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| Vamana(Vamanamoorthy) temple,Thrikkakara, KE upload.wikimedia.org |
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| Vamana (Vamanamoorthy) temple, onmanorama.com |
There are a few Hindu temples dedicated to Vamanamoorthy (also referred to as Vamana), an incarnation of God Vishnu in India. Located in Thrikkakara near the 'Kapilatheertham, close to Kochi, this place is the origin of the famous Onam festival that falls in the Malayalam month of Chingam (August-September). Though the origin of the Vamanamoorthy temple is not known, historians say it may be linked to the reign of Chera Kings. The belief has been that king Mahabali, on his annual trip to Kerala, arrives at Thrikkakara first. The temple, being pretty old, is one among the 108 Divyadesam shrines glorified by the Tamil Azhwar saints of 5th to 10th CE in their divine work Naalayeera Divya Prabandham. Lord Parashurama is said to have established the temple.
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| oil lamps, Vamanamoorthy temple, Thrikkakara flickr.com/ |
This temple becomes a hive of activities during the Onam festival and the most important event here is the Onam feast in which people of all castes, religions happily participate. Thiruonasadya is a symbol of civility, communal harmony and equality. The hall mark of this feast is the promotion of good will and amity among various communities living here. This temple is a center of cultural activities during the festival time. Several cultural arts such as Chakyar Koothu, Kathakali, etc., besides musical performances such as Panchavadyam, etc will entertain the people. Bhagavati, Sasthavu, Gopalakrishna, Nāga, Brahmarakshasa and Yakshi are the sub-deities at this temple.
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| Location map. Thrikkakara telegraphindia.com |
During the illegal occupation of this land by Marthandaverma in collusion with the English company, the Maharaja of Travancore and 61 Naduvazhis (local rulers) never broke the continuity of the Onam festival and organized it with more vigor than ever before. During the Chera reign the Onam festival was a 28 -day event attended by as many as 56 local chieftains who made offerings to the temple, according to a historian. The tradition continues today and the devotees present their offerings to the deity during ‘Thirumulkaazhcha samarpanam’ on the day of Uthradam.
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| Thrikkakara temple, Kerala. .trip.com |
Enshrined in the Srikovil - garbagriha of the temple is an idol of Vamana preparing to place his foot on the Brahmin Asura King Mahabali. Old temple records made a reference to the celebration of the Onam festival dating back to 861 CE. There are 17 ancient inscriptions in the 'vattezhuthu' script in Tamil language linking this temple with Onam and mendicant god Vamana. At this temple being managed by the Travancore Devaswom Board, besides Onam, Vishu, Makara Sankranti, Navarathri and Saraswati Puja are major festivals held with devotion.
As in many temples of Kerala, there is a series of thousands of oil lamps around the shrine called Chuttuvilakku fixed on the inner complex walls and they will be lit on the days of festivities and on certain days. Sometimes ardent devotees will sponsor the lighting of all lamps and will bear the cost of oil, etc. This is done as part of their prayer to God.
It is believed that the place where the temple stands is the spot from where the king Mahabali is said to have been sent to the netherworld Patala by god Vamana, hence marking the genesis of the Onam festival. The etymologically the name Thrikkakara implies 'Thiru-kaal-kara' meaning 'place of the holy foot.
As in the Hindu temples of Tamil Nadu and elsewhere, the festival will begin with the hoisting of temple flag on the Dwajasthanbham (flag pole). This will be done on the first day - Atham by the priests with certain pooja rituals and Aarti. It is called Kodiyettu - it is a symbolic gesture of welcoming the Asura king Mahabali. The flag will be lowered reverentially on the final day i.e 10th day of the festivity and the processional idol will be taken on an elephant to the near-by river or any water body for bathing and this ritual is called, Aarattu ritual (Theerthavari in Tamil Nadu) quite common across Kerala
The Shiva temple behind the Vamanamuthy temple houses idols of the deities Shiva, Ganesha, Karthikeya and Durga.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrikkakara_Temple
https://www.navrangindia.in/2022/09/god-onathappan-and-onam-festival.html
 temple, Thrikkakara, Kerala - mythologically linked to Onam festival){kind=link}