Onam And Thrikkakara Vamana Moorthy Temple In Kochi

I did not plan my visit to Thrikkakara Vamana Moorthy Temple in Kochi. I was there to witness the famous snake boat race, and what an experience it was to see those narrow boats cut through the water to the beat of drums playing on and around them. I learnt that boat races used to be a part of temple festivals. So, I decided to visit some temples in the city of Kochi on my last day of staying there.

Kerala is home to many famous Vishnu temples, like the Padmanabhaswamy temple at Thiruvananthapuram and the equally famous Guruvayur temple. At Padmanabhaswamy temple, Vishnu is sleeping in the Ksheersagar peacefully as a lotus sprouts out of his navel. At Guruvayur, he is the four-armed Vishnu holding his four Ayudhas – Shankha or Conch, Sudarshan Chakra or disc, Kaumudiki Gada or mace, and Padma or lotus flower.

At Kochi, I would meet his Vamana avatara, whose story is so rooted in the land of Kerala. And, it is the only temple dedicated to him in Kerala.

Legend of Vamana Avatara

Legend goes that the Devatas lost their kingdom to the Asura King Mahabali. Being the grandson of Prahlada, an ardent devotee of Vishnu, he ruled righteously with kindness. His people loved him. But the Devatas wanted their kingdom back, and they requested Vishnu to help them out. Vishnu came in the form of Vamana, a dwarf Brahmin holding an umbrella, when Mahabali was performing a Yagna. After the Yagna, when it was time to receive the Dakshina, Vamana asked for land that he could cover with his three steps. Despite being warned by his Guru, Mahabali agreed.

This is when Vishnu took a giant form and covered the earth and Swarga with his two steps, and asked where to keep the third step. Mahabali offered his head, and he was sent to Rasatala – one of the netherworlds, to rule there. Sri Vamana Moorthy temple at Thrikkakara is believed to be standing at the exact spot where this happened.

However, Mahabali could return to meet his people once a year. This is how the festival of Onam was born. Yes, Onam is the celebration of Mahabali visiting his land once a year.

Sri Vamana Moorthy Temple at Thrikkakara

I was visiting just before Onam, and there could not have been a better place to feel the festivity than visiting the ancient temple dedicated to Vamana Avatar of Vishnu. This Vamana Moorthy temple at Thrikkakara is the epicentre of the Onam festival in Kerala. Temple records indicate at least 1200+ years of unbroken tradition of celebrating Onam. Yes,…