Vadakkunnathan Temple

Vadakkunnathan Temple : Kerala Temples

Vadakkkunnathan Temple, also known as Thenkailasam and Vrishabhachalam, is one of the largest and ancient Shiva temples in Kerala. It is located in the heart of Thrissur town. This temple is a classic example of the Kerala style of architecture with beautiful murals delineating graphically, various episodes from the Mahabharata. The shrines and the Koothambalam display exquisite vignettes carved in wood. According to popular lore, the temple was built by Parasurama.
Adi Sankaracharya was born, it is believed, after his parents who had remained childless for many years prayed at the temple.
The sprawling Thekkinkadu maidan, en circling the Vadakumnathan temple, is the main venue of the Thrissur Pooram.
Vadakkunnathan temple is surrounded by a massive stone wall enclosing an area of nearly 9 acres (36,000 m2). Inside this fortification there are four gopurams each facing north, south, east, and west directions.
Apart from these four gopurams there is a multi-shrined complex in the center with three principal shrines dedicated to Shiva or Vadakkunnathan, Shankaranarayana and Rama.
In the northern side there is a circular structure with the deity facing west. The figure of Shiva-Parvati faces east and is just behind Shiva, in the same shrine. The two-storied shrine of Sri Rama facing west is located in the south. Between these two srikovils stand a third one, circular and double storied in shape, dedicated to Sankaranarayana and facing west. There are mukhamandapams in front of all the three central shrines.