Peringottukara Devasthanam Sree Vishnumaya Swami Temple

Peringottukara Devasthanam Sree Vishnumaya Swami Temple is a Hindu temple at Peringottukara, Thrissur, Kerala, India. It is the most ancient (400 years old tradition) and India's biggest Sree Swami Temple.It is dedicated to the god Vishnumaya in Kerala. The god is known also by the names Chathan.Peringottukara Devasthanam Sree Vishnumaya Swami Temple is a unique Sree Vishnumaya Swamy temple in Kerala. Vishnumaya temple is the head temple of all vishnumaya temples in Kerala.

Peringottukara Devasthanam Sree Swami Temple is the pioneering Sree Swami and Sree Bhuvaneswari Devi Temple with the tradition of centuries. It is a temple of the traditional Vishnumaya cult where the Dravidian style of poojas is held with utmost devotion. It is also one of the rarest Kerala temples where the Shaktheyam customs are followed. Shaktheyam channels great energy (or Kundalini) properly for spiritual & material gains.

Peringottukara Devasthanam Sree Vishnumaya Swami Temple
Religion
District	Thrissur
Deity	Vishnumaya
Festivals	Devasthanam Thiravellattu, Kalamezhuthupattu Festival, Thottampattu
Location
Location	Peringottukara
State	Kerala
Country	India
Geographic coordinates	10°25'31.9"N 76°07'50.4"E
Architecture
Architectural type	Kerala Architecture
Date established	More than 400 years ago
Website
https://devasthanam.com/

History

On his way for the divine hunt, Lord Shiva happens to see a tribal woman, named Koolivaka. In the yester-birth, Koolivaka was Mansawini, servant of Parvati who happened to suckle the child Ganapathy. Shiva approached her and asked her to be ready to be his son’s mother. She was a devotee of the Goddess Parvati. Knowing her plight, Parvati disguised as Koolivaka awaited to welcome Shiva. Shiva and disguised Koolivaka united, resulting in a child named Sivanandana. They both appeared in front of Koolivaka and deputed her to foster the child. After living with Koolivaka for some years the child knew about his real parents. Then Sivanandana proceeded to the abode of Shiva.

When he was not allowed enter to the abode of Shiva, Sivanandana assumed the form of Vishnu. Thus Sivanandana was known as ‘Vishnumaya'. When he was with his parents Lord Vishnumaya killed demons like Bringa and Jalandhara.

Velumuthappan Swami, a yogi man in Peringottukara wanted to protect his village from misery. He prayed to Bhuvaneswari Devi for a remedy. Devi appeared before him and asked him to worship Vishnumaya. One morning he got an idol of Vishnumaya from the Theevra river and got it to his ancestral home. He did Vishnumaya Puja. Vishnumaya appeared before him.

Velumuthappan Swami continued worshiping Vishnumaya and some of his followers were chosen to be the Velichapadu of the Vishnumaya cult. The shrine built by Velumuthappan Swami has been served by 4 generations. Today the shrine has become famous as the Peringottukara Devasthanam.

Temple Structure

The main attraction of the temple is the splendid sculptures on the exterior part of the temple. There is a 52-feet high Vishnumaya Shiva Parvati Stupa which symbolizes the divine birth(Vishnumaya), with the union of Purusha(Shiva) & Prakrithi(Parvati). Another attraction on the exterior part is the 32-feet high Garuda sculpture. The front wall of the temple bears a multi-colored depiction of Palazhimadhanam. There is also a large nadapanthal with beautifully illustrated walls inside the temple premises. The Koothambalam built in 2019, is so captivating that performers and the audience are awestruck by its beauty.

Principal Deity

The temple's principal deity is Lord Vishnumaya Swami, also called Kuttichathan, the divine child of Lord Shiva and Parvati Devi. The sub-deities temples in the Devasthanam are Sree Bhuvaneswari Devi Temple, Ganapathi Temple, Kukshikalpa Samadhi, Abode of Damodara Swamikal, and Sree Brahmarakshasu Temple. The temple is also popularly known as the Kali Yuga Varada Temple.

Main Offerings to the Deity

The main offerings placed by the devotees include Niramala, Nivedhyam, Payasam, Thulabharam, Ganapathi Havanam, Chuttuvilakku, Udayasthamana Pooja, Amavasi Trikala Pooja, Saktheya Pushpanjali, Brahma Vellattu Karmam, Roopakalam and Maha Roopakalam of Vishnumaya.

Festivals

Devasthanam Thiravellattu

The birthday of Lord Vishnumaya Swami is celebrated as "Thiravellattu". The idol of Sree Velumuthappan, along with the idol of Sree Vishnumaya Swami is brought from the Kukshikalpam. It is a 9 day-long festival. A seven-day musical program is also held.

Kalamezhuthupattu Festival

Before performing the Swastika Pujas in the Malayalam months of Karkidakam and Vrischikam, the Kalamezhuthupattu programs are held in the months of Midhunam and Thulam.

Thottampattu

To please the Bhuvaneswari Devi, the Thottampattu festival is held after the completion of the Thiravellattu. Kalamezhuthu (the picturesque of deities on the floor using herbal and colored powders) and taking out the idol in a procession is held.

References

This article "Peringottukara Devasthanam Sree Vishnumaya Swami Temple" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Peringottukara Devasthanam Sree Vishnumaya Swami Temple. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

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