Monday 5 December 2011

Sree Parasuramaswamy Temple Thiruvallam





Location: Thiruvallam, Kovalam Bypass road around 6 km south of Thiruvananthapuram city. Around 10 km away from the International Airport. 


Main Deity: Parasurama (6th Avatar of Vishnu)


Other deities: Lord Siva (same importance as Main Deity), Lord Brahma, Lord Ganapathy, Saint Vedavyasa, Goddess Mahishassuramarddini (Bhadrakaali), Matsyamoorthy (Fish god), Lord Subramanian


Festivals: Annual Festival at ‘Thulam’ (October-November). 20 day celeberations starts with the ‘Kodiyettam’ in ‘Atham’ day and ends with ‘Arattu’ in ‘Thiruvonam’ day.


Sree Parashuram Temple is a 2000 year old temple located at Thiruvallam  is located 6 kilometers south of the Thiruvananthapuram City, along the banks of the Karamana River in Kerala. 


This is the only one temple dedicated to Sri Parasurama in Kerala as the main deity. 


Leading pilgrimage centre for 'Balitharpanam' or ‘Vavu Bali’ in ‘Karkkidaka’ (July-August) month on the previous night of the new moon day [(The ‘Ellam’, ‘Vallam’ and ‘Nelli’ places, Ellam indicates ancestral house, Vallam indicates Thiruvallam and Nelli indicates Thirunelly]. People make offerings to their ancestors, after taking a dip in the holy river. There is wide belief that the great monk Adi Shakara made the Bali for his mother at this place. The temple allows ‘Balitharpanam’ ceremony performed inside the ‘Nalambalam’ (inner place of the temple).


Historians observed that this temple was built in the 9th century AD. It is believed that this temple is constructed by Athiyaman Perumal, a legendary Chera King. 


There are five Poojas and other rituals performed here daily, considering as a ‘Mahakshethra’ (Great temple). Main offering  is ‘Ganapathyhomam’ worshiping Ganapathy).   Seperate shrines for the Trimurtis is one of the feature. Another 
speciality the temple is located at the Triveni Sangama (merging of 3 rivers) of Karamana River, Killi River, and Parvathiputhanar River.

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Saturday 3 December 2011

Thycaud Dharma Sastha Temple


Location: Thycaud, Near Govt. Arts College - 1.5 KM from Trivandrum Central Railway Station and Bus Station and 8 km from International Airport.

Main Deity: Sastha



Other Deities: Lord Ganesh, Maha Vishnu, Subramanya Swamy, Nagar, Hanuman Swamy, Durga and  Nava Grahas

Festivals: Makara Vilakku (Annual Festival) and  Mandala Puja

Sastha Temple, has been maintained recently, in Kerala style of architecture. Neeranjanam is the main offering at the temple. In the Bhajana Manadapam from 2001 every saturdays performing Bhajan.

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Friday 2 December 2011

Karikkakom Sree Chamundi Devi Temple


Location: Karikkakom - 2 km from Chackai and 7 km from Trivandrum City.


Main Deity: Karikkakathamma [Goddess Chamundi Devi, an incarnation of Goddess Durga]


Other Deities: Shri Rektha Chamundi, Shri Bhala Chamundi, Shasthavu, Sri Maha Ganapathy, Bala Ganapathy, Yogisawaran, Yakshi Amma, Bhuvanesweri, Ayira Valli Thampuran, Guru Mandiaram, Naga udi Temple, Karikkakom Govt High School, Chacka, Trivandrum, Kerala, Ind r Kavu


Festivals:  Main Festival - Makam in the Malayalam month of Meenam [Birthday od Devi] - 7 days Festival - 7th day Pongala


Official Website: http://www.karikkakomsreechamunditemple.org

Karikkakom Sree Chamundi Devi Temple is one of the ancient temples in south India. The 500-year-old Karikkakom temple has been deemed to be the seat of satyam (truth), dharmam (personal duty) and neethi (justice).
It is said that during the rule of Travancore Kings, people who were accused of various crimes pleaded their innocence before the presiding deity.


The idol of the deity inside the Karikkakom Temple in Trivandrum is made out of Panchaloha that means total five types of metals are involved in the creation of the idol. These are gold, copper, silver, lead and iron. 

Has joined the ranks of rare temples in the State that have a rajagopuram (royal tower). 63 Feet Hight - Labour Work - More than six years - Cost Around 2 Crores. A festival, `Rajagopuram Kumbabhishekam', was held recently to commemorate the event.The rajagopuram is a large pyramidal tower built at the entrance to the temple in accordance with the guidelines included in `Aintramatham', an authoritative text on the science of sculpture, says Sangameswaran, the temple sculptor. The five storeys, each with a pair of small cross-windows, represent panchentriya, the five senses of human beings.


Originally a family owned temple of Madathu Veedu in Karikakaam. Under the Karikkakom Chamundi Temple Trust around 10 years ago.


In Orkut:
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#Community?cmm=21515633

Temple Timings:
4:50AM - 11:50AM
4:30PM - 8:15 PM


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Thursday 1 December 2011

Hanuman Swamy Temple PMG


Location: PMG, Trivandrum  (Opposite of central stadium, Near Kerala  Legislative Assembly Complex) . 5 km from Central Railway Station and 8 km from Trivandrum International Airport.

Main Deity: Hanuman Swamy.

Other Deities: Lord Shiva, Lord Ganapathy and Naga devatas and Yogeeswaran.

Officially known as O.T.C.  (Officers Training Camp) Hanuman Temple is 
one of the most visited Hanuman temples in Kerala.

First the idol was maintained by a Nair brigade when they were at Padmanabhapuram and 
when they shifted to Thiruvanathapuram in 19th Centuary (capital change time - First shifted to Kollam and later brought back to Thiruvananthapuram), this temple originated by installed  the idol at the temple. After the integration of the Travancore army with the Indian Forces, the temple is being maintained by the Indian Army.
The main vazhipadus are butter, vadamala and vettamala.

Presently the temple is administrated by Travancore Devaswom Board.

In Orkut:
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Tuesday 29 November 2011

Sree Lakshmi Varaha Swamy Temple
















Location: Chenthitta, Trivandrum - 1 kilometer from Padmanbha Swamy Temple. 1.5 km away from Trivandrum Central Railway Station.

Main Deity: Lord Varaha - Lordess Lekshmi sits on his lap.

Other Deities: Lord Ganesh, Lord Krishna, Lord Shiva and Nagaraja.


Festivals: The aratt or annual festival of this temple is along with Sree Padmanabha Swami Temple aratt during the month of March-April. Varaha jayanthi also falls soon after aaratt in the month of March-April and celebrated in a grand manner in this temple.

Popularly known as Sree Varaham Temple.

Varaham is the third avatars of Lord Mahavishnu. One of few Varahar temple in Kerala. [Other main temples in Kerala are - Panniyur Sri VarahaMurthy Temple - located at Anakkara, Pallakad District a
nd Shri Varaha Swamy Temple, Pannoor, Thodupuzha.]

The temple is constructed in typical Kerala style architecture the temple consists of Sreekovil, Chuttambalam and Nalambalam. The temple is located 
at the south west side of Fort.

The temple has a sacred pond near by temple. It is one of the largest theerthams (holy water) in the district. The important day is Thursday and special poojas are 
conducted on this day. 

Direction:

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Monday 28 November 2011

Sreekanteswaram Temple


Location: Sreekanteswaram, Near East fort, Trivandrum, 3 km from Trivandrum Central Railway Station and KSRTC Bus Stand and 1 km from Sree padmanabha Swami Temple.

Main Deity: Lord Shiva.

Other Deities: Sree Mahaganapathy, Sree Dharmasastha,Sree Nagaraja,Sree Murukan,Sree Anjaneya and Sree Krishna 

Festivals: 'THIRUVATHIRA' star in the Malayalam month of Dhanu [considered the birthday of the Lord] - customarily the most important temple festival.
Shivarathri in the Malayalm month of Kumbham.

Dress Code: Like other shiva temples men can't wear shirt like any one inside the sreekovil.


Sreekanteswaram - temple of Lord Shiva, located south-west from the Old Sreekanteswaram temple. 

This temple has around 700 years old. The main idol faces east. Lord Shiva is in the form of Shiva lingam that faces on the east.

According to the popular legend, there was an old sweeper-maid who worked in Pazhaya Sreekanteswaram Temple. She used to take rest after the work under the shade of a tree, keeping the broom and the pot called Kalayakkudam beside her. One day when she tried to lift the pot, it did not move and she tried to break the pot using a stone. All of a sudden, she found that the pot was bleeding. It is said that Lord Shiva gave darshan to the old lady in the form of Swayambhu Shiva Lingam.

The temple elephant called "Shivakumar" is ore than 45 years old and has a bull called "Neelakantan".  

Ruled by Travancore Devaswom Board.

Temple Timings:
3:30 AM - 12:00 PM
5:00 PM - 8:30  PM


Direction:


Sunday 27 November 2011

Pazhavangadi Maha Ganapthy Temple




















Location: Eastfort, Trivandrum


Main Deity: Lord Ganapathy


Other Deities: Goddess Durga, Lord Ayyappa, Brahmarashashu and Nagaraja


Festival: Main Festivals - Vinayaka Chaturthi, Ganesh Jayanthi, Varad Chaturti, and Sankashti Chathurthi


Special poojas are performed for other festival including Thiruvonam, Vijaya Dasami, Ayilyam, Sahasra Kalasam, Thirkkarththika, Thirvathira, Makara Vilakku, Maha Shivaratri, Vishu, Thriveda Laksharcchana, and Nira Puththari.


Dress Code: Inside Sreekovil male need to wear mundu. For female no dress code restrictions.


Official Website:


Pazhavangadi Maha Ganapathy Temple, dedicated to Lord Ganapathy, is located at East Fort in Thiruvananthapuram. 


Pazhavangadi Mahaganapathy idol is entirely different from other Ganesh idols, as the right leg is in folded posture.First the idol was maintained by a Nair brigade when they were at Padmanabhapuram and when they shifted to Thiruvanathapuram, this temple originated by installed (prathista done)  the idol at the temple. After the integration of the Travancory army with the Indian Forces, the temple is being maintained by the Indian Army


Breaking of coconut is the main nivedyam (offering) at the temple. The rituals conducted are nityanidaanam, masavisesham, and attaviseshams. A bhajana mandapam is also attached. Devotees can also see beautiful paintings of the 32 forms of Lord Ganesh inside the temple complex.


The famous Padmanabhaswamy Temple is at a walking distance. Sree Maha Ganapathy Temple is 1.5 km southwest of Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station and Thiruvananthapuram Central Bus Station, and 8 km east of Trivandrum International Airport.


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