Ernakulam Thirumala Devaswom
Location : Ernakulam
About The Temple :
Saraswaths, who lived on the banks of the great mythical and extinct river Saraswathi migrated to Thrihotrapura (Thirhut,Bihar) and to Gomachala (Goa), and down to Ernakulam along with other coastal settlements in Kerala. The Saraswaths prefix the word ‘Gowd’ to their name, meaning that they belong to the five classes of Panchagowdas, northern Brahmins. The Gowda Saraswaths were motivated to propagate the Venkateswara cult by the Great Vaishnava Guru Madhwacharya. The idol with the image of the Lord Venkatesha of Thirumalai, Tirupati is installed in the Sanctum Santorum with all the paraphernalia and appurtenances like Vahanas, palanquins and a temple pond with a mandap in the center. The idols installed by the Gowda Sarawaths are generally small to facilitate the safe removal at the times of emergency. Gowda Saraswaths left their land, homes and their worldly fortunes at Goa due to religiou~ persecution by the Portuguese and fled from there with their Kuladevatas to save their religion, Dharma and culture. They later established their own temples entirely with the funds and labour of the members of the community. The rulers of the land also gave them shelter and encouragement with special rights and privileges within their particular Sanketam of their settlement.
In the matter of the management in the affairs of the Devaswom, the Gowda Saraswath Brahmins (GSB), followes the principles of Democracy. “All disputes are to be settled by the majority of the Mahajans (votaries) and all who disagree with the majority are to be considered as forming part of the majority”.
Out of eight families who came to Emakulam, the prominent among them was Shri. Devaresa Prabhu under whose leadership the chief among the priests, Shri. Damodharachari, joined together in a meeting of the community and decided to construct a small temple of their own. Cheranalloor Karta, who was a ruler and a prominent landlord gave land for construction of the temple in 902 M.E. (1727 AD). On the ‘Uthrattadi’ star day in the month of Mithunum, a temple of . the Lord Venkatachalapathi with consorts Bhudevi and Sreedevi was consecrated. One festival idol and Bali Vigraha were given by the main cultural settlement at Cochin Thirumala Devaswom(TD). In the Sanctum Santorum, the Sthapana Vigraha(prime idol) is placed at .the top, the Uthsava Murthi at the center and, Shri Mahalakshmi idol at the bottom.
On the Nirarthi comer Sri Mahaganapathy was placed. In 928 M.E, Mandavana family dedicated a Hanuman idol, in the mandapa facing north In 1000 M.E Kappashery Dasa Shenoy family dedicated Sri. Mahalakshmi idol on the northern side of the mandap facing south. The temple was renovated and the agarshalas were constructed around the temple. The temple was reconsecrated for the second time in 955 M.E (1780A.D). In The year 1008, the Dhwaja Prathishta was done and in 1072 M.E (!897 A.D), the third Puna-Prathishta Mahotsav was done with great pomp and show. It was one of the great incidents and occasion in the history of the community as Srimad Varadendra Thirtha Swamiji of Sri.Kashimutt blessed this occasion. The Maharaja of Cochin had a Darshan of the deity and offered his prayers at the lotus feet. His Highness adored the wooden carvings depicting the stories from the epics, Ramayana and M ahabharata and other Puranas. Again in ME 1132 (1957), reconsecration was done with much fanfare. Sahasra Kalashabhishekam was perfonned in the holy presence of Srimad Sudhindra Thirta Swamiji of Sri. Kashimutt. To commemorate this grand occasion, Eastern Gopuram was reconstructed.in ME 1137 (1962). All the agarshalas, the mandapashalas were renovated in a double storied structure. The 250th anniversary of the temple was celebrated under the guidance of His Holiness Srimad Sudheendra Thirtha Swamiji in 25th January 1977. To celebrate this occasion, a Gopuram, with beautiful statues and aesthetic architectural features was constructed and it has in due course become a center of attraction. A Garuda temple was con: structed inside the temple facing East at the North- west side in 1986. A Gold Garuda Vahana was dedicated to Lord Venkatachalapathi, for conducting Garuda Vahana pooja in 1989. The third Centenary celebration took place in 1997. To mark this tryst with destiny, a Swama Palanquin is being constructed and the work is still in progress (75% complete). Devaswom is having an elephant named ‘Gajendra’. The temple pond Mandap, the Yakshi temple, the pakashalas were renovated. A befitting office complex and a Satram with modern amenities was constructed for the comfort of devotees visiting and offering poojas at the lotus feet of the Lord. The ARATT festival is conducted on the ‘Revathi’ Star day in the month of ‘Makaram’ every year, where devotees in thousands do congregate and offer their prayers. The entrance from M.G.Road to the T.D.Sannidhi road was decorated with an arch attractive with concrete idols and statues depicted on it and the Samarpanam of the same was on 5th day of festival in 10.02.2005. The temple is having the following vahanams on which the ulsavamoorthies are taken on festival n and other important function days. 1. Pushpakavimanam 2. Garuda Vahanam (painted, silver, gold) 3. Hanuman Vahanam 4. Hamsa vahanam 5. Sesha Vahanam 6. lravatha (white elephant) Vahanam 7. Aswa Vahanam 8. Surya Vahanam 9. Palanquin (wooden & silver). The important festival poojas are conducted on the following days Chaithrasudha prathipad (Samsarapadov), Aashada Ekadashi (Parab), Nagapanchami, Upakarmam (Suthappunav), Ashtami rohini, Agrayanam, Vinayaka Chaturithi, Anathavritham, Mahalaya amavasya (Mahlu), Navaratri (Mannami), Vijayadashmi, Shamipoojanam, Karthikavritham, Deepavali, Karthikanamdashmi, Uthanadwadashi (Tulsi pooja), Vanabhojanam, Karthika Pournami, Madhavanavami, Prathishtadina mahotsavam (Arat festival), Vasanthotsavam.
At present. Managing Adhikaris, Sri.P.Rangadasa Prabhu and Sri.P.S Jayaprakash Prabhu are handling the management of the devaswom affaires along with the committee members, Sri.T.G.Kamalnath Shenoy, Sri. V.Rajkumar Kamath and Sri V. Shivanada Bhat .
Ernakulam Thirumala Devaswom, T.D. Road, Kochi – 682 035, Ph: 0484 2361395, 2369637
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