Unlike
other Siva temples, where the Iinga type moolaver is facing east Lord
Udyaneswara of Kochi is facing west as if looking at the Atabian Sea.
The temple of Udyaneswara is now a KEEZEDAM, a subordinate temple
under
the
management of the Cochin Thirumala Devaswam.
In
the SUKASANDESAKAVYA of Lakshmidasa, the earliest and foremost SANDESA
KAVYA from Kerala belonging to the Iatter half of the 13th century
mention is made of a Siva temple in a village called
Trikkanamathilakam which was mentioned there as "a city known
throughout the world, as Gunapura beautiful by nature and the
place of sport of (Siva), the consort of Parvathi." (Stanza 1
Part 1)
Dr.
Geeta Pattabhiraman in her critical Edition on SUKASAANDESA:published by
Higginbothems Ltd., Madras 1984 says "....the Saraswatha Brahmins
recovered the idol and established the idol in their temple in
Cochin." (Pagde102).
Every
Monday in the evening the local people illuminate the DEEPASTHAMBA,
the
lamp-post placed in front of the temple. Mahasivaratri which falls in
the month
of February/March is
the main festival in this temple. It is celebrated on a grand scale.
Important
VAZHIVADUS (offerings) performed in this temple are :
RUDRABHISHEKAM, PUSHPANJALI, SWAYAMVARA PUSHPANJALI, RUDRA HAVANAM,
CHANDANA
LEPANAM, BILWARCHANA
etc. There is a belief that by performing SWAYAMVARA'
PUSHPANJALI it will
result in getting suitable husband to grown up girls by the
blessings of Siva when
delay occurs to get them married. Devotees in large number
throng to this temple
to got DARSAN of Siva during the PRADOSHA POOJA
specially perforned at
evening time on the 13th day of the bright and dark halves
(THRAYODASI) of every
lunar calender month. To appease Lord Siva JALADHARA a
continuous flow of
water through DARBA grass from a vessel kept over the idol
of Siva is performed
all the 24 hours of the day.
On
the Seventh day in the evening of the two annual ARATU festivals In the
Thirumala Devaswom Temple one in the month of VRICHIGAM
(November/December) and the other In MEDAM (April/May), the UTSAVER
Image (processional deity) of Lord Venkateswara is taken on Ashwa Vahana
(Horse Vehicle) with all paraphernalia from the main temple to this
temple to meet Siva of Udyaneswara and also to join with Him in a PALLI
VETTAI (hunting),
The
temple was renovated and re-installation to the deity was done by the
management of Cochin Thirumala Devaswom In the year 1967 A. D. The
GARBHA GRIHA (SANCTUM SANCTORUM) of this temple is of NAGARA style of
Hindu temple Architecture. There is a MANTAPA in front of the temple and
a Nandi (Bull) vehicle of siva which is of KRISHNA SHEELA (black granite
stone) installed in the MANTAPAM. |
