Pazhaya Sreekanteswaram Temple
| Pazhaya Sreekanteswaram Temple | |
|---|---|
  Pazhaya Sreekanteswaram Temple Location in Kerala | |
| Name | |
| Proper name | Pazhaya Sreekanteswaram Kshetram |
| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 8°29′15″N 76°56′36″E / 8.48750°N 76.94333°ECoordinates: 8°29′15″N 76°56′36″E / 8.48750°N 76.94333°E |
| Country | India |
| State | Kerala |
| District | Thiruvananthapuram |
| Location | Sreekanteswaram |
| Culture | |
| Primary deity | Lord Shiva |
| Important festivals | Maha Shivaratri |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural styles | Dravidian architecture (Kovil) |
Pazhaya Sreekanteswaram Temple or Old Sreekanteswaram Temple, located at Puthenchantha in Thiruvananthapuram, is one of the ancient Shiva temples in Kerala. According to the renowned historian Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai, this temple existed even in the 9th century AD.[1] This temple is the original abode of the Lord of new Sreekanteswaram Mahadeva Temple. The new temple is situated just outside the "North Fort" in Thiruvananthapuram. As noted by Dr. M. G. Sasibhooshan, the old temple was on the route taken by the King of Travancore and his retinue in connection with the Pallivetta of the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple.[2] The old temple might have lost its importance to the new one in the latter half of the 18th century when Chettikulangara was used by the mercenaries of Thampi siblings, the sworn enemies of Sri Vira Bala Marthanda Varma.
Deities
Lord Siva and Lord Krishna (Vishnu) are the principal deities in Old Sreekanteswaram. The linga of Sreekanteswara (Siva) is believed to be on the samadhi of Sage Kanwa. Chettikulam, a pond nearby that was reclaimed decades ago, is referred to in Syanandura Purana Samuchaya and Anantapura Varnana as Kanvatirtha.[3] This lends credence to the belief that Old Sreekanteswaram and Chettikulangara formed part of Kanwa Tapovana. The idol of Sri Krishna was installed later to reduce the ferocity of Shiva. The idols of Lord Ganesha and Serpent gods also find place in the temple. All the deities here face east.
Mritunjaya Homam, Mrityunjaya archana, Jaladhara, Pinvilakku and Kuvala mala samarpanam are the most popular offerings made to Lord Siva.
Important days
Maha Shivaratri and Thiruvathira are the days which attract huge crowds to the temple.
The Tantri of the temple
Vanchiyoor Athiyara Potti is the Tantri of the temple. The Potti is a hereditary member of the Ettara Yogam which used to be the governing body of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
Darsan
- Morning - 5.20 to 10.30
- Evening - 5.00 to 8.30
The management of the temple
The temple, now, comes under the control of Travancore Devaswom Board. Before it was taken over by the Board, the temple belonged to a prominent Nair tharavad by name Kovilvila.
Kovilvila Tharavad
Kovilvila Tharavad traces its roots to Valluvanad. Centuries ago, the tharavad had a Karanavar who was an advanced upasaka of Srividya sampradaya. He and his wife used a Meru Sreechakram for their worship. They had many disciples. Though they were revered by the people around, they were not in the good books of the ruler. Due to royal displeasure, the members of the tharavad had to flee to Pattazhi. From Pattazhi they moved to Thiruvananthapuram and settled there. The Karanavar and his wife continued their upasana in the land of Sri Padmanabha. After leading fruitful lives they reached the Divine Abode of Lalita Parameswari.
In course of time the family began to manage the affairs of Pazhaya Sreekanteswaram Temple. Years rolled by. Besides Sreechakram, the family started worshipping Bhadrakali of a kalari and the great Karanavar who had attained the lotus-feet of the Divine Mother. By the blessings of Sreekanteswara and the Household Deities, the family prospered and reached great heights. But succeeding generations were said to not have the required degree of piety. The family is believed to have incurred the wrath of the Guardian Deities on this account but later blessed by the deities on resuming upasana
Kovilvila Bhagavati Temple
After an elaborate Ashtamangala Prasnam in December 2006, a new temple by the name Kovilvila Bhagavati Temple was constructed in a piece of land adjacent to Pazhaya Sreekanteswaram. This piece of land belonged to Kovilvila L Parukkutti Amma, the wife of Justice K. S. Govinda Pillai. The Guardian Deities of the tharavad - Kalari Bhadrakali, Meru Sreechakram, and Karanavar - were duly installed by the Tantri Thrippunithura Puliyannoor Murali Narayanan Nambuthiripad on March 21, 2008. One-hooded Nagaraja, five-hooded Nagayakshi and Chitrakootam were installed by Amedamangalathu Vishnu Nambuthiri on the next day.
Offering Neyvilakku for eleven consecutive days is the most important vazhipadu in the Temple.
Being the day of installation of the Goddess, Uthram in the month of Meenom, is the most important day in the temple calendar. Women devotees offer Pongala on that day. Ayilyam in the month of Thulam is important for the Serpent gods.
Murals in Kovilvila Bhagavati Temple
The Temple has in it grand mural paintings of Kalari Bhadrakali and Lalita Parameswari. According to Dr. M.G.Sasibhooshan, the mural of Lalita Parameswari is one of the largest of its kind.
Darsan
- Morning - 6.00 to 9.30
- Evening - 5.30 to 7.30
Royal visit
Princess Aswathi Thirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bayi visited Pazhaya Sreekanteswaram Temple and Kovilvila Bhagavati Temple on Nov 5, 2013.
See also
References
- ↑ Charitrathinte Paschathalathil - Prof Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai
- ↑ "The Glory of Sreekanteswaram" Metroplus, The Hindu dated March 15, 2004 - Dr M G Sasibhooshan and Bindu Sasibhooshan
- ↑ History of Sri Padmanabha Swamy Temple till 1758 - Dr A G Menon