Sri Vadukkunnathan Temple

Love visiting the ancient temples of India? One cannot miss going to the Vadakkunnathan Temple in Thrissur. The temple is known for its beautiful and old paintings which are rich in the culture and heritage of Kerala. The Vadakkunnathan Temple in Kerala has received the award of excellence from UNESCO. It is one of the oldest temples in Kerala, which has Mural paintings quite 400 years old, and the Vadakkunnathan Temple is 1000 years old.

If you want to enjoy the architecture of Vadakkunnathan Temple, then you must visit Thrissur. The temple has architectural beauty, history, heritage, and also culture. The people of Thrissur have maintained the culture and tradition of the Vadakkunnathan temple.

There are shrines Of Maha Vishnu and Shankara Narayana which are located at the temple. It also has the largest dance hall called Koothambalam, which reflects the architecture of Kerala. Various traditional performances are held at the festival of Vadakkunnathan Temple, which is known as Nangyar Koothu.

There is Thiruvambadi Krishna temple and Paramekkavu Devi Temple Outside the temple. The temple receives hundreds of devotees every day, especially at the weekend, and on Mondays, people have to use faith and believe in the temple. Nathan Temple in Thrissur is one of the best in the traditional architectural sense of Kerala.

History of Sri Vadukkunnathan Temple

The temple is 1000 years old, and it reflects the culture and tradition of Kerala. Its architecture and various paintings indicate that the temple is extraordinary. The husband and wife, Shivaguru and Aryamba had born to the child Guru Adi Shankaracharya after lots of prayers were done to God Vadakunathan.

Later on, Lord Shiva came in the dream of both husband and wife. In the dream, Lord Shiva gave two options to the couple, which were the first being an ordinary son who would live a healthy life and the second one being an extraordinary son who would die early. The couple chose the second option, and they named him Adi Shankara.

This is one of the most interesting histories of Vadakkunnathan Temple and the child got freedom and got ‘Videha Mukti’ in the Vadakkunnathan temple itself. It has an interesting history and is known for purity which the temple has spread all over Kerala.

Architecture of Sri Vadukkunnathan Temple

Spread over an area of 9 acres, this magnificent temple is surrounded by a huge stone wall, carved amazingly with poses of Lord Shiva. It has four 'gopurams' (gateways) that face all directions, i.e. north, south, East, and West, and a multi-shrine complex in the center with the idol of deities.

There are shrines of Lord Shiva in the form of Vadakkumnathan, Shankaranarayana, or Hari-Hara (a combined form of Shiva and Vishnu), and Lord Rama in the center of the temple. One can also see an idol of Goddess Parvati on the northern side of the temple, which faces towards the east and stands behind the statue of Lord Shiva.

There is a theatre hall in the temple, which is known as Koothambalam. Its roof is made from copper plates and contains vignettes of wood carvings. There is an old museum here in the temple that consists of ancient wall paintings, wood carvings, and art pieces of old times.