| Kanadikavu Shree Vishnumaya Kuttichathan Swamy temple | |
| Coordinates: | 10.4222°N 76.1319°W |
| Country: | India |
| State: | Kerala |
| District: | Thrissur |
| Location: | Peringottukara |
| Deity: | VishnuMaya |
| Architecture: | Fusion of Kerala Architecture, Aryan Architecture and Tamil Architecture |
| Website: | Official website |
The Kanadikavu Shree Vishnumaya Kuttichathan Swami temple is an ancient Vishnumaya temple located 20 km southwest of Thrissur in Peringottukara, the cultural capital of Kerala, India.[1] [2] [3]
The primary deity of the temple is Vishnumaya, who is a Kuttichathan, however 320 other Kuttichathans are also worshipped.[4] Brahmashree Vishnubharatheeya, the Spiritual Guru and the Madathipathi is the chief priest.[5] [6] This temple is the ancestral temple of the Ezhava. Vishnumaya is one of the deities worshipped by them.
The main deity of the temple is the Kuttichathan, Vishnumaya. Other deities worshipped in the temple are Bhadrakali, Bhuvaneshvari, Kukshikalpam, Nagaraja, Nagayakshi, and Brahmarakshasa, among many Kuttichathans.
As legend tells, sage Koonamuthappan believed that for the well being of humanity, they needed the presence and blessings of a powerful and easy-to-please deity. Thus, he undertook a severe penance to please the deity of his family. The Goddess soon appeared before him. Koonamuthappan requested the Goddess to give him the mantram that would enable him to please and possess Chathan Swamy, the son of Parameswaran. Pleased at her devotee's penance, the Goddess told him the Moola Mantram to make Chathan appear before him and the Dhyana Mantram to worship him every day. He then went to the Himalayas and following the advice of the Nga Sages and entered into a severe penance. Vishnumaya Kuttichathan Swami soon appeared before him, and he returned to Peringottukara with the deity. After reaching Peringottukara, he consecrated and installed Vishnumaya Chathan Swamy at the place where the Kanadi Family now exists.[6] [7]
The ritual of Roopakalam is usually carried out in connection with the annual festival of Thiruvellattu, in the Malayalam month of Makaram, in the Vishnumaya temples of Kerala.[8] The Roopakalam is a form of ritual or offering to Vishnumaya, wherein colorful figures of the deity, and sometimes of his ally Karimkutty, are drawn on the ground using multicolored herbal and organic powders. After the Roopakalam is drawn, a family member who is a priest performs a puja. This is followed by a sacred ritual dance by the priest around the kalam, accompanied by music. The dancer then erases the kalam using coconut palm leaves. The coloured powders are subsequently distributed to the devotees after the ritual.
The main offerings made by the devotees include Roopakalam, Chuttuvilakku, Niramala, Brahmavellattu Karmam, Veethu, Guruthi, Divasapooja and Pushpanjali.[9]
The day of the oracle of Vishnumaya in the Malayalam month of Makaram, is with Thiravellattu Mahotsavam.[4] In the month of Midhunam, three days starting with the star Uthram are meant as the festival in connection with the Consecration Day.
The Thottampattu festival is to please Bhuvaneswary, who is in the form of mother to Lord Vishnu Maya. Bhuvaneswary is the family deity of Kanady family who was responsible for the arrival of Vishnumaya to Peringotukara village. On the day of Thottampattu, Devi is brought out from the Sreekovil, where idol of Devi is created as Kalam, followed by the chanting of various hymns.