Vadakkunnathan Shiv Temple Thrissur.
This is the first Shiva temple created by Lord Parasurama. Shiva here is more popularly known as Vadakkunnathan. Historical Vadakkunnathan Temple is situated at the heart of Thrissur city. The name Thrissur is derived from 'Thiru-Shiva-Peroor', which literally translates to "The city of the sacred Shiva".Thrissur was also known as Vrishabhadripuram, Vrishachala and Thenkailasam or Dakshina Kailasam(Kailasa of the south) in ancient days. Vadakkunnathan temple is surrounded by a massive stone wall enclosing an area of nearly 8-9 acres. Inside this fortification there are four gopurams indicating the four directions - North, South, East and West. Apart from these four gopurams there is a multi-shrined complex in the center with three principal shrines dedicated to Shiva or
Vadakkunnathan, Shankaranarayana and Rama. Lord Vettekkaran (Shiva in a hunter form) is also worshipped within the nalambalam enclosure. In the northern side there is a circular structure with the deity facing west. The figure of Shiva-Parvati faces east and is just behind Shiva,in the same shrine. The two-storied shrine of Sri Rama facing west is located in the south. Between these two srikovils stand a third one, circular and double storied in shape, dedicated to Sankaranarayana and facing west. There are mukhamandapams in front of all the three central shrines.
The idol of Shiva, which is not visible, is covered under lots of ghee, formed by the daily abhisheka (ablution) with ghee over the years. After abhisheka a portion of the ghee is returned to the devotees and they take it home as the ghee has miraculous powers to cure all diseases. A devotee
looking at the sanctum now sees a thirteen-foot high mount of ghee embellished with thirteen cascading crescents of gold and three serpent hoods at top. According to traditional belief, this represents the snow-clad Mount Kailas, the abode of Parvathy and Parameswara.
Outside the nalambalam, there are shrines for Lord Krishna, Vrishabha,
Parasurama, Simhodara, Dharmasastha and Adi Sankaracharya. Adi Sankara is
believed to have been born to the Shivaguru-Aryamba couple of Kalady in answer
to their prayers before Vadakkunnathan, as amsavatara (incarnation) of the
Lord. Legend has it that Shiva appeared to bothhusband and wife in their dreams,
and offered them a choice: a mediocre son who would live a long life, or an
extraordinary son who would not live long. Both Shivaguru and Aryamba chose the latter. The
son was named Shankara, in honour ofShiva. Not only in the case of physical
structures, but also in the matter of rituals, poojas and even in the order of
movement of a worshipper from sanctum to sanctum, the temple maintains a
uniqueness of its own. It is believed that you have to follow a certain order
when moving between the temples. It is advisable to ask somebody inside this
temple for this.
