TRIP BACK

RETURN TRIP.

It was time for us to return to Palakkad on the third day, after having spent the two days in Kumarakoom in absolute bliss, good healthy air all around.
We decided to leave early so that we can visit the famous three Siva temples, Ettumanoor, Kaduthuruthy and Vaikom. It is said that it is auspicious to visit all these temples in the same day .

ETTUMANOOR

The Ettumanoor Shiva Temple is an excellent example of the extensive usage of beautiful and expertly created murals in the temples of Kerala. The themes of these murals are stills from the Hindu epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata and the Upanishads and Puranas. Located 12 km north of the city of Kottayam, this shrine attracts devotees and connoisseurs of art alike. The glorious temple architecture of Kerala can be identified as a striking aspect of this temple. The majestic conical gopuram or copper plated roof of the sanctum commands respect and obeisance and is awe inspiring as well.


The present building with its gopuram is supposed to be reconstructed in 1542 AD. It is believed that the great Sankaracharya wrote the famous “ Soundarya Lahiri “ staying in this temple.

Legend has it that Khara (of the Khara Dhooshana demon duo) of Ramayana worshipped Shiva at Chidambaram and obtained from him three Shivalingams and journeyed holding one shivalingam on each hand and one in his mouth. He sojourned at Vaikom, and set the shivalingam on the ground and to his dismay realized that it had gotten rooted to the ground. Kharan therefore installed the other two shivalingams at Ettumanur and Kaduthuruthy. It is believed that visiting these triad of temples in a single day is of great significance.
Legend also has it that Khara installed an image of Krishna in the north western corner of this temple.
The temple: The west facing temple here has a circular sanctum covered with a conical copper plated roof crowned with a kalsam. The mukhamandapam in front of the temple bears two images of Nandi, one of stone and another of metal. Although there is no shrine to Parvati, the rear of the sanctum is revered as Parvati's shrine.
A golden staff, visible from a distance is in front of the shrine.
At the entrance to the temple is a large metal lamp; visitors make offerings of oil and the soot that collects from the burning of the oil is believed to have medicinal value.
The Ezharaponnaana Ezhunallathu is the ten day long annual festival of the temple. It is held during the month of Kumbha (Feb- Mar). On the eighth day of theEzharaponnaana Ezhunallathu, the Lord’s idol is bedecked and placed in a
specially prepared pavilion to the north east of the shrine. Thousands of devotees throng the temple to catch a glance of the Lord Shiva during this sacred festival. The Maharaja of Travancore had once made a unique offering to the deity. He had gifted seven and a half elephants (ezhara pon aana), seven of which are two feet tall and last is one foot tall. These are displayed on this eighth day of the festival.

Kaduthuruthy

Out of these three temples this temple situated exactly 12 and half km from Ettomanoor and Vaikom has not been modernised as much as the other temples.
Another story of these temples is that three Sivalingas were being cariied by a Rakshasa ,two in his hand and the third one in his mouth. The lingam in his mouth was erected at Kaduthururhty ( Kadichu Iruthy which in Malayalam means kept in the mouth) and the other two at Vaikom and Ettumanoor exactly12 and a half km apart, the length of the hands of the rakshasas extended .
In all Siva temples you are supposed to do only partial Pradakshinas . You go initially to the right a quarter of Pradakshina, come back and go clockwise till ¾ of the temple and then come back.
As per some school of thought, Lord Shiva's Assistant "Chandeeswar" sits on the right side of "Avritta" of the temple. He is supposed to take attendance of the devotees visiting the temple and the list is narrated to Lord Shiva during night at the closure of the temple. So devotees first used to go to the right of avritta of the temple and shout their name, gotra and star. (People to shout as "Chandeeswar is believed to be deaf). After completing the attendance ritual people revert to left side to complete the circle. It became a practice in gradual course.

VAIKOM.

Vaikom in Kottayam district of the southern state of India, Kerala, is one of the main pilgrim centres of the south. Famous for the Vaikkath Asthami celebrations in November/December, it is one of the few temples which is held in reverence by both Shaivaites and the Vaishnavaites. Vaikkom’s Shiva is fondly called Vaikkathappan. The Shiva Linga here is believed to be from the ‘Treta yuga’ and considered as one of the oldest temples in Kerala where pooja has not been broken since inception.
The rakshasa who carried the three Siva lingams was called Khara. Another school of thoughts is that the Sivalingam was not carried by mouth but on the neck of the Rakshasa
Kharasura on receiving the Shaiva Vidya Upadesh from Malyavan went to Chidambaram, and did severe penance and Tapasya for the attainment of Moksha. Pleased with his penance Lord Siva granted all the boons he asked, and presented him with three great Siva Lingas drawn out of Him. Assuring that He will ever be present in them, Lord Siva disappeared, asking Khara to worship the Lingas to attain Moksha. When Khara was returning south from Himalayas with the three Lingas, one in his right hand, one in left hand and other by the neck, he felt tired and rested awhile. After rest when he tried to pick up the lingas, they wouldn’t budge. He realized that it was Shiva’s maya and when called unto, the heavens spoke thus, “I shall remain here giving Moksha to whom so ever * take refuge in Me”.
Khara having attained Moksha entrusted the holy Lingas to the custody of Maharshi Vyaghrapada who had followed him invisibly and asked the sage to protect and worship them.

Belief is that the Siva Linga placed by Khara Asura by his right hand is being worshipped at Vaikom, the one in left hand at Ettumannoor and the one by neck at Kaduthuruthy even to this day.
Vyaghrapada Maharshi continued the Pooja in most esteem and devotion for some time and went on pilgrimage.Months and years passed. Sri Parasurama – the Chiramjeevi was going by the sky one day. Seeing good omens alighted here and saw a Holy Siva Linga emerged in water emitting heavenly rays. He could understand that it was the Siva Linga placed by Khara.
Sri Parasurama thought himself that, the holiest and noblest Siva Chaitanya could be a great refuge for the devoted who wish to attain Moksha. He consecrated the auspicious Linga here with His earnest Prayers and recitation of Siva Manthras.

The most benign Lord Siva at once appeared with his consort Parvati Devi before Parasurama. He was so pleased that the Linga was consecrated with the Manthras by Parasurama – the incarnation of Vishnu, his greatest devotee. The kind Lord Siva said to Parasurama, “From now onwards I shall stay here as Shaiva-Vaishnava Chaithanya granting all blisses and Moksha to all devotees”.

Full of joy and gratitude Parasurama performed Siva Linga pooja there for some days. Then he himself built a temple here and entrusted a noble Brahmin of Taruna village whom he taught Pooja Manthras. The Brahmin had learned all the 28 Sivagama and wore rudraksha and bhasma. Parasurama donated the whole temple with Linga to Brahmins and disappeared.It is the belief that the temple and all rites and customs are planned and fixed by Parasurama himself.

By the time we finished these three temples we were hungry enough so that we went to SAROVARAM , my favourite lunch joint at Cochin, and had a sumptuous lunch befor we poceeded to Palakad