With a large number of temples-big and small- flourishing here, Thrissur can truly be called a Temple City. Sree Vadkkunnathan Temple, Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu are the foremost among these. The Thiruvambady temple was originally situated in a village 15 km away from Thrissur and the main deity Lord Krishna, was, some five centuries ago, brought to Thrissur. This caused the establishment of Thiruvambady Temple at Thrissur. K Rajaram IRS 30525
On Fri, 30 May 2025 at 15:09, 'gopala krishnan' via Thatha_Patty < [email protected]> wrote: > *LORD KRISHNA TEMPLE AT TIRUVAMBADI-TRICHUR KERALA-**COMPILED* > > Dear friends, > > With a large number of temples-big and small- flourishing, Thrissur can > truly be called a Temple City. Sree Vadkkunnathan Temple, Thiruvambady and > Paramekkavu are the foremost among these. *The Thiruvambady temple was > originally situated in a village 15 km away from Thrissur and the main > deity Lord Krishna, was, some five centuries ago, brought to Thrissur.* > This caused the establishment of Thiruvambady Temple at Thrissur. Thrissur > is cultural capital of Kerala. > > Today my posting is about the Thiruvambady Krishna Temple. *We know > already the participation of temples headed by Thiruvambadi verses > Paramekkavu group in the Trissur Pooram*. > > Hope a divine reading. > > *Gopalarishnan 30-5-2025* > > Introduction > > The Thiruvambady Temple and Thrissur Pooram festival are today almost > synonymous to the general public. However the latter is the climax to the > sustained round the year activities of divine worship aimed at providing a > spiritual avenue for peace, tranquillity and mental uplift of thousands of > devotees far and near. > > *The temple is located 1 km north of the Vadakkunnathan Temple and 800m > from Swaraj Round, on the Shornur Road*. > > It is only 10 mts drive from Thrissur Railway Station and Bus stand. In > physical appearance the temple is a medium one; but in quality and > immensity of rites of worship, it stands on a par with the Mahakshethras > here. > > The Deities > > *The main deity at Thiruvambady is Unnikrishna* (Lord Krishna in infant > form). > > *Goddess Bhagavathy is consecrated in a shrine just on the left of Lord > Krishna and worshipped with **equal ardour.* > > Lord Ganesha, Dharmasastha and the founders of the temple are worshipped > in separate shrines outside the Nalambalam. > > Deities known by Dravidian names - Kukshi Ayyapa, Manikanda, Ghandakarna, > Raktheswari and Bhairava are also enshrined here, just outside the walls > of the temple. > > Advent of Krishna > > The idol of Krishna, now worshipped here, was originally the Parthasarathy > idol in a temple at Edakkalathur, a sleepy hamlet, about 15km from > Thrissur. The temple had the same name - Thiruvambady - and there were many > shrines too, for Bhagavathy, Sastha etc. > > Some four centuries ago, when life and property in the village were > threatened by communal conflagration, some villagers under the cover of > darkness, surreptitiously *carried the idol to Thrissur and entrusted the > same to a pious Namboodiri couple at Kachanappilly Illam, 200mtrs from the > present Thiruvambady temple.* > > The childless couple considered it a blessing in disguise from the > Almighty and as they fostered the idol for worship, they felt it was their > own unborn child. The benevolent Lord who appears before a devotee in the > form he wants, opted to cast aside Partha Sarathy's whip and to pick up the > flute in one hand and extended the other to receive the butter of devotion > from the 'foster parents'. *A small temple in the form of a 'sala' was > erected 200mtrs, South of Kachanappally Illam and 'Unnikrishna' was > enshrined.* > > Bhagavathy > > *The saga of Devi is no less enchanting. The Kachanappally couples were > ardent devotees of Kodungallur Devi* and the male used to walk a > distance of 40km, up and down, every month, to have a darshan of the Devi > at Kodungallur. With the passage of time and deteriorating health > conditions, per force, he had to bid farewell to the Deity and returned > towards home with a broken heart. However, just like a human mother, the > Devi could not bear the pangs of separation from her dedicated devotee; *her > 'Chaitanya' followed the Bhaktha to his abode and consequently got > enshrined on a granite pillar in the central courtyard within the Nalukettu*. > > > *It is this consecrated pillar with the Devi 'Chaitanya' which is > installed in the Sanctum to the left of Unnikrishna and worshipped as the > compassionate Balabhadrakali (Kali as a child).* > > The aura of the divine duo-Unni and Devi - makes Thiruvambady a spiritual > beacon of beatitude, like Brindavan, providing solace and succour to > thousands of devotees from far and near. > > Poojas > > The poojas and other thanthric rites are performed, as envisaged in > Thanthra samuchaya, with meticulous care, and this has upgraded the medium > temple qualitatively to the stature of a Mahakshethra. > > Usually the day starts with the blowing of the conch at 4.00a.m. the > sanctums are opened by 4.30 a.m. > > At 5 a.m. We can watch the Vakacharthu of Lord Krishna, Vakacharthu is the > holy oil bath of the Lord. Oil is poured on the idol, followed by spreading > of a herbal paste, a mild massage and then water bath and milk bath. After > decorations, malarnivedyam and venna nivedyam are offered (malar is fried > paddy and venna is butter). > > Usha pooja (early morning nivedya etc.) is done by 7a.m. Usha rites > culminates with Seeveli. *During Seeveli the Thidambu, a metal replica of > the stone idol, is carried on an elephant which circumambulates the temple > nalambalam thrice*, while ceremonial offerings of rice to Ashtadikpalakas > etc. are duly performed. > > In the evening the temple opens by 4.30 p.m. After the decorations > (Alankarams) the Arathi is performed at dusk (between 6.15 p.m and 7 p.m). > The Athazha Pooja (Night Pooja) is conducted by 8 p.m and is followed by > Seeveli. > > After the re-installation of the idol at the new sanctum a new item of > Pooja has been introduced at our temple. It is 'Thrippuka' an incense > offering, before sleep to the Lord. > > The temple closes by 8.30 p.m. > > Specialty > > This is the only temple in Thrissur which has a *gold-covered flag-mast > and which conducts Seeveli thrice, all time carrying the idol on an > elephant.* > > The installation of the flag mast and introduction of daily Seeveli took > shape less than five decades ago (1965). > > Festivals > > The number of festivals and auspicious days celebrated or observed at > Thiruvambady Temple is the highest, when compared with other Temples, in > Thrissur. > > Sree Krishna Jayanthi > > Birthday of Sri Krishna is celebrated in the month of Chingom (August > -September). The temple opens at 3.30 am and the last pooja suffixed by > Siveli is conducted late in the night. The temple closes at about 1.20 am > the next day. Apart from the usual festivities of floral and lamp > decorations, between 8.30 am and 11.30 am, there is the Ushassiveli > parading 5 decorated elephants and accompanied by Panchari Melam. > > Navaratri > > Navarathri (Dasra) is celebrated for 10 days in the month of Kanni > (September. - October) with music concerts, bhajans, dances etc. staged in > the evenings. Goddess Saraswathy is worshipped in a temporary sanctum for 3 > days. Students and devotees bring their books to be placed for the Pooja > and propitiate the Goddess of learning. Initiations of children to writing, > known as Vidyarambham, is conducted on the morning of the 10th day > (Vijayadasami). > > Kalampattu > > *From 1st day of Vrischigom (mid November), for 50 to 55 days, Kalampattu > forms an integral part of the daily rituals.* > > Goddess Bhagavathy is depicted, on the floor within the nalambalam, using > herbal powders of different colours, *the temple oracle dances around the > depiction and then blesses the devotees.* > > * The culmination of the Kalampattu is called Vela*. The *Vela procession > of the deity with seven fully caparisoned elephants is conducted between 9 > pm and 3 am* > > The procession proceeds with 3 elephants and Panchavadyam ensemble > towards the Vadakkunnathan Temple. *As the procession reaches the fringes > of the Temple maidan, the number of elephants is increased to 7 and > Panchavadyam is replaced by Pandimelom, a drum concert*. > > After the concert, the deity returns to the temple. Vela is celebrated in > early January every year. > > Vaikunda Ekadasi > > The Ekadasi day in the Sukla Paksha of the month of Dhanu (December 15 - > January 15) is celebrated on a grand scale. Elephant processions, > circumambulating the temple, art performances, Oil lamp illuminations, > panchavadyam, drum concert etc. mark the day. 10 days long Sangeethothsava > (Festival of classical Music) precedes the Ekadasi Festival. Special Poojas > sponsored by individuals and organizations start 13 days ahead of Ekadasi; > These are called ‘Vilakku rites’. > > Thiru Utsava > > *8 days festival to propitiate Lord Unnikrishna begins on the Pooyam aster > of Kumbham (February- March), as the temple flag goes up* on the gold > covered flag mast. *During the last two days the deity is taken out on > elephant, with more elephants flanking the idol bearer, to the > accompaniment of percussion ensembles. These two days are called Pallivetta > & Aarattu.* > > Sahasrakalasam > > The Thiru Utsava is preceded by purificatory rites known as ‘Dravya - > Sahasra Kalasa’. The kalasa rites last for a week. > > Prathishta Day > > The day of consecration of the idol in the sanctum is also celebrated on a > grand scale. This day is now on the Punartham aster in the month of Meenam > (March - April). The Prathista day will change after every Naveekarana > Kalasa, which is prescribed to be conducted once in every 12 years. > > Thrissur Pooram > > The most important festival is Thrissur Pooram. > > Rigveda Archana > > *Worshiping the Lord using Rigveda manthras and floral tributes, is an 8 > day long yagna at the temple every year.* Rigveda archana, usually > precedes or succeeds Srikrishna Jayanthi, without clashing with Onam. > > Lakshaarchana > > Worshipping Krishna and the Devi, chanting the names of the deity one lakh > times, is conducted on the last Saturday and Sunday of the month of Thulam > (October - November). > > > > Illamnira > > Illamnira is the harvest festival celebrated on the first Sunday after the > New Moon day in the Month of Karkitakam (July - August). The newly > harvested paddy stems are brought in great reverence, to the temple, placed > on a special pedestal and Lakshmi-Pooja conducted praying for prosperity to > all. The sanctified paddy stems are distributed among the devotees for > taking them to their houses as ‘Prasad’ and keeping them at their > households. > > Krishnanattom > > Sampoorna Krishnanattam is staged at the temple every year. It is a 9 day > programme. The days are fixed every year, as per convenience of the > performers from Guruvayoor. > > Bhagavatha Sapthaham > > Two Bhagavatha Sapthahams are conducted under the auspices of the > Devasthanam - one in connection with Navarathri and the second in > connection with Vaisakhamaasa observance. > > More Bhagavatha Sapthahams, Narayaneeya Sapthahams, Devi Bhagavatha > Navahams etc. are conducted when sponsors come forward with such programmes > as their offerings unto the Lord. > > Ramayana > > The Ramayana discourses are conducted for 30 consecutive evenings in the > month Karkitakam (July - August). > > Kuchela Dinam > > The first Wednesday in the month of Dhanu (this would be a day between > December 15/16 and 21/22) is observed as Kuchela Dinam. *This is a day of > remembrance of Sudama’s visit to Sreekrishna*, with a little beaten rice. > The moment Krishna ate a part of that, Sudama got endowed with all > prosperity. Well cooked sweetened beaten rice, in very large quantity, is > offered to the Lord at a special Pooja at 3 p.m. and ‘Prasad’ distributed > to devotees. *Partaking in this offering is supposed to save the devotee > from pangs of poverty.* > > Thrissur Pooram. > > The Thrissur Pooram consisting of processions of fully caparisoned > elephants, choicest percussion ensembles like Panchavadyam and Pandimelom, > and a colourful display of fireworks has no parallel for comparison. With > illuminations, festoons, pandals and welcome arches, the town turns itself > into a varitable paradise during the Pooram season. > > Pooram was thought about and choreographed, more than 200 years ago, by > the then ruler of Cochin State , Shri. Ramavarma, more popularly known as > Sakthan Thampuran (1751-1805), who ruled the state at a period of crisis….. > > Sakthan Thampuran , who was bent upon putting an end to the excessive > Namboodiri domination in the socio-political arena of the state*, opted > to call the leaders of two temples, Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu, which > were under the governance of the temple going public of the locality*. He > held discussion with them and chalked out plans for the festival. > > It was at this point of time, that the responsible persons of eight other > temples, who were Namboodiri Ooralars /local chieftains approached the King > with a request to save them from the disgrace inflicted on them by the > Perumanam chiefs thro' banning them from participating in the Arattupuzha > Pooram which was almost 1200 years then. The king graciously allowed these > temples to participate in the Thrissur Pooram, to be celebrated on the > Pooram aster in the month of Medam (April 14 – May 15)… > > It remains a pleasant surprise that the prescriptions laid down by > 'Sakthan' in the 18th century are followed even today. > > Parayeduppu > > From the day of Kodiyettam (hoisting of temple flag), the deity is carried > on elephant to various houses near and not too far. The house holders > receive the deity in great reverence and offer paddy and other agricultural > products in full measures unto the Lord. Full measure is called 'Para' and > the event is called Parayeduppu. Para offering can be done at the Temple > also. On the Pooram day during the morning purappadu at the temple and on > both sides of the road thro' which the procession moves, the devotees, > householders and shop keepers receive the deity with lighted lamps and > offering paddy etc. in 'Paras' and keeping the places clean and decorated. > > Annadanam > > Annadanam for 100 persons is a daily routine in the temple. The cost of > one day for Annadanam is Rs.2500. > > *Annadanam is considered to be one of the most sacred offering to > propitiate the Lord*. The Devaswom would like to make Annadanam a bigger > daily routine, once necessary infrastructures are available. > > Devotees are free to partly or fully sponsor daily Annadanam or Annadanam > on special occasions. Large Scale Annadanams > > Large Scale annadanams are conducted on > > 1. Sri Krishna Jayanthi 2. Vaikunda Ekadasi > > 3. Vela Festival 4. 8 days of Thiru Utsavam > > 5. Prathishta day 6. Thrissur Pooram. > > Address and Phone number > > Thiruvambady Temple > > Shornur Road, Thrissur - 680022 > > +91 487 2334354 > > [email protected] > > Convention Centre > > Thiruvambady Convention Centre is located at Marar Road in the city of > Kerala state. The convention manages day-to-day administration and > functions of Thiruvambady Sri Krishna Temple, Thrissur. Phone number +91 > 487 2972442. [email protected] > > Sandeepani Vidya Niketan > > The Sandeepani Vidya Nikethan is an ambitions educational venture of > Thiruvambady Devaswom. School has up to 10th Standard, functioning in 2010- > 11. The school is affiliated to ICSE, New Delhi. > > Kuttumukku, Ramavarmapuram (PO), Thrissur – 680631 +91 487 3292195, +91 > 487 3219955. > > Marriage Halls > > The Devasthanam owns two halls suited for marriages, conferences and other > celebrations. The bigger one, which can contain 800 people in the > auditorium, is fully air conditioned and is named 'Thiruvambady Convention > Centre' and 'Kousthubham'. Shornur Road Thrissur - 6800220487 2334901Daily > Routine > > Bank Details for online vazhipadu > > Name of Account: Thiruvambady Devaswom, > > > > Name of Bank: Bank Of Baroda, Thiruvambady Devaswom Branch > > Account No: A/c. No. 74830100005903 > > IFSC CODE: BARB0VJTHRI (Fifth Character is Zero) > > Cheques/drafts to be drawn in favour of 'Thiruvambady Devaswom' > > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Thatha_Patty" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/678662934.2153705.1748597946312%40mail.yahoo.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/678662934.2153705.1748597946312%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZopC-uF%2BNh5JCwCDMbt6BeCGG-3mvydiXJJLDLttT9X%2BCQ%40mail.gmail.com.
