GOSRIPURAM
Cochin Thirumala Devaswom Temple
Kochi-682 002

 
 
Cochin Thirumala Devaswom

       HISTORY OF THIRUMALA DEVAR A GLIMPSE

Sree Venkatachalapathi Thirumala Devar idol believed as Swayamboo, worshipped by Saluva Narasimha Raya of Vijayanagar, after the ruin of the city was brought to Cochin by Swami Vijayeendra Tirtha of Kumbakonam Mutt in 16th Century A. D.

Swami Vijayeendra Tirtha  handed over the resplendent idol of Thirumala Devar to the Gowda Saraswat Mahajanams  of Cochin who performed Kanakabhishekam under the leadership of Mala Pai.

Swami Sudheendra Tirtha, disciple of Swami Vijayeendra Tirtha performed the first 'Prathishta'­installation of the deity in the Cochin Temple in 1599 A. D.

        Raja Veera Kerala Varma of Cochin granted certain rights and privileges to the Mahajanams of Cochin in the year 1627, the order inscribed on a copper plate.

In 1644 H. H. Srimad Upendra Thirtha Swami of Sri Kashi Mutt Samsthan gave directions and instructions for the performance of rituals and for the administration of the Temple.

In 1662 when the Portuguese attacked the Thirumala Devaswom Temple the deity was removed to  Udayamperur for safety and was brought back to Cochin in 1663 when the Dutch defeated the Portuguese.

The temple was renovated and in 1719 Swami Devendra Thirtha of Kasi Mutt along with His, disciple Swami Madhavendra Thirtha performed the Second 'Prathishta' to Thirumala Deity.

             In 1791 the deity was removed to Alleppey due to depredations of Saktan Thampuran, then Raja of Cochin.

Sree Venkatachalapathi idol was brought back to Cochin on 8th February 1853 from Alleppey and the 3rd Prathishta, in the present reconstructed temple, was performed by Swami Bhuvanendra Thirtha of Kasi Mutt along with his disciple Swami Varadendra Tirtha on 9th May 1881.

  In the Chattorn of 1051 M. E. (1976 A. D.) H. 14. Bhuvanendra Thirtha Swarny laid down Rules and Regulations for the administration of the Temple.

31 years following Third Prathistta were glorious. Sri Janardhan Shenoy and Sri Hari Shenoy were the luminaries of a family which gave Sri Lakshmi Devi in marriage to Sree Venkatasha and dedicated the Gold Garuda Vahanarn besides other contributions to add to the assets of the Temple.

In 1912, this richest temple on the coast was handed over to the Maharaja of Cochin due to internecine quarrels among the administrative hierarchy.

During the 37 years that followed, Mahajanam, treated as aliens in their own land', had no voice in the affairs of the temple. Anapandal and Seevelipura were constructed but some gold was sold in auction. Period of financial decline. Shashtiabdi of Third Pratishta was celebrated by a Committee of Mahajanam under special dispensation from the Government.

Through mediation of our Paramaguru H. H. Sukritheendra Thirtha Swamiyar and our Revered Guru H. H. Sudheendra Thirtha Swamiyar, the administration of the temple was transferred to a Committee of Mahajanam in July 1949. H. H. Srimad Sukrithecndra Thirtha Swamiyar attained Samadhi on 27-11-1124 M.E.

              First elections to the Devaswom Committee under,the Scheme of 1949 were held in 1951.

        1981 is the centenary year of the 3rd Prathishta of Sri Venkatachalapathi in the Cochin Temple.

H. Srimath Sudheendra Tirtha Swami of Kasi Mutt Samsthan performed 'Sahasra Kalasabhishekam' to the Deity on 16-5-1981.


Gosripuresa  is another incarnation of Lord of Seven Hills. According to Legend Saluva Narsimha Raya, The King of Vidhya Nagar (Vijaya Nagar), an ardent devotee of Lord Venkatachalapathy used to have His Darsan everyday climbing seven hills by foot. In his oldage once when ascending the hills he fell down and could not advance any further. He cried out calling Holy Names of Seshadrinatha. The God appeared before The King, His Bhakta and consoled him saying that he need not climb the hills in future as He has decided to be with the king during the rest of his life. As appraised by the god the King returned and got a Temple constructed in no time. As per God's indication the sculptor approached him. He was entrusted with all required materials for carving the idol. The sculptor laid before the king a single condition that none should even peep in while the work was in progress; any one could enter only after the specified hour. In strict accordance the king himself entered the room at the scheduled time and found the beautiful idol of Venkatachalapathy shining in divine light, but the sculptor missing. There sounded a celestial message (Ashireeri) that it was God himself who had appeared again before the king. The auspices time & sign was intimated for consecration. All was set for the Cere mony on the solemn day. A small piece of wood from the grips of a flying bird fell on the huge drums kept ready, The sound was mistook and consecration was carried out. After a short while the drums began to sound automatically. The king fell disheartened knowing that the consecration was mistimed. His ishtadeva again pacified him with the words that He would remain with the king till the end of king's life journey and later leave for a place at Cochin to be known as Gosripuram. The king had his rest of happy life and a peaceful death.

      The King's followers drifted from Dharmic Life. Slowly law and order vanished from that land. There arose Chaos & Confussion. The temple priest with divine inspiration placed the idol in near by well and left the place. A wild fire broke out; engulfed the land & converted everything into ashes.  



      Swami Vijayendra Thirtha happend to tread that way while on their Dharma Digvijaya. A serpent blocked their way and led them to the well. Swamiji noticed the idol in surprise. They picked up the idol and the serpent disappeared. They placed that Vigraham also in their devaram. After some time Swamiji arrived at Cochin. The Localities (Konkani Gowda Saraswatha Brahmins) accorded a warm welcome to Swamiji. The Chieftain of The Samaj Mala Pai fascinated by The Charm, with the support of whole Samaj received the idol in exchange with a Kanakabhishekam. At the time of departure the Swarniji placed the whole gold before the deity and urged the Localities, to construct a Temple and consecrate the idol in it. When the temple was ready Swami Sudhindra Thirtha disciple of Swami Vijayendra Thirtha conducted the Pratishta at the request of the People. The localities were named Mahajanam and locality Gosripuram by the Swamiji.

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