VAIKKATHAPPAN TEMPLE

VAIKKATHAPPAN TEMPLE

This temple is located at Vaikkom, Kottayam Dist., of Kerala.

Kharan, a demon, upon receiving advice from his Guru went to attain Moksham. He went to Chiambaram Nataraja temple and went into deep prayer to Lord Shiva after fully immersing in a tank nearby.   After so many years, eventhough he had undisturbed prayer, Lord Shiva was pleased and appeared before him.  Shiva blessed and gave whatever woes he asked.  God gave three idols (Sivalingas).  He asked Kharan to worship those idols for Moksham.  Kharan started returning to his place with all the 3 lingas - 1 in his right hand - 1 in his left hand - 1 under his neck with his chin holding it.  When he crossed some distance he felt tired and decided to take rest.  So he kept the lingas down and took rest.  After a while Khran started and tried to lift the lingas but nothing was coming up. 

Kharan understood Lord's intention and he heard from his inner soul that could be the time for his Moksha and the three idols were taken care of well by someone. Maharshi Vyaghrapaada was following Kharan all the way behind, saw him and Kharan asked the sage to worship, take care of those three idols and attained Moksham. The idol which was on Kharan's right hand is believed to be at Vaikom and the left is at Ettumanoor temple. The one which had carried is at Kaduthuruthi. Surprising but, have to believe that, the distances from the mid point Kaduthuruthi to Vaikom and Ettumanoor are the same. Some people say that, Kharan had brought the idol at Kaduthuruthi was between his teeth and the place's name was "Kadichchiruththi" Kadichu ï(Bitten)+ Iruththi (Made to sit) before and, as time passed it became Kaduthuruthi. In Vrischikam, the Malayalam month, on an Ashtami day, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi appeared to Maharishi.  The Vaikkathashtami is celebrated during Vaikom temple festival in Vrischikam. Annadhanam was served to all that day.  Thisy is the first of its kind in the world. Even tody this is served to all daily since Vaikkathappan is Annadhanam. Devotees believe that, Lord Vaikathappan appears in three forms. Every morning as Dhakshinamoorthy, Noon he becomes Kiratha Moorthi, Shivashakthi Panchakshari during the evening.

The Vaikom Temple's western door will never be opened. There were eight or more families who ruled or governed Vaikom temple's daily routines.   In one among those families there was one Brahmin guy who never used to listen to elders and he never respected anyone, not believed even God.Once when he was coming to the temple, it was the noon and the Main priest had closed all the doors for rituals. Nobody other than the priests is allowed inside during that special time. The young guy came inside by opening the western door and also tried to make disturbances to the rituals. While after his performances he was going out through the western door, a snake bit him and he somehow went outside and died there itself. The astrologers or the heads checked on this incident which was not auspicious at all and found in Devaprasnam that, the Lord does not wish to have the western door opened anymore. The door was closed and locked forever since then and still is not opened by anyone. 

Vaikom Mahadeva Temple is situated in a land of eight acres. The inner shrine has two chambers. To enter into one has to cross all the six steps through the main entrance in the eastern side. The steps denote - Kamam, Krodham, Lobham, Moham, Madam and Matsaryam. It is believed that, the one who overcomes all those can only see Lord Vaikathappan. There is a huge lamp behind Lord Vaikathappan which is meant for Goddess Parvathi and it is believed that, lighting the lamp (Purakil Vilakku) morning or evening brings prosperity in one's life. But, according to the sources, the bookings for this offering have been listed till 2021 as of now. The lamp in front of the Lord also is never put off, it will be always be filled with oil for days and nights. Lord Vaikathappan is known as Annadana Prabhu