Vaikom - At the abode of the Celestial Caterer

The Vaikom Mahadeva temple is considered as one of the three powerful abodes of Lord Shiva in Travancore and is situated in the temple-town called Vaikom in Kottayam district. Life in this little town literally revolves around the deity of Perumthrikkovil. The Lord of lords is endearingly called as Perumthrikovilappan or simply Vaikathappan.

It is one of the oldest and famous temples facing east having the biggest elliptical sanctum sanctorum with a golden flag staff of 64 feet high and largest temple-compound of 8 acres without having a shrine for Parvathi. The deity is worshipped as Dakshinamoorthy(God of all Knowledge) in the morning, Kirathamoorthy at noon and Uma Maheswara in the evening. Main Festival is Ashtami in Vrischikam which simply is one of the biggest celebrations in the northern Travancore regimes.

As per the myths, an Asura named Khara went into deep penance towards Lord Shiva of Chidambaram with a motive to attain salvation. Having pleased with his act, Lord Chidambaranathan appeared in front of him and gave him 3 Shivalingams and asked him to install them in suitable places. He took one Lingam in his right-hand, another one in left-hand and the third one in his mouth and travelled through the sky. When he reached above Vaikom he decided to sojourn there for a moment as the shiva linga held on his right palm grew in weight. No sooner had Khara landed at Vaikom than the Linga acquired tremendous mass and Khara was left with no choice but to place it on the ground. After some time, when Khara tried to pull it up, strangely, he found that it got rooted.

At this time, Saint Vyaghrapada(The same one who worshipped Lord Chidambaranatha to get vyaghrapadam or tiger's feet for climbing Vilwa tree to take leaves for worshipping Shiva) who was performing penance towards Lord Shiva came by that way. Khara met Vyaghrapada and instructed him to continue his worship with this Shiva Linga. Vyagrapada started his worship at Vaikom which lasted for many years. One day Lord Shiva appeared in front of the saint on a Krishnashtami day, beneath a banyan tree which stood nearby the Aanakottil on the eastern side of the temple, in the month of Vrischika(November - December) and gave Vyaghrapada a chance to ask for a boon. He prayed to Lord Shiva to appear every year on the same day and to give a chance of vision for the devotees who worship here on this day and thenceforth is celebrated as Vaikkathu Ashtami.

Khara installed the Shiva Lingam which he brought in his left-hand at Ettumanoor facing West and the Shiva Lingam in his mouth at Kaduthuruthi facing east. It is believed that visiting these places on the same day is highly auspicious. It is said that Parasurama worshipped Vaikathappan to expiate sins he earned by killing his Mother and Kshatriyas. He then built a great temple having five prakaras with crystal, blue sapphire, ruby, pearl and gold respectively. The sacred Linga is decorated with plenty of flower garlands, rare jewels and Vilwa leaves. In the glare of hundreds of oil lamps, the royal Shivalinga seems to radiate with splendour and is surely a bewildering experience.

Lord Shiva himself attends the Annadana aka Ashtami sadya(catering of free meals) on the Ashtami noon in Vaikom along with Goddess Parvathi. After worshipping Shiva, one has to go to Udayanapuram also to seek the blessings of Udayanapurathappan(God Subrahmanya) who is considered as the son of Vaikathappan. According to the lores, Vaikathappan will be in abstinence of food for the whole day of Ashtami as he is fasting for the victory of his son in the battle between Shanmugha and Tarakasura. Ucha pooja at Vaikom will only be conducted at night on Ashatami after Shiva hears about the victory of his son.

Panachikkal Bhagavathi as Vana Durga has been installed on the West side of the temple precincts. When Vyaghrapada Maharshi was trying to worship the Shivalingam, there was an Yakshi (an evil vampiress) roaming in the temple premises, harassing humans and animals and also was disturbing Vyaghrapada Maharshi from meditating the Lingam. The enraged sage turned to Stambha Vigneshwara(Ganapathi) on the north-eastern side of the temple at the entrance and sought his blessings to annihilate the Yakshi. Lord Vigheshwara sent Bhadrayush(one of the bhooth ganas) and directed her to kill Yakshi. Yakshi was killed with trident at the place where Vana Durga's shrine exists. Praying here expiates sins, removal of evil-spirit, bad dreams, confusions. ( The yakshi was cut to three pieces and the middle piece is remaining here in the southern part of the temple yard and known as Panachikkal Bhagavati. The other Devies were sent tot Cherikkumel in the south and Koottummel in the north).

Once upon a time, saint Vilwamangalam swamiyar came to Vaikom for viewing Shiva. He could not find Shiva in the sanctum. He therefore walked around and found him, seated along with Brahmins and taking his meals served by none other than his spouse Parvathi. The divine couple were not visible for the earthly Brahmins. This spot is called Manyasthanam, still considered sacred where a plantain leaf is laid with all dishes for a feast and a litten lamp.

Once in 12 years the famous Vadakkupurathu Pattu or Kalamezhuthu Pattu is performed to appease Kodungalloor Bhagavathi as she will be present for 12 days at the northern part of the Vaikom temple, according to the myths, during the ritual.

The Vaikom Temple was in the ownership of one hundred and eight families in olden days. The owners were divided into two groups and one group joined the ruler’s side. Their disputes and quarrels increased day by day. One day a section of the divided group came to the temple at noon. The chief among them a certain Njallal Namboothiri was prepared to stop the pooja in the noon. At that time the nivedya was used to be placed in the western side of the Namaskara Mandapa. There was an entrance in the western courtyard. The Njallal Namboothiri after keeping his apron (Randam Mundu) above the western door came near the Nivedyas and spat the remains of his betel chewing on the Nivedya. So the pooja was disrupted. On return, while he was taking his apron from the door top it is stated that a highly poisonous snake bit him to death. He crawled himself outside the west and died. The Western door of the temple courtyard automatically closed itself then and a voice was heard from inside the Sreekovil which said “This door should not be opened any more”. The door remains closed to this day to show the wrath of Lord Shiva against the disruption of poojas.