The visit to this Sreevaraham Lakshmi Varaha Temple was a part of the Malai Nadu Divya Desams 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. This Lakshmi Varaha Temple is locally known as Sreevaraham Temple. This is one of the 3 Varaha temples of Kerala.
Moolavar : Sree Lakshmi Varaha
Thayar : Sree Maha Lakshmi
Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The temple faces west, with a temple tank with neerazhi mandapa (the second largest temple tank of Kerala). A stucco image of Garudan is in the middle of the street facing the temple. Bell Tower, dwajasthambam, and balipeedam are before the Nallambam entrance. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. In the sanctum sanctorum, Moolavar Varahar is in a sitting posture, and Maha Lakshmi is sitting on his left lap.
In the praharam, Vinayagar, Krishna, Nagars, Yakshi, Rakshass, Saptamatrikas, and Ashtadikpalakas.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of Balipeeda Mandapam, Nalambalam, Namaskara Mandapa, and Sreekovil. The Sreekovil construction is followed by both Dravida and Kerala architecture. The adhistanam is of pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, muppattai kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are brahmakantha pilasters with Kalasam Kudam and plakai. The Kerala-style conical sloping roof forms a vesara vimana. The vimana is of a single tier. The sanctum sanctorum and sub-sannidhis like Utsavar, Vinayagar, Dakshinamoorthy, etc, are installed inside this Sreekovil. A 4-pillar Namskara mandapa with a raised platform is in front of the Sreekovil. The Nalambalam with gateways on four sides is constructed, enclosing the Sreekovil. The nalambalam serves as a hall for office rooms, Brahmins' feeding rooms, a kitchen (a room for preparing naivedyam), making of garlands, distribution of prasad, etc.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
It is believed that the original temple was constructed along with the Thiruvananthapuram Sree Padmanabaswamy Temple. This temple was also damaged during the Muslim (Tippu Sultan) invasions. Later, it received contributions from the Venadu and Travancore kings.
LEGENDS
As per the legend, after getting a boon from Brahma, Hiranyaksha abducted Mother Earth and concealed her under the cosmic ocean. Devas sought the help of Maha Vishnu to retrieve the Mother Earth. Maha Vishnu took the Varaha avatar and fought and slayed Hiranyaksha. Varaha retrieved the Mother Earth. Varaha is often depicted carrying Bhumi Devi on his tusks in the form of a Globe, Bhumi Devi hanging from the tusks, keeping her on his lap, etc. Here, Bhumi Devi / Lakshmi is shown on his left lap.
In another legend, demons abducted the 4 Vedas from Brahma and concealed them deep in the earth. At the request of Brahma, Maha Vishnu took the Varaha avatar and retrieved the 4 Vedas.
In Saivam, as per the Lingothbava form of Shiva, Maha Vishnu, to prove his greatness over Brahma, took the Varaha avatar, and excavated the earth to find out the feet of Shiva. But both Maha Vishnu and Brahma couldn’t find the start and end of Shiva.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, the annual festival will be conducted in Meenam/Painkuny (March-April) and falls along with Painkuny Utsavam at Sree Padmanabhaswami Temple. The Varaha Jayanthi will be conducted soon after aaratt in the month of March-April.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open from 05.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
The landline number of the temple, +914712452450, may be contacted for further details.
HOW TO REACH
This Sreevaraham temple is about 200 meters from Attagulangara – Enchakkal Road, Azhikotta Junction, and 600 meters from Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, west Nada.
The nearest Railway Station is Thiruvananthapuram.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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