The visit to this Sree Atputha Narayanan Temple at Thrikkodithanam 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 place, Thirukkodithanam, is one of the 108 Divya Desam of Maha Vishnu, and Mangalasasanam was done by Nammalwar (3502 - 3512).
எல்லியும் காலையும் தன்னை நினைந்துஎழ
நல்ல அருள்கள் நமக்கேதந்து அருள்செய்வான்
அல்லிஅம் தண்ணம்துழாய் முடிஅப்பன்ஊர்
செல்வர்கள் வாழும் திருக்கடித் தானமே!
….. நம்மாழ்வார்
Moolavar : Sree Atputha Narayanan, Amrutha Narayanan.
Thayar : Sree Karpagavalli Nachiyar
Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The temple faces east with a temple pond. A shankha blower’s image in a dead body posture is in front of the temple. Garudasthamabam and balipeedam are after the entrance mandapam. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. In the Sree Kovil sanctum sanctorum, Sree Atputha Narayanan is in a standing posture holding the shankha and Chakra in the upper hands, the lower right hand holds the lotus flower, and the left hand is on the gada/mace. Maha Ganapati/ Vinayagar and Dakshinamurthy are on the south side and can be seen through the door. Narasimhar is on the back side of the Sree Kovil.
Saptamarikas, Nirmalaya Moorthy/ Viswaksena (image- not balipeeda), and Ashtadikpalakas, Durga, Subramanya, Kubera, and Soma, are in the form of balipeedas in pradakshinapatha. In Thiruchuttambalam Ayyappan, Krishna, Nagars, Thayar Bhadra, Kshetrapalaka, Goddess of Thirumanthakaavu, and Rakshaka. Sri Subramaniar temple is outside the temple walls.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple complex consists of Thiruchuttambalam, nalambalam, pradakshinapatha, Sree Kovil, Namaskara Mandapam, dwajasthambam, and balipeedam. The Sree Kovil is circular in plan. The adhistanam was built with stone. The adhistanam consists of jagathy, vrudha kumudam, and kapotam. The bhitti is with windows and pilasters. The bhitti was built with laterite stones and plastered. 16 Mural paintings are painted colorfully on the shrine wall, but they are faintly visible now. These mural paintings include Dwarapalakas, Rajarajeswari, Dakshinamurthy, Appam Nercha (Namboodiri ladies carrying Appam, as a part of offering to Maha Vishnu), Arjuna’s penance, Arjuna receives pasupathasthira, Kiraat Arjuna (Shiva and Arjuna fight), Indira welcomes a visitor, Bheema, Arjuna, Nakula & Shadeva visit a king, Sri Krishna, Sree Rama’s pattabhishekam, Shiva, Parvati and Mahishasuramardini, and Antasayana Perumal. The pranala is simple and emerges through Yazhi’s mouth, supported by a bhuta gana. A conical, dwi/ two tala vimanam is on the Sree Kovil. The vimanam is called Punyakodi Vimanam.
The namaskara mandapam has a pyramidal roof and is in front of Sree Kovil, which is open on four sides and supported with pillars. The nalambalam has entrances on all four sides and forms an enclosure to Sree Kovil.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
Since Nammalwar has sung Pasuram on Sree Atputha Narayanan, Amrutha Narayanan of this temple, the temple might have existed before the 8th Century CE, built by the Cheras. Later, the temple received contributions from Cheras, Chozha, Pandyas, Venadu, Travancore Kings, etc.
The stone inscriptions at the Thrikodithanam temple are the source of information during the reign of the Second Chera Empire. The earliest of these were recorded during the 14th year of the Chera king BHASKARA RAVI VERMA. As per the inscription, Thrikodithanam was the capital of a prosperous kingdom called Nanrulainattu (“Land of Farmers”). The kingdom covered an area from the north of Odanaadu to the south of the present Kottayam town. The eastern boundary of this kingdom extended to Thiruvalvandoor. The temples of Thrikodithanam, Perunnayanallur (Perunna today), and Thiruvalvandoor were within this kingdom.
During the 14th year of Bhaskara Ravi Varma, in 965 CE, Kothaverma Marthandam, the crown prince of Venad, made contributions in cash and kind for the temple.
Until the early years of 1100 CE, the main road running from south to north of Kerala – Narayana-peru-vazhi – went alongside the Thrikodithanam temple and bifurcated the present village.
One of the inscriptions records that the Deepa festival used to be held in the lunar month of Karthika (November-December). This continues even today.
Kothavarma Marthandam’s (c.1000 CE) reign inscription records a system to ensure that ordinary workers (panimakkal) were not exploited by the temple authorities. An order of the king records the local adviser (called Muthoot) through his counselors, Nedumpuratthe Kundran Kovindan and Unmaratthe Iraviraman, forbidding the temple functionaries from claiming the property of the workers through lease, mortgage, or contract. Those violating the edict had to pay a fine of 24 measures of gold, in addition to forfeiting the land.
The names of places around Thrikodithanam also point to the presence of forts and military garrisons near the temple.
The history of Kerala, from the late 1300 CE to early 1700 CE, could be called the Dark Ages for Kerala – the Hindu society had created for itself the most oppressive caste system under the Namboothiris.
Meanwhile, the Cheras re-emerged as a power under Ravi Varma Kulashekara (1299 – 1314 CE), and later under Marthanda Varma (1729-1758 CE) and Kartika Thirunal Rama Varma (Dharma Raja: 1758-1798 CE). Nanrulainattu, Odanaadu, and Thekkumkur united and organized into the Venad state, which later merged with the kingdom of Travancore. After Marthanda Varma, the Conqueror, dedicated (Thripppatidanam) his kingdom to Sri Padmanabha (Vishnu), all ill-managed temples were taken over by the Kingdom, and later on, control was given to the Devaswom Board. This changed the nature and form of community ownership of the temples.
An undated inscription on the Northern base records the Gift of land by Kandankumaran of Kilumalai for the maintenance of a lamp. This was entrusted to the temple in the presence of 300 citizens of Nanrulainattu.
The Chera King Koupaakkara Iravi Verma Thiruvatti’s reign inscription on the North-western base records that the Uraalars and others were designated to positions in the temple not to interfere with some specified rituals. Also, rules regarding the management of the temple are included.
Chera King Bhaskara Ravi Verma Thiruvatti’s reign, one of the 6 inscriptions on the Southern base, records the order of the king to the people of Naranumangalam town to send 2 padi of oil to Trikodithanam temple, every month. Any lapse in quantity and timing would result in a doubling of the fine and an additional payment in gold.
One of the Inscriptions records the duties, responsibilities, and remuneration of all officials. It was forbidden for the priests (Shaanti) to continue in the same position for more than three years. The Urar were banned from assuming the responsibilities of priests. Further records a gift for feeding 12 brahmins, burning lamps, etc.
The inscription on the South-Western base of the adhistanam records the gift of paddy for sacred offerings by the chief of Nanrulainattu, appointed by Kothaverma Marthandam of Venadu.
A 977 CE inscription has the ornate insignia of Kothaverma Marthandam, who refers to himself as the ruler of Trikodithanam.
Another inscription also records the contributions of another king of Venad – Sri Vallabhan Kotha during the month of Meenam (March-April)
The temple is under the maintenance of the Archaeological Department.
Ref:
LEGENDS
This is one of the five ancient temples in and around Chengannur, Kerala. These five temples are connected with the Epic Mahabharata, where the Pancha Pandavas are believed to have built one temple each.
1. Sree Imaya Varappan Temple at Thrichittatt by Yudhishthira,
2. Sree Mayapiran Temple at Puliyur by Bheema. To signify this, a thanda is kept in front of the temple.
3. Sree Parthasarathy/ Thirukuralappan Temple at Aranmula by Arjuna,
4. Sree Pambanaiappan/ Kamalanathan Temple at Thiruvanvandoor by Nakula and
5. Sree Atputha Narayanan/ Amrutha Narayanan Temple at Thrikodithanam by Sahadeva.
Kazhivetti-kallu…. Between the pond and the eastern entrance, near a public platform for arts and discourses, is a strange granite statue. It is a man flat on his back, held up stiff and straight on a stone pillar about six feet high. Only his waist rests on the pillar; the rest of his body is unsupported. He holds a Shankhu (conch shell) in his left hand and wears the holy thread indicative of the higher castes. At one time, the statue wore a crown as well.
Who is this figure? A crowned King?. Is a priest wearing the sacred thread, or is it a Maran (temple musician/caretaker) holding a conch shell? Everything about this figure is conflicting and abnormal – its form, attributes, and placement. As per the local legend...
The ruler of the Chembakaserry kingdom was a renowned Nambuthiri Brahmin, who arrived in Thrikodithanam after the Seiveli puja (the last ceremony of the day) and after the temple had closed. It is considered very inauspicious to open a temple after the gods are put to rest, but still, the King forced an entry by bribing a caretaker.
When the rulers of Nanrulainattu discovered this indiscretion, they were furious. The caretaker was beheaded, and soon, the Chambakaserry king too fell ill and died. So this stone figure was installed near the temple entrance to deter any future offenders and to remind everybody of the consequences of disturbing the gods.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on monthly poojas like Ekadasi, Dwadasi, Pradosham, Chaturthi, Ashtami, and Pournami, and annually, like 10 10-day festivals in the lunar month of Vrishchigom (16 November- 15 December), Plaam-keel-kottu, Panacchikaletta, Chhadi-kottu, Otta-kol-kottu, Murian-kulam, and Kodi-naatin-kunnu.
PC- Temple
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
Temple web blog with contact details.
HOW TO REACH
The temple at Thirukkodithanam is 3 km from Changanassery, 7 km from Thiruvalla Maha Vishnu Temple, 23 km from Kottayam, and 31 km from Azhapuzha.
The nearest Railway Station is Changanassery.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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