Vadakkunathan Temple

Vadakkunatthan temple is located at the heart of Thrissur city surrounded by Thekinkadu Maithanam (swaraj ground). This temple was the first Shiva temple created by Parasurama, the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu. It is spread across 9 Acres of land surrounded by a big stone wall. Four gopurams (monumental entrance tower) are built that indicate the four directions. Lord Shiva, Shankara narayana, Rama are the main deities worshiped here. Shiva is worshipped also in the form of ‘Vettekkaran’ (hunter form) within the temple premises. The idol is thirteen foot feet high and decorated with thirteen gold crescents and three serpents on the head. The idol is covered by ghee due to the ablution with ghee over the years. This represents the Kailas which remains snow claded all the time. The other deities worshipped here are Lord Krishna, Vrishabha, Parasurama, Simhodara, Dharmasastha and Adi Sankaracharya. The rituals are very unique in this temple. There is a particular order to do a round of the temple. It is believed that one can pay salutations to certain far away temples too from specific places inside the temple. These details can be checked from locals available in the temple to understand better. The temple is open from 3am to 10.30am and then again at 4pm to 8.30pm. The murals in the temple are very rare and beautiful and even two of them - Vasukisayana and Nrithanatha - are worshipped regularly. Thrissur pooram is held in front of Vadakkunatthan temple which is celebrated by lakhs of devotees who gather to view the processions and fireworks. During Pooram the whole place gets very crowded and it is a nonstop process of rituals for entire day. The parade of elephants, exchanging salutes, changing of parasols on top of the elephant hours of fireworks are the peculiarities associated to the Pooram festival. Currently this temple is being renovated under the supervision of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

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