The 8 Participating Temples of Thrissur Pooram

Thrissur Pooram is the largest and the most prominent traditional festival of kerala. It is believed to be a marvelous assembly of Gods and Goddesses, which is held at Thekkinkadu maithanam where Sree Vadakkumnathan temple is situated.

 The idea of Thrissur Pooram was brought up by the great Raja Rama Varma, famously known as Shakthan Thamburan who was the Maharaja of Cochin. Arattupuzha pooram in Thrissur district was considered as the biggest pooram having the participation of all most all temples in Thrissur. During the Arattupuzha Pooram in 1798, many Pooram processions couldn't reach Arattupuzha on time due to heavy rain & floods. Due to this delay these pooram processions were denied the participation. From that time onwards Sakthan Thampuran decided to have a more prominent celebration at Thrissur by unifying 10 temples in Thrissur. From that time onwards Thrissur pooram gained mass popularity.

Shakthan Thamburan grouped the participants into 2 groups, one under the leadership of Paramekkavu Bhagavathy temple and the other under the leadership of Thiruvambadi Sree Krishna temple.  Participants of Thrissur Pooram includes 6 Bhagavathy temples and 2 Shastha temples.

Pooram participants under the group of Paramekkavu Bhagavathy Temple

1.     Chembukkavu Bhagavathy Temple

Chembukkavu Karthyayany temple is one of the 108 Durga temples in Kerala. The deities of the temple are Bhagavathy Karthyayany with Vigneswara and Dharma Shastha.

The temple is under the direct control of Cochin Devaswam Board. The temple plays a major role in Thrissur Pooram every year.

The pooram procession (Ezhunallip) of Bhagavathy to Thrissur Pooram is at 7 am with Panchavadyam, Nadaswaram and with three decorated elephants.  Devi enters to the Vadakkumnathan temple through the eastern gopuram with melam and all jubilant festive. It is belived that Bhagavathy is allergic to heatstroke from the sun, hence Devi returns in a hurry back to the temple.

Ayyanthole Bhagavathy is considered as the elder sister of Chembukkavu Bhagavathy who is another participant of Thrissur Pooram.

2.    Panamukkumpally Sastha Temple

The idol of Panamukkumpally Sastha temple is very ancient and said to be over 2500 years old. The main deity of the temple is Shree Dharma Sastha along with Lord Shiva, Durga Devi as well as other deities. The very speciality of the idol is Lord Sastha interposing Padmasana with Amrit pot in hand.

Panamukkumpally Sastha Temple is 2 km away from Shree Vadakkumnathan temple and one of the famous participants of Thrissur pooram.  On the day of Pooram , Lord Sastha starts from the temple at 7.00 am with nadaswaram, panchavadyam along with 3 beautifully decorated elephants. Lord Shree Dharma Sastha enters to Vadakkumnathan temple through the eastern gopuram and signifies the respect to Lord Shiva. Lord Sastha goes back to the temple at night with the same thalamelam.

3.    Choorakkottukavu Bhagavathy Temple    

   

Choorakkottukavu Bhagavathy temple is situated under the valley of Vilangankunnu, Thrissur which is a famous tourist destination.  This temple is one of the famous Durga temples and the idol of the temple was created by Parasurama.  Before the construction of the temple, the deity was surrounded with thorny grasses and bushes. While cleaning the area, the weapon hits the deity and blood oozed out. Then the people believed that there is some special powerful spirit and the temple was constructed there. The major festival of Choorakkottukavu Bhagavathy temple is Karthikavilakku.

Choorakkottukavu Bhagavathy temple is one of the main participants of Thrissur Pooram.  On the day of Thrissur Pooram, Lord Durga visits Vadakkunnathan temple at 6:30 am with melams and Nadaswaram.  After pakal(day) pooram and rathri(night) pooram, Lord returns to Choorakkottukavu Bhagavathy temple.

4.    Pookkattikara-Karamukku Temple

        

Pookkattikara-Karamukku temple is a combination of two temples: Pookkattikara Shiva temple and Karamukku Bhagavathy temple situated in Thrissur district.  Shree Parasurama brought one Namboodiri family to Vadakkunnathan temple for performing pooja. The family brought the idol Lord Shiva along with them, which is their family deity.  Hence Pookkattikara Shiva temple was formed.  Karamukku Bhagavathy temple is one of the 108 Durga temples by Parasurama. The three Balikallus shows the importance of this temple.

The deities of Pookkattikara temple is Lord Shiva along with Edampiri Ganapathy and Nandi. Karthyayani Devi along with Lord Sree Krishna are the deities of Karamukku Temple.

The Pookkattikara-Karamukku Temple is situated 5km away from Vadakkumnathan temple. The Ezhunnallippu (procession) of Bhagavathy for pooram starts at 5 am along with Nadaswaram and Nadapandi with more than 100 artists and 9 beautifully decorated elephants.  After the overture of Elanjithara melam, deity enters the temple to pay respects to Lord Vadakkunnathan and exit through the southern gopuram. By 11 pm the Pooram ends and Bhagavathy returns back to the temple.

Pooram Participants of Thiruvambadi Temple

5.    Kanimangalam Sastha Temple

Kanimangalam Sastha is known as the main Deva (god) who is the first to arrive in Thrissur pooram for visiting Vadakummnathan . Lord Kanimangalam Sastha is the incarnation of "Brahspathi" (Deva Guru).  It is believed that Lord Sastha in this temple will get diseases during cold and hot times, so all the celebrations will be done early in the morning and evening. Every year on the day of 'Sivarathri', Sastha visits Lord Shiva in Vadakkumnathan temple and returns after worship.

 The Lord starts journey for Pooram at morning 4’o clock with 3 elephants along with Nadaswaram, Nadapandi, 100 Chenda artists and reaches the temple. Sree Vadakkunnathan gives great respect to Deva guru and honor him by opening the Lord’s Thirunada. The deity with 14 elephants and Pancharimelam moves to the Pooram side and complete the morning Pooram. The same process is repeated at the evening.

6.  Laloor Sree Karthyayani Temple

 

Laloor Sree Karthyayani temple is situated 5 km away from Vadakkumnathan temple. The deity of the temple is Sree Karthyayani Devi. It is one among the 108 Durgalayas build by Sree Parashurama. The temple is having many specialties. The “Valiya Balikkallu” is 8 feet high which represents the Prathishta of the temple. The temple has no sub shrines. The architecture and design of the temple is similar to Sankaranarayana temple in Vadakkumnatha complex. The Kerala style of architecture, beautiful carving works, mural paintings are some of the special features similar to Vadakumnathan temple. The temple was owned by Mannath family and now under the control of Cochin Devaswom Board.

Laloor Sree Karthyayani Devi’s "Ezhunnallippu" starts at morning 6:30 am along with 5 elephants, Nadaswram, Panchavadhyam and reaches Swaraj round. During that time, the number of elephants increases to 9.  Deity goes inside the temple to pay respects to Lord Vadakunnathan and the Pooram continues.

7.  Neithilakkavu Bhagavathy Temple

Neithilakkavu Bhagavathy temple is in Kuttur village, Thrissur. Bhagavathy, Shiva, Durga, Sastha, Ganapathy, Anthimahakalan, Rashasu, Dampathu Rashasu are the deities of this temple.

In Thrissur Pooram, Neithilakkavu Bhagavathy is a famous participant.  The Naithalakkavu Amma has the sole authority to open the Thekke (southern) gopuram of Vadakkunnathan temple for the Thrissur Pooram. The Ezhunnallippu of Devi to pooram starts at early morning with all the festivities and celebrations.

8. Ayyanthole Karthyayani Temple

              

 

Sree Karthyayani Mahamaya is the deity of this temple. One of the stories related to this temple is ‘Dakshayaga’. When Lord Shiva started his Thandava (dance) carrying the dead body of Sathi Devi, who gave up her life in the Yagasala, unable to suffer any more humiliation. Siva shot an arrow and cut the body of Sathi Devi into fragments. It is said that Sathi Devi's body was cut into 108 pieces and one of the pieces is believed to have fallen in the place where this temple is located.

The most important festival of the temple is connected with the famous Thrissur Pooram. Devi sets out to Vadakunnathan at 6 am accompanied by Thavil, Vadya, thala and Mela with 3 beautifully decorated elephants and Nadapandi. Later, Devi will get into Vadakunnathan temple with 13 elephants and pays respect to Lord.

The Largest and Popular Festival of Kerala -Thrissur Pooram

Thrissur Pooram is known as 'the festival of festivals' founded by Sakthan Thampuran, the biggest and grandly celebrated festival of Kerala. The tradition is held every year by the visit of gods and goddesses to give the honor of respect to Lord Shiva (Vadakkumnathan). Thrissur pooram is held during the month of April-May (Medam month). 

The pronounced and great Vadakkumnathan temple is an ancient hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in Thrissur district.The Pooram is vested in Thekkinkadu Maithanam (ground) of Shree Vadakkunnathan temple.This temple is a classical example of the architectural style of Kerala and has one monumental tower on each of the four sides in addition to a Kuthambalam.

Paramekkavu Bhagavathy temple, Thiruvambady Sree Krishna temple and Vadakkunnatha temple together constitute for the Pooram and all the above eight temples are the participants.  The decorative items used for Pooram are Nettipattom, the glittering Muthukuda, Venchamaram, Aalavattom and many other items.

15 majestically caparisoned elephants of Thiruvambadi temple enters through the southern gate of the Vadakkunnatha temple to face a line up of 15 equally decorated elephants from Paramekkavu temple.  The famous Kudamattam begins with Pandimelam and other orchestras. It is a vast celebration with lakhs of people from different destinations to see and feel the splendid pooram.

The ceremony will last till night, finally the dazzling display of fireworks which is an auspicious occasion of Thrissur Pooram is by early morning.

Next day about 8 am is the Koodikazcha, deities assemble with elephants along with melam and panchavadhyam and enters to the eastern gopuram at Sreemoolasthanam.  The elephants carrying Devi's, rise their trunks to express gratitude, honor and pay respects to Sree Vadakkumnathan. This is a meeting to formally bid farewell and promise to meet again on Pooram Nakshatram of Medam month.

The other festivals celebrating in Vadakkunnathan temple are Maha Sivarathri, Thrikkarthika and Thiruvathira.

 

Shivarathri Celebration

 How to Reach:

There are many facilities to reach these temples. It has both rail as well as road facilities.

For a great experience and to explore around, visit our website http://www.cabsforme.com  for our taxi service “CABSFORME” whose mission is to provide reliable, timely, and safe cab services.