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Location:
Tiruvanandapuram-
Kerala .
(Malai Naadu)
Vishnu: Anantapadmanabhan
Taayaar: Harilakshmi
Theertham:Padma Theertham
Paasuram :Nammalwar
Vimaanam:Hemakoota Vimanam
Travel Base:Tiruvanandapuram
Description Tiruvanandapuram
(Trivandrum) gets its name from the grand Anantapadmanabhaswamy temple,
enshrining the tutelary deity - Anantapadmanabha of the Travancore
kingdom. It is one of the grandest temples of Kerala, exhibiting an amalgamation
of Dravidian and Kerala temple architectural styles. It is a temple vibrant
with tradition, having been associated for years with the arts and music.
The rulers of Travancore have held this temple in the highest regard.
Even today, an elaborate worship protocol is followed in the strictest
sense and this is one of the best maintained temples in India.
This is an ancient
temple and has been revered by the tamil hymns of the Alwar Saint Nammalwar
of the 1st millennium CE. Eight shrines in Kerala Tirunaavai, Trikakkara,
Moozhikkalam, Tiruvalla, Tirukkodittanam, Chengannur, Tirupuliyur, Aranmula,
Tiruvanvandur and Tiruvanantapuram and two in Kanyakumari district (formerly
in Travancore) Tiruvaattar and Tirupatisaram have been revered by the
tamil hymns of Nammalwar. Tirumangaialwar has sung of Tiruvalla, and has
mentioned Tirupuliyur in one of his hymns.
Deities:
This temple enshrines an imposing image of Vishnu, in the Anantasayanam
posture; an image viewed through three doors in front of the shrine. The
original image was of wood; the current image was fashioned out of 1200
saalagramams which were specially brought down for this purpose and moulded
into shape with a special paste kadusarkara - a mixture of lime, granite,
molasses and mustard. Vishnu is viewed through three doors in a row -
the face on the southern side, the feet on the northern side and the nabhi
(navel) in the middle. Padmanabhan is enshrined in the yoganidhra
posture, reclining on Aadiseshan -( making offerings of vilvam to a small
Shivalingam, to his right).
The sanctum of this
temple is fashioned in the style of the temples of Kerala, while the surrounding
walls and the towers resemble that of the Tamil (Dravidian architecture)
temples. Interesting murals adorn the outer walls of the sanctum. There
are shrines to Narasimha, Hanuman and Krishna near the sanctum.
An interesting legend
surrounds the origin of the imposing image. A rishi by name Divakara Yogi,
who was engaged in the worship of Vishnu, was enraged by the sight of
a two year old toddler swallowing his Salagramam, the object of his worship.
The toddler, upon being chased by the yogi, entered a tree; the tree split,
and Vishnu revealed himself in all his splendour to the Rishi, who then
requested him to assume a form that could be held in worship, upon which
Vishnu assumed the form of the image, now held in worship in this temple.
History:
Martanda Varma of the Travancore Kingdom, in a spectacular ceremony in
1750 surrendered the kingdom to the presiding deity of the temple, and
received it back as a fiefdom and ruled Travancore as a servant of Padmanabhan;
all of his successors adopted this custom. Much of the present structure
dates back to the period of Martanda Varma, who made several renovations
and built the eastern gopuram, which got completed by 1798.
The flagstaff
is enclosed in a casing of gold. The Kulasekhara mandapam near the flagstaff
has fine sculptures dating back to the 17th century. The long prakaram,
with a terraced roof with 324 columns, mesaures 540 feet by 325 feet,
and is about 24 feet wide. It has two rows of granite pillars, and every
pillar bears an image of a Deepalakshmi. Also here are images of yalis
(mythological animal), with non removable stone balls in their mouths.
Festivals: There are
two annual festivals here - one in the month of Pankuni (Pisces-Meenam)
March 15-April14, and the other in Aippasi (Tulaa-Libra) (Oct-Nov).
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