The visit
to this Sree Janardanaswamy Temple at Varkala was a part of Malai Nadu Divya Desam's visit from
10th to 14th June 2025, organized by Mantra Yatra (website). Thanks to Mr. Balaji Davey and
his team of Mantra Yatra for the excellent arrangement and personal care. Sree
Janadanaswamy temple is locally known as Varkaleswara
Moolavar: Sree Janadanaswamy
Some of the salient
features of this temple are….
The temple faces east
with a Dwajasthambam, balipeedam in a mandapam. The balipeeda mandapa pillars feature the images of donors, including Pavai Vilakku, Natarajar, Karaikal Ammaiyar, Kali, Krishna, Rathi, Manmathan, and Pichadanar, on the pillars of the balipeeda mandapam. Dwarapalakas are at the
entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar sanctum sanctorum is in the circular Sreekovil.
In between the
nalambalam, pradakshinaptha, Thulasi madam, Spatamatrikas, and ashtadikpalakas in
the form of balipeedas, covered with brass plates/moldings.
On the nalambalam
outer side are the Shiva Temple, Sastha, Vinayagar, and Nagars.
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ARCHITECTURE
Gajalakshmi stucco
image is after the entrance gopuram/mandapam and the back side entrance of the Nalambala entrance
top. The balipeeda mandapa front side may have been constructed in recent years. The
Janardanaswamy shrine is Circular in plan. The temple was built with stone from
adhistanam to Prastaram. The adhistanam consists of jagathy, threpatta kumuda, and kapotam. The Bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are Brahmakantha
pilasters with kalasam, kudam, and lotus petals mandi. A conical, eka tala vimanam
is on the prastaram.
The namaskara
mandapam with a pyramidal roof is in front of the sanctum sanctorum, which is open
on four sides. The nalambalam with an entrance on four sides forms an enclosure for
the Sreekovil.
The nalambalam outer
sub-shrines are constructed with stone from adhistanam to prastaram, and the
superstructure was built with brick and cement. The adhistanam is of pada
bandha adhistanam with jagathy, three patta kumudam, and pattikai. The koshtas
are with bas reliefs of Maha Vishnu and ornamental works.
Kali
HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTIONS
It is believed that
the temple belongs to the 1st-century CE Pandya period. (But the present
structure may belong to the 12th to 13th century Pandya
period). Later renovated during the Venadu Kings, and now under the control of the Travancore Devaswom Board.
The temple as we see
it now was built in the 13th century. According to a Tamil inscription in
Vattezhuthu, found on the South base of the central shrine of Sri Janardhana
Swamy, King Vira Padmanaba Marthanda Varma Thiruvadi (1240-1252 CE), of the
Venad Dynasty, converted the temple of the Bhattaraka of Varkalai
Udhayamarthandapuram to stone from Adhistanam to Prastaram. He further had the
Sri Vimana covered with copper sheets, renewed the Namaskara mandapa/Mukha
Mandapa, and consecrated the temple on Karnataka Rasi, Wednesday, the 21st day of
the Rishabha Month, in the Kollam Year 425 (1252CE), (2/1084, T.A.S Vol 4, Page
151).
Another inscription
found on the North base of the mandapa in front of the Janardanaswamy shrine contains a Sanskrit verse, written in Grantha characters. This inscription
has been interpreted in depth by Prof Kielhorn in Epigraphia Indica Volume 4.
It says King Goda Marthanda had the god Hari and was bathed by Brahmins around
midday on Thursday, 11th May, in the Kollam Year 655 (1480 CE). The inscription
mentions Varkala as Vayka. (Prof Kielhom is of the impression that it could
also be referring to Vaikkom)
An inscription in the
East prahara, belonging to Raja Ravi Kulasekara Perumal, of Attingal Swarupam,
who performed Hiranyagarbha and Tulabhara in Thiruvananthapuram, speaks about
repairs executed to the temple in Kollam year 700 (1525 CE).
An inscription on the
East and North base of the Dwajasthamba, belonging to King Rama Varma (Kollam
Year 1071-1896 CE), mentions that the Dwajasthambam was installed by the King
on Thursday, the 4th day of the Makara month, when the Sun was in Mrigasirsha.
The temple has an
ancient bell removed from a shipwreck, donated by the captain of a Dutch vessel
that sank near Varkala without casualties. The bell inscription reads “Peter
von Belson' and 'Michelle Evarald' and the year is inscribed as 1757 CE.
One of the
inscriptions indicates that the temple was partially renovated during the reign
of Umayamma Rani, who ruled this region in 1677–84 CE.
Ref
Temples of Kerala and
Alayam Kanden website
LEGENDS
The Pandya king, who
was affected by a ghost, took a pilgrimage to get rid of the ghost. He came to
this place and saw an old temple in a dilapidated condition. He did penance at
this place and decided to construct a temple. That night, Maha Vishnu came into
his dream and identified himself in the sea. The next day, the king happened to see
a bunch of flowers floating on the sea. The kings took the idol from the sea
with a little damage on the right hand. The king rectified it with gold and
installed it in the temple.
During poojas every
day, the moolavar is applied with sandal paste and decorated as Janardana,
Narasimha, Venugopala, or Mohini, etc., with flowers.
In another legend,
Maha Vishnu followed Narada’s music on the Tambura. When they came to this place, Brahma happened to see Maha Vishnu and worshipped him in the form of sahtanga
namaskaram. Realizing this, Maha Vishnu returned to Vaikunta immediately without
noticing that Brahma was worshipping him. The Devas mocked Brahma, saying that he was
worshipping Narada. Angered, Brahma cursed the Devas to be born in the bhuloka.
The Devas realized their mistake and requested to be relieved from their curse.
Instead of relieving them from the curse, he advised them to do penance to Maha
Vishnu. The Devas came to this place and prayed to Janardana and requested that he relieve them from Brahma’s curse. Satisfied with the prayer, Janardana pardoned
the Devas and blessed them.
POOJAS AND
CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular
poojas, special poojas are conducted on 10 days arattu in the month of March-April, Rama Navami, Narasimhar Jayanthi, Vaikunta Ekadasi, Thiruvonam
Star Day, Ekadasi, and Thursdays, etc.
Janardana will be
decorated as Janardana, Narasimha, Venugopala, Mohini, Maha, etc.
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TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be
kept open from 05.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
The mobile numbers of Ambi
96455 41522, Hari 94954 04505, and 0470 2602295 may be contacted for further
details.
HOW TO REACH
The Janardanaswamy temple at Varkala is near the Varkala beach. The temple is 2.7
km from Varkala Sivagiri Railway Station, 27 km from Kollam, and 45 km from
Thiruvananthapuram Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
The nearest Railway
Station is Varkala Srivagiri.
LOCATION OF THE
TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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