Sree Anantha Padmanabhaswamy Temple
Sree Anantha Padmanabhaswamy Temple centre of Thiruvananthapuram
city. Visible from east fort. this temple exist from 3rd century and
the present structure completed in 1731. the idol (18 feet long) of
Sree Padmanabha is in a reclining pose on the three folded serpant
god Anantha in the Sreekovil. Sree Ganapathy, Sree Ramaswamy, Sree
Viswaksenan, Sree Kshethrapalan, Sree Narasimhaswamy, Sreekrishna
Swamy and Sree Dharma Sastha are other deities. The outer wall of
Sreekovil is depicted with excellent mural paintings.
The gopura on the eastern side is a replica of Tamil Style. The majestic
Seevelipura supported by 365 pillars of exquisite sculptures. The
Ottakkal ( Single stone 20 * 20 * 21/2 ) Mandapa, the beautiful sculptures
of Vyali Mukha, Deepa Lakshmi and various ornamental works are of
architectural excellence. These are a blend of Chera, Chola and Pandya
influence. Festival in Meenam for 10 days and Aarattu on Atham Asterisk,
and is conducted at the sea of Sanghumukhom beach.
Former Maharaja of Travancore accompanied the vigraha to the sea
by walk with bare foot, a distance of 4 kms. Makara seeveli and karkataka
seeveli are also celebrated. the poojas, Vazhipadus purity or concept
of suddhi, regulation of dress and other rituals in time are strictly
observed for the last several centuries and still it continues with
commendable discipline. In addition to this the navarathri is celebrated
with great pomp. The image of Goddess Saraswaty is brought from Padmanabhapuram
palace ( formerly the head quarters of the Travancore Rajas ) on a
caparisoned elephant. The velayudha perumal from kumarakoil of Velimala,
on a decorated vahana. Then the Munnoottimanka bimbam from suchindram
temple on a palaquin to Thakkalai. Then all of them proceed to Thiruvananthapuram
together in a grand procession.
En route the devotees welcome the idols of these three temples with
great respect. the image of velayudha swamy and Munnoottimanka are
kept at Aryasala temple and saraswathi amman brought to valia Kottaram
complex near Padmanabhaswamy temple and on the 1st day of Navarathri
festival the formal poojavaipu is conducted. on these nine days thre
is the music concert in the navarathri mandapa by eminent Carnatic
Musicians. After Poojaeduppu these images are taken back to their
respective places.
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