User:Madhumanalil

Thrichittattu Mahavishnu Temple is in Mundancavu, Chengannur Taluk, Alappuzha District, Kerala, India.

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Route.1.5 Kms towards north of Chengannur Town (KSRTC Bus Stand & Chengannur Railway Station), towards west of MC road(SH-1) at Puthenveetilpady Jn:,(Left side) and at the western side(Right side)of Chengannur -Pandanadu-Parumala-Mannar road.(0.400Kms from MC road)Thrichittattu Mahavishnu Temple is first one of the five Vishnu temples associated with the five Pandava brothers, the principal characters of the Mahabharatha. (In Google map the name of this temple is also shown as "THIRUCHENKUNDROOR IMAYAVARAMBAN TEMPLE")

(It is one of the "Divya Desams", the 108 temples of Vishnu revered by the 12 poet saints)

History

Earliest references to this temple appears in the poems and hymns composed by the greatest of Alvar saints - Nammalvar, in circa 800 AD. Stone inscriptions in the temple date it back to the Second Chera Empire (800 - 1102 AD).[2]) This temple is one of 108 abodes of Lord Mahavishnu. Eleven abodes of Lord Mahavishnu are in Kerala.There are 84 nos at Tamilnadu,One in Andhrapradesh (Thirupathi Balaji temple),One in Gujarath (Dwaraka Temple)One in Nepal,Eight Temples in North India most of them are in Uttarpradesh State.Ayodhya,Mathura,are also in the list. Other two are Vaikundam & Paalazhy. It is believed that “Yudhishtira”(Dharmaputra) elder brother of Pandava during their “vanavasam”visited this place and consecrated Thrichittattu Mahavishnu Temple.Other Pandava brothers established Vishnu temples near by Chengannur. After the Kurukshetra Yudha, Yudhishtira visited this temple for mental peace and to pray Imayavarappan* for removing his sin of telling a lie to defeat his Guru Dronacharya at the time of “Dharma Yudham”(Kurukshetra War). Imayavar(Devas) came to this place prior to Yudhisthira and hence the deity here is referred as Imayavarappar. (In the old texts the deity of the temple is called as 'Imayavarappan-Devas)

Chengannur province was under the “KAYAMKULAM”Rajah and "MARTHANDA VARMA”Maha Raja defeated Kayamkulam Maharajh and this province allotted to rule by “VAZJIPUZHA PRINCIPALITY” a prominent family. Hence the Thrichittattu Mahavishnu Temple’s administration was being done by the family up to 1984. That family declined during 60’s and annual festival was stopped from then on. The ruling time of Vazjipuzha Principility, was the Golden period and fame and prestige of this temple was high. Travancore Devaswom Board took over the temple after a period of 30 years and now under their Administration.Now the temple is recovering it’s lost fame and prestige.

Architecture

A large pond is there in the front of the Temple known as Sankhu Theertham Nalambalam is big and Namaskara mandapam is spacious. The wooden carvings are ancient and very beautiful. The sanctum is round and made out of stone. The roof of sanctum is made by stone and is umbrella shaped.Ancient inscriptions are seen near to the basement of it . The Idol of Lord Mahavishnu is in standing posture and made by Krishnasila(Black Stone).

There is a permanent tall Copper flag staff in front of the main Temple. The sub deities:- 1.Gopala krishna Temple .This temple is the north -western side of outside of main temple, and has its own privilege as an independent temple. 2.Sastha(Loard Ayyappa)Temple. This temple is in the south –western side outside the main temple.

Festivals

The annual festival is for ten days from Atham(Kodiyettam)to Thiruonam(Arattu) in the Malayalam month “MEENAM”. Flag hoisting will be  done on the permanent tall Copper flag staff in front of Maha Vishnu Temple and on the fifth day of the annual festival a temporary flag staff is erected in front of Gopala Krishna Temple and flag hoisting is done on it also . Bhagavatha Sapthaham is done every year and during this period 'Annadanam' is also performed. Ashtami Rohini, Dasavathara Charthu Mahotsavam, Mandala-Makara Vilakku are also celebrated. ==Vazhipadukal==
Thulassimala,Pal Payasam,Kadum Payasam,Unniyappam,Neerajanam etc.

There are large gathering of devotees visiting this temple especially on Sundays and Thursdays Thrichittattu Mahavishnu is famous as the lord who removes our sins if we repent about our deeds and pray to him for mercy and he will grant us mental peace. Visiting all the five Pandava temples a single day will be very much auspicious and Lord Mahavishnu will bless and get our wishes fulfilled.

Pandava Temples

1.Thrichittattu Temple.-(Chengannur-Pandanadu-Parumala-Mannar road.Consecrated by Yudhishtira. 2.Thripuliyoor Temple-( Right side-west of Puliyoor Jn:in Chengannur–Mavelikara road via Kollakadavu.Consecrated by Bheema. 3.Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple- Chengannur-Kozhenchary road.Consecrated by Arjuna. 4.Thiruvanvandoor Temple.Chengannur- Thiruvalla, west(Left side)of MC road (SH-1) from Pravinkoodu Jn to Thiruvanvandoor road.Consecrated by Nakula. 5.Thrikkodithanam Temple.Towards east of MC road(SH-1) from Chagnacherry in Changanacherry -Vazhoor road.consecrated by Sahadeva.

Kunthidevi, mother of pandava established Pandavarkavu Devi Temple,Muthukulam. This renowned Devi Temple lies at the heart of Muthukulam in Kayamkulam. Vaishnavites from various states travel to all these temples in full devotion all year. (*Belief is that 'Imayavars(Devas- preformed Penance in the temple to get blessings from Lord Mahavishnu.)