how our sins and wrongs will be forgiven and on how progress and
>> prosperity will be bestowed on us. Such preaching about god, Periyar said,
>> associates god with enhancing self-interest and self-growth of humans,
>> emphasizing on gaining benefits through god.
>>
>>      Periyar also encouraged people to think how devotion to god came to
>> be exhibited in the form of performing rituals,  such  as  displaying
>> religious  symbols,  chanting  god’s  names,  reading  religious  texts,
>> visiting  temples,  undertaking  pilgrimages,  worshipping  gods,
>> adorning  temples,  conducting temple feasts and festivals, participating
>> in processions and in showing reverence to priests and gods. Periyar
>> mentioned how people failed to understand that devotion should include
>> aspects of good thoughts and good deeds, kindness, compassion and respect
>> for others and  belief in the equality of all living beings.  Periyar
>> dismissed devotion as an expression of raw selfishness and as of no use to
>> other persons, stating how only those who showed devotion benefitted from
>> their acts of devotion and how that it did not concern the welfare of
>> others. Periyar observed how those who preached god, portrayed god as
>> higher and above all, but failed to see how god came to be laden with human
>> attributes, mentioning how like humans, gods did good to those who did good
>> and punished those who did bad and that not much difference existed between
>> humans and gods. He stated that which is seen as god’s teachings,
>> principles and messages actually contain human emotions and notions and
>> that the gods are but embodiments of human thoughts.
>>
>>       On some people expressing their anger on Periyar for his
>> questioning of god, creation of god and god’s role and existence, Periyar
>> voiced how their angst was an approval to his statements that god did not
>> appear naturally but was created and invented by someone. Periyar opined
>> how only those who earned in the name of god, those who enjoyed the
>> benefits of an unequal system, and those who were enshrined with high caste
>> status and those who wanted to hide their misdeeds through god’s  name,
>> were  those  who  got  angry.  He urged  people to  think  why  god’s
>> messages  were revealed to a  chosen  few and why such  chosen  people came
>> to  be  god’s messengers and were tasked with  teaching god’s principles,
>> further rousing people to think whether such messages of god, were messages
>> for the welfare of all or messages that were used to advance the privileges
>> of few.
>>
>>        Preachers and propagators of god, Periyar opines, by compelling
>> people to believe in and accept god and texts, are asking people to be in
>> obedience to religion, act in conformity with religious tenets, threatening
>> those who acted otherwise that evil things might happen to them. Periyar
>> also reasoned by drawing a distinction between elements that were of
>> natural origin and elements that were of artificial creation. Whilst
>> factors such as eating food, feeling hunger and pain, sleeping, breathing,
>> feelings of love and sexual desire and experiencing the five elements of
>> nature were common and universal to all humans and were indispensable,
>> Periyar stated how elements such as god, religion, heaven, hell, devotion,
>> prayers, status and wealth were aspects devoid of naturalness and
>> constructed out of imaginations and fantasies of humans to protect the
>> vested interests, aspects where one cannot use one’s intellect to explain
>> why we should believe and follow these.
>>
>>     Periyar explained how preachers of god use god as a tool of control,
>> obedience and discipline, saying  how propagators  of god  have condemned
>> acts  of thinking  and questioning  as sinful. Worshipping god and
>> following religious principles are seen as unquestionable endeavors, where
>> people are asked to blindly obey, follow and are forbidden from reasoning.
>> Periyar sees these as acts duping people to keep them in a state of fear,
>> subjugation and ignorance, to enslave them into a certain kind of system
>> that benefits some and demean others, thus barring them from exercising
>> their freedom. Emphasizing on rational thinking, Periyar cautioned against
>> showing unopposed obeisance and undisputed allegiance to godly norms and
>> religious texts and prescriptions without subjecting them to our reason,
>> experience, reflections and analysis. Periyar apprised of how belief in
>> god  and  in  god’s action were kept beyond the  rational  sense,
>> intelligence and knowledge of humans, coercing them  to believe, worship
>> and accept god for  fear of being  labelled sinners, traitors or criminals.
>>
>>       Importantly, Periyar drew attention to how various aspects of human
>> life – political, economic and socio-cultural spheres – were subjected to
>> the commandments of god and religion and attempts to challenge, reform, and
>> change and destroy the unequal rules and unjust structures were struck down
>> as acts contravening the prevailing order and as acts disrespecting god and
>> endangering religion. Periyar exposed the interconnections that existed
>> between godly/religious beliefs and the sacralization of casteiest
>> structures of oppression, questioning how certain caste customs and
>> religious conducts are  defended and  upheld in the name of god-willed
>> structures, as divinely ordained order.  In his challenge of godly beliefs,
>> Periyar prodded us to think how in the existing order of things, some are
>> made to labour and suffer, whilst others enjoy and lead lives of leisure,
>> asking when such an  order is  justified  in the  name  of  god,  should
>> we  not  question the  god  who created  this discriminatory structure and
>> question those who extol such gods who protects socially unequal caste
>> system  and  casteiest  practices.
>>
>>        Periyar  observed  how  in  social  life,  where  certain
>> communities are inflicted upon with caste indignities and are denied equal
>> living, self-respect, freedom and rights, he asks, how that the god who is
>> portrayed as common, belonging to all, gets to be preached by the
>> messengers of god as having created and as supporting caste divisions,
>> asking on what basis should we then place belief in god, that which has
>> created distinctions of low-high, inferior-superior, divine-degraded and
>> touchable-untouchable.  Periyar stated how that the unquestioned beliefs
>> about god is what made people to believe and accept the conditions they
>> were in, for their low caste positions, for their hunger, for their
>> poverty, for their sufferings and lack of opportunities, as they deemed
>> such situations as god-willed and as being destined to undergo it. He noted
>> how those enjoying high caste statuses, endowed with land and wealth,
>> enshrined with religious rights and cultural privileges have used god to
>> protect and maintain their interests and positions as god-given and
>> divinely granted.
>>
>>      Periyar emphasized on the need to think, question and analyze and
>> put statements to the test of reason and exercise our rationality before we
>> believe or accept events and social conditions as they are. Unlike
>> religious preachers who compelled people to  believe and follow
>> unthinkingly and threatened them of evil consequences in cases of
>> transgressions, Periyar wherever and whenever he expressed his opinions,
>> gave people full freedom to agree, disagree, to accept or deny, urging
>> them  to  exercise  their  rationality  while  doing  so,  stating  that
>> no  opinions,  arguments  and perspectives should be obeyed or practiced
>> unquestioningly.  Periyar’s  thoughts  on  using  one’s  reasoning
>> abilities,  rational  thinking  and  scrutinizing information, facts,
>> events and available knowledge to critical analysis holds more relevance in
>> the  contemporary times. Most importantly Periyar’s critique of god has to
>> be read and imbibed as his emphasis on leading  a  life  where  social
>> relations  between  humans  are  not  governed  by dehumanizing and
>> superstitious socio-religious norms and practices but one where social
>> living and conduct of relations between people should be based on a feeling
>> of self-respect, humanity, equality and dignity.
>>
>> NB:    The research paper nature claims an impartial view; when read in
>> between the lines, it will show who really he was. KR IRS 7724 8724
>>
>> On Sun, 7 Jul 2024 at 06:27, 'gopala krishnan' via iyer123 <
>> [email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> Respected sir,
>>>
>>> Thank you for reading the posting and responding.
>>>
>>> We will be entering the Vaikam temple by the side of Vembanattukayal.
>>> Before entering we can see the statue of Evera periyar. (small one) . It
>>> was about the proclamation of all Hindus permitting the entry of temples.
>>> On my boyhood days  before each old temples I could see the black board
>>> fitted, white letters , naming "Kshethra Pravesana Vilambaram".
>>>
>>> I am born in 1944, These incidents were in 1936. I have heard Periyar
>>> was earlier a believer in Gods and after forming Dravida kazham he became
>>> non believer.
>>>
>>> Regarding the Nampoothiries of the temple, there were grouping, I have
>>> heard.
>>>
>>> I do not know the above information I have any way satisfy your query.
>>> My late father used to say, for sometime after proclamation, there was rush
>>> of other than forward communities for some time only.
>>>
>>> Perhaps you may be aware, now also the committee of Travancore Devaswam
>>> board appoints learnt Bhattathiries , they conduct upanayanam, Vedic
>>> learning, learning of temple poojas, conduct test  and those who are
>>> appointed as priests ,other castes in the temple.  However they leave the
>>> profession, if they get permanent jobs in Government.
>>>
>>> I do not know the above information in any way satiate your query.
>>>
>>> Gopalakrishnan
>>>
>>> On Sunday, 7 July, 2024 at 01:09:08 pm IST, Narayanaswamy Iyer <
>>> [email protected]> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> Dear folks
>>>
>>> Sri Gopalakrishnan writes:-
>>>
>>> "*Periyar reached Vaikom on April 13. The rest, as they say, is
>>> history.*
>>>
>>> *Paved the way for temple entry proclamation of Kerala in 1936; Symbol
>>> of fight against caste barriers*
>>>
>>> *Before India attained independence, untouchability and casteism was
>>> prevalent across all the princely states of Kerala. The roads around Vaikom
>>> temple became the venue for the agitation known as the Vaikom Satyagraha.
>>> Many national leaders* *including Mahatma Gandhi talked to the kings of
>>> Travancore who later signed the Temple Entry Proclamation which is
>>> considered as a milestone in the history of the land. Vaikom temple was
>>> among the first to open its doors to all.*"
>>>
>>>
>>> My comments:-
>>>
>>>
>>> From what I have read, heard, and seen, the so-called Vaikom
>>> sathyaagraha was nothing more than a grassroots rebellion, fanned by
>>> mobsters, publicity-seeking politicians and anti-religious fanatics,
>>> resulting in intimidation of the braahmanas and the ruling kshathriyas who
>>> were guarding the millenia-old traditions of the temple.
>>>
>>>
>>> Its success can be compared with the Goths and the Vandals entering
>>> classical Rome, and, later, with the Christians destroying the glory
>>> that was classical Greece and the grandeur that was classical Rome.
>>>
>>>
>>> I have read that Mahathma Gandhi entered the temple together with the
>>> mob.
>>>
>>>
>>> How, to what extent, and when did Gandhi, Ramasamy Periyar, and/or the
>>> mobster politicians and anti-religious fanatics contribute to erecting and
>>> maintaining the temple, and other temples which they also stormed?
>>>
>>>
>>> S Narayanaswamy Iyer
>>>
>>> On Thu, Jul 4, 2024 at 11:18 AM Gopala Krishnan <[email protected]>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> *VAIKOM SREE MAHADEVA TEMPLE-Compiled*
>>>
>>> Dear friends,
>>>
>>> In my high school days I have visited the temple many times since my
>>> late brother- in- law was native of Vechhoor, Vaikkam.  After years he
>>> settled in Tripoonithura. But the memories of that period are a fading one
>>> for me.
>>>
>>> In 2002, I visited the temple along with the Inspection of exchanges
>>> along with my colleague Mr Sankara narayanam and DGM Mr Bala Subramoniam.
>>> In fact we are very close till today, since we worked together at Tutucorin
>>> Cross bar exchange as Junior Engineers. Later he passed AMIE, wrote
>>> UPSC examination and got selected as ITS. Later period he joined as DGM
>>> in Kerala circle office.
>>>
>>> Recently I saw a you-tube video about Vaikkam temple. I thought today my
>>> posting can be about Vaikkam temple. The information is compiled from
>>> different sites. Certain lengthy/ minute information are not included.
>>>
>>> I start with the morning and evening prayers of Lord of Siva at Vaikkam,
>>> which was a must in my childhood days. Lines by Poonthanam nampoothiri-
>>>
>>> 1.Naranayingane  janichu bhoomiyil,
>>>
>>> Naraka varidhi naduvil Jnan,
>>>
>>> Naraksthil ninnenne kara  ketheedenam,
>>>
>>> Thiru vaikam   vaazhum  Shiva shambo
>>>
>>> 2.Marana kalathe bhayathe   chinthichal,
>>>
>>> Mathi marannu pom Manamellam,
>>>
>>> Mana  tharil  vannu  vilayadidenam,
>>>
>>> THiru Vaikam Vaazhum   Shiva  Shambo
>>>
>>> 3.Shiva Shiva yonnum  parayaavathalla,
>>>
>>> Mahaa  maya  than prakruthikal,
>>>
>>> Mahaa Maya  neekkitarulenam Nadha,
>>>
>>> THiru Vaikam Vaazhum   Shiva  Shambo
>>>
>>> 4.Valiyoru kaattil akapetten jnanum,
>>>
>>> Vazhiyum kaanaathe  uzhalumbol,
>>>
>>> Vazhiyil ner vazhiyaruleedenam  Nadha,
>>>
>>> THiru Vaikam Vaazhum   Shiva  Shambo
>>>
>>> 5.Yeluppamayulla  vazhiye kkanumbol,
>>>
>>> Idakkide yaru padiyundu,
>>>
>>> Padiyaarum  kadannu avide  chrllumbol,
>>>
>>> THiru Vaikam Vaazhum   Shiva  Shambo
>>>
>>> Shiva Shambho Shambho , Shiva  Shambho Shambho ,
>>>
>>> Shiva Shambho Shambho , Shiva  Shambho Shambho ,
>>>
>>> Hope a divine reading
>>>
>>> Gopalakrishnan 04-07-2024
>>>
>>> 1 Introduction
>>>
>>> In Vaikom, Shiva is fondly called as Vaikkathappan, the lord of Vaikom.
>>> The lingam here is believed to be from the Treta Yuga, the second age of
>>> Hinduism and is considered one of the oldest temples in Kerala where puja
>>> has not been broken since its inception.
>>>
>>> Probably, Vaikom Mahadeva Temple may be the only temple devoted to Lord
>>> Shiva which has been equally revered by both Shaivaites and
>>> Vaishnavaites. It is one of the oldest temples in Kerala where the
>>> rituals have never been stopped since its inception.
>>>
>>> Vaikom is a temple town located in the Kottayam District of Kerala and
>>> about 32 Km away from Ernakulam on the NH to Trivandrum. The temple is one
>>> of the most popular and one of the largest temples too in Kerala.
>>>
>>> It is one of the oldest temples in Kerala and is famous for its Vaikom
>>> Ashtami festival.
>>>
>>> The temple is one of the major Shiva temples in Kerala held in reverence
>>> along with the temples in Ettumanoor, Kaduthuruthy, Vazhappally,
>>> Chengannur, Ernakulam, Vadakkunathan, Sreekanteswaram Mahadeva Temple,
>>> Thiruvananthapuram and Thirunakkara.
>>>
>>> 2. Legend
>>>
>>> The legend behind the temple is mentioned in the ancient text Bhargava
>>> Purana and the Sanalkumar Samhita.
>>>
>>> Kharasura (The Demon with the name Khara) was an ardent the devotee of
>>> Lord Shiva and he went to Chidambara to worship Lord Shiva after attaining
>>> Shaiva Vidya Upadesh from Saint Malyavan. He underwent a severe penance
>>> there and pleased with his devotion and dedication, Lord Shiva appeared in
>>> front of him.
>>>
>>> The Lord gave all the boons asked by Kharasura and also gave three Shiva
>>> Lingas. Lord asked him to consecrate the lingas at suitable places and
>>> start worshiping them. He promised that he will appear in front of anybody
>>> who worship these lingas and eradicate the agony and troubles.  Happy
>>> with the boon, Kharasura started his journey with three llingas.
>>>
>>> He held one linga in his left hand the other one in the right hand. The
>>> third one he kept on his neck. On the way, he felt tired and sat in a calm
>>> and serene place to take rest. After some time, he decided to start his
>>> journey. When he tried to pick up the idols, he realized to his utter shock
>>> that they have got fixed to the ground.
>>>
>>> Saint Vyaghrapada was following him invisibly throughout the journey and
>>> at this juncture, he appeared in front of Kharasura and asked him to leave
>>> the lingas there and start worshipping there. The linga which he was
>>> carrying in his right hand is believed to be the one at Vaikom Temple. The
>>> one in the left hand is the idol at Ettumanur Temple and the one he was
>>> carrying on his neck is the one at Kaduthuruthi Temple.
>>>
>>> The fact that the distances from Vaikom to Kaduthuruthi and Kaduthuruthi
>>> to Ettumanur is almost equal, gives this legend a high level of
>>> credibility. Besides, the belief is that praying at all these three temples
>>> in a single day is more auspicious.
>>>
>>> Later Kharasura attained salvation and Vyaghrapada Maharshi remained
>>> there worshipping the idol installed with the right hand of Kharasura. On
>>> an Ashtami day of Malayalam Month Vrischikam, Lord Shiva along with his
>>> consort Parvathy appeared in front of the saint and blessed him. Lord told
>>> him that this place will soon be called Vyagrapadapuram and will attract a
>>> lot of pilgrims.
>>>
>>> Years have passed and the Saint too got salvation
>>>
>>> Once, Parasurama, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu was moving by the
>>> sky, he experienced the presence of divine rays at a particular place on
>>> the earth. He came down and searched for the source of the rays and found
>>> it to be a Shiva Linga immersed in water.
>>>
>>> He picks up the Linga and did rituals chanting many holy hymns. Pleased
>>> with this act, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi appeared in front of him and
>>> asked him to construct a temple and consecrate the linga there. Lord told
>>> him that as the consecration was done by Parasurama, the Linga will have
>>> both the energies or Chaitanyas of Lord Shiva and Vishnu.
>>>
>>> Full of joy and gratitude, Parashurama performed puja there for some
>>> days. Then he built a temple here and entrusted a noble Brahmin man from
>>> the Taruna village. He taught the brahmin, the holy chants, mantras,
>>> procedures and shlokas necessary to perform puja to Shiva and initiated him
>>> as the chief priest of the temple. Parashurama donated the whole temple to
>>> the brahmin and disappeared.
>>>
>>> 2. History
>>>
>>> I could not get any details from internet about the period of
>>> construction. However Perumthachaan has constructed the temple.
>>>
>>> Two times fire occurred in the temple as listened in You-tube and temple
>>> has been reconstructed.
>>>
>>> 3Architecture
>>>
>>>  Vaikom temple is built in the typical Kerala style architectural and
>>> is well-known for its unique cultural performances and elephant pageant.
>>> Architecture
>>>
>>> One of the biggest temples in Kerala, the temple has a courtyard of
>>> about eight acres of land. The premises levelled with river sand is
>>> protected by compound walls with four gopurams or entrance towers on all
>>> the four sides. Even though temples are generally constructed near perfect
>>> East-West direction (e.g., the temples in Ettumanoor and Kaduthuruthy), the
>>> Vaikom temple is built a tilt of five degrees in the North-South
>>> direction.
>>>
>>> There is a golden flag staff and once we enter the temple is the
>>> ‘Stambha Ganesha’ to the north east corner. There is a namaskara mandapa,
>>> with episodes from Ramayana sculpted in the inner roof. A huge Nandi  idol
>>> is placed just outside the main sanctum santoram.
>>>
>>> 4 Sanctum
>>>
>>> The sanctum sanctorum is apparently round in shape roofed with copper
>>> sheets and with two chambers. In fact, this is the only temple in Kerala
>>> with an oval shaped sanctum, though externally it appears like a
>>> circular temple. This oval shape is evident when the width of antharaala is
>>> measured. Only builders with exceptional skill can execute such marvellous
>>> architectural structures. It is believed that the temple was  built by
>>> Perumthachan, who was an exceptional architect of his time.
>>>
>>> The Mukha Mandapa, the first pillared hall and chamber is built in
>>> shaped stone and single piece woods. The walls and pillars are very strong.
>>> The garbhagriha or the sanctum sanctorum – the second chamber is built
>>> completely in stone including the roof in a square shape.
>>>
>>> Six steps-It is a very curious and peculiar fact that we are unable to
>>> obtain the darshana of the lingam from the sanctum without passing through
>>> a staircase with six steps, either from the entrance or the sanctum. It
>>> signifies the six vikaras (impurities) which are Kama (lust), Krodha
>>> (anger), Lobha (power), Moha (attachment), Mada (ego) and Matsarya (envy).
>>> Crossing the staircase signifies the devotee letting go of these six
>>> impurities and attaining liberation or moksha.
>>>
>>> This is well depicted in the famous Malayalam song, Naranayingane
>>> Janichu Bhoomiyil, written about the deity of this temple by Poonthanam
>>> Nampoothiri.
>>>
>>> 5 Main deity
>>>
>>> The lingam here is believed to be from the Treta Yuga, the second age of
>>> Hinduism and is considered one of the oldest temples in Kerala where puja
>>> has not been broken since its inception.
>>>
>>> It is the belief that the temple and its connected customs and rites are
>>> planned and fixed by Parashurama himself. It is believed that Shiva, also
>>> known here as Vyaghralayesha (the lord of Vyaghrapadapurma), gives His
>>> blessings to the devotees in three incarnations or avatars, in the morning
>>> as Dakshinamurthi, in the afternoon as Kiratamurthi, and as Shakti
>>> Panchakshari in the evening.
>>>
>>> 6. Upadevathas
>>>
>>> Unlike other temples there are no upa devathas except one Yakshi
>>> enshrined in the southwest corner in a small sanctum in a later period.
>>>
>>> The temple of Sri Kochalumchuvdu Bhagavathy Amman, who is considered as
>>> a form of Kali and the consort of Vaikathappan.
>>>
>>> 7 Darsan timings
>>>
>>> The darshan opening time of the temple is 4 AM and close at 8 PM. You
>>> can perform daily rituals of the temple and also visit for darshan.
>>>
>>> 8 Puja/ Aarti Offerings
>>>
>>> 3:30 AM   Palli Unarthal 4.00 AM    Nadathurappu
>>>
>>> Nirmalya Darsana Ethirthu Pooja Usha Pooja
>>>
>>> 6.30 AM   Ethirthu Sribeli 7.30 AM Panthiradi Pooja
>>>
>>> 9.00 AM   Navakam Pooja 10.00 AM       Ucha Pooja
>>>
>>> Abhisheka – PanchagavyamNavakam, and special Abhishekas
>>>
>>> 11.30 AM         Ucha Sribeli
>>>
>>> 12:00 PM          Temple Closing time
>>>
>>> 5:00 PM   Temple reopens  6.30 PM          Deeparadhana
>>>
>>> 7.00 PM   Athaza Pooja 8.00 PM     Athaza Sribeli
>>>
>>> 9:00 PM   Temple closing time
>>>
>>> 9 Abhishekam Timings
>>>
>>> 10 AM
>>>
>>> 10 Offerings in the temple
>>>
>>> 1 Jala Dhara
>>>
>>> Just like the Ksheera Dhara, pure water is used instead of milk and the
>>> Abhisheka is done continuously with the recital of Manthras.
>>>
>>> 2 Prathal
>>>
>>> The most important and Holy ‘Prathal’ is the main offering to the
>>> Vaikkathappan. Prathal is the most Holy Anna Dana among all other Danas.
>>> The first leaf is placed in the Manya Sthana before distribution. To give
>>> Prathal as an offering and eating of the Prathal is very auspicious and
>>> makes the receiver holy. All who observe any fast have to eat the rice of
>>> this Prathal. Then their Vritha will be fruitful and all sins remitted as
>>> per Bhargava* Purana.
>>>
>>> Ananda Prasada
>>>
>>> After the Prathal there is a custom to give Ananda Prasada to the
>>> devotees. The Melsanthy brings some Bhasma on a plate and gives it to the
>>> people after Prathal. It is called the Ananda Prasada.
>>>
>>> Once while cooking the items for the Prathal a poisonous snake fell in
>>> the cooking vessel and died. Because of the poison those who ate the
>>> Prathal fell unconscious. It is said that then a Brahmin smeared in Bhasma
>>> instructed them to take the dry Bhasma from inside the Sreekovil and give
>>> it to the unconscious people, assuring them that the poison will be
>>> removed, He disappeared. When the people were given the dry Bhasma all the
>>> people got cured and rose as if awaken from sleep. It was believed that the
>>> Brahmin was really Vaikkathappan. As the Brahmin Bhojan is rare nowadays
>>> the Ananda Prasada is also rare.
>>>
>>> Sahasra Kalasa
>>>
>>> The Sahasra Kalasa is performing Abhisheka with 1001 pots of water and
>>> other holy items. It is continuously done for 10 days with 101 pots of
>>> Abhisheka every day. It is done in the Mandapa. After marking Padma, a
>>> golden pot is placed in the middle for Brahma Kalasa and eight pots are
>>> placed around it within the Sankalpa of seven seas and Karana Jala around
>>> them on eight parts, each part is pilled with Panchagavya, butter milk,
>>> milk, ghee, honey, Navarathna Jala (water with Navarathna), water with Kusa
>>> the grass and water with Astaganda. All of these are used every day. When
>>> Sahasra Kalasa is performed there will be feasts every day for ten days. On
>>> the eleventh day Rudra Pooja is performed. The next day Udayasthamana Pooja
>>> is performed in Udayanapuram Temple.
>>>
>>> Dravya Kalasa
>>>
>>> The Abhishekas of one day of Sahasra Kalasa is called Dravya Kalasa.
>>> Kalasa Pooja is done on the Mandapa like Sahasra Kalasa.
>>>
>>> Aayira Kalasa
>>>
>>> One thousand and eight Kalasas filled with different materials are used
>>> for this Abhisheka. It is completed in one day.
>>>
>>> Ayirakudam
>>>
>>> At the Sreekovil or at the Navakapura. On Brahma Kalasa and a large
>>> copper vessel is filled with fresh water and jaladrony pooja is one. Then
>>> ten poojas are continuously performed. For each Pooja one hundred and eight
>>> Jala Kumbhas are used for this Abhisheka. It is the ‘Aayirakudam’ of
>>> Vaikkathappan.
>>>
>>> Vilwapatra mala
>>>
>>> Vilwapatras are offered to Lord Vaikkathappan as a special offering
>>> which is so dear to Him. He grants gladly what the devotee asks.
>>>
>>> Bhasma Mala
>>>
>>> It is also a special offering in this Holy Temple reminding us about the
>>> importance of Vaikom Bhasma
>>>
>>> Vilakku or Lamps
>>>
>>> Some devotees offer Vilakku as an offering in this Temple. They donate
>>> oil for the lamps lit in the Sannidhya.
>>>
>>> Appam Nivedya
>>>
>>> Unniyappams are offered to the Sthamba Ganesh for the removal of Vighnas
>>> or obstacles. It has started recently.
>>>
>>> Ksheera Dhara
>>>
>>> One hundred and one measures of milk after jaladrony pooja is poured in
>>> Dhara Kidaram made of silver and this Abhisheka is done on the Sivalinga.
>>>
>>> Aluvilakku
>>>
>>> A lamp with three hundred and sixty five wicks in the shape of a pipal
>>> tree is lighted using ghee or oil. It is becoming popular among the
>>> devotees nowadays. This lamp is lighted at the Sreekovil yard. It is the
>>> belief that the desires would be fulfilled by this offering.
>>>
>>> 11 Festivals
>>>
>>> This temple is famous and visited by thousands of devotees daily for the
>>> darshan of Lord Shiva. There are many festivals celebrated in Vaikom
>>> Mahadeva temple but Vaikom Ashtami is one of the famous festivals that
>>> starts in Vrishchikam month.
>>>
>>> 11A Vaikom Ashtami
>>>
>>> The legend behind this festival is that years ago a saint man named
>>> Vyaghrapada prayed to God siva for years after many years God siva and his
>>> wife Parvathy Devi appeared in front of him. It is believed that god Siva
>>> appeared in front of him in the day of Krishna Ashtami.
>>>
>>> Vaikathashtami, observed in the Malayalam month Vrishchikam on the eight
>>> day after full moon day, is one of the most popular temple festivals in
>>> Kerala.
>>>
>>> On the day of Vrichika Ashtami (According to Malayalam calendar), Shiva
>>> and his consort Parvati appeared before Vyaghrapada. The Lord proclaimed,
>>> "This place shall be known as Vyaghrapadapurma", and disappeared. The
>>> world-famous Vaikkathashtami festival and all connected holy festivals are
>>> observed here even to this day on the same Vrichika Ashtami.
>>>
>>> 12 ‘Manya Sthana’
>>>
>>> Manya sthana  is where the saint Vilwamangalathu Swamiyar, who could
>>> see Gods spotted the Lord while having food. The main kitchen is towards
>>> the east of the ‘Manya Sthana’.
>>>
>>> 13 Closed Door at Vaikom Shiva Temple
>>>
>>> There is a door in the western courtyard of the temple which always
>>> remains closed. Here is the legend behind that. Parasurama awarded the
>>> rights on the temple to one hundred and eight families. As time passed they
>>> got divided into two groups supporting and opposing the ruler. The quarrel
>>> between these two groups intensified day by day.
>>>
>>> The temple was in the ownership of 108 families in olden days. The
>>> owners were divided into two groups and one group joined the king's side.
>>> Their disputes and quarrels increased day by day. One day a section of the
>>> divided group came to the temple at noon. The chief of one of the groups,
>>> Njallal Namboothiri barged into the temple to stop the puja. At that time
>>> the naivedyam, the food offered to the deity, was used to be placed in the
>>> western side of the Namaskara Mandapa hall. Njallal Namboothiri barged
>>> through the western door, kept his shawl above the western door and spat
>>> the remains of his paan on the food. Thus, the puja was disrupted. On
>>> return, while he was taking his shawl from the door top, he was bit by a
>>> highly poisonous snake. He crawled himself outside the western door and
>>> died. The door automatically closed itself and a heavenly voice was heard
>>> from inside the sanctum sanctorum saying, "This door should not be opened
>>> anymore!". The door remains closed to this day to show the wrath of Shiva
>>> against the disruption of his worship.
>>>
>>> 14 The Vaikom Satyagraha
>>>
>>> Vaikom is also one of the oldest townships in South India, and was the
>>> venue for the Vaikom Satyagraha, the much-famed civil rights movement in
>>> Indian history. The Vembanad Lake and the Murinjapuzha Backwaters are
>>> sights to behold in Vaikom. Periyar reached Vaikom on April 13. The
>>> rest, as they say, is history.
>>>
>>> Paved the way for temple entry proclamation of Kerala in 1936; Symbol of
>>> fight against caste barriers
>>>
>>> Before India attained independence, untouchability and casteism was
>>> prevalent across all the princely states of Kerala. The roads around Vaikom
>>> temple became the venue for the agitation known as the Vaikom Satyagraha.
>>> Many national leaders including Mahatma Gandhi talked to the kings of
>>> Travancore who later signed the Temple Entry Proclamation which is
>>> considered as a milestone in the history of the land. Vaikom temple was
>>> among the first to open its doors to all.
>>>
>>> 15 Contact Details
>>>
>>> Address – Vaikom Shiva Temple, Travancore Devaswom Board, Vaikom,
>>> Kottayam – 686141
>>>
>>> Phone Number – 04829-215812
>>>
>>>
>>>
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