The Moolavar is Katkarai Appan seen standing facing south, the Thayar is Perunselva Nayaki or Vatsalyavalli. the theertha is Kapila theertha. the vimana is Pushkala vimanam. Perumal appeared to Kapila Maharishi. This place was very famous and important also known as Vamana Kshetram or the place were the foot was placed.
The place Thirukkatakarai is very beautiful and scenic. Kapila Maharishi once on his visit was so impressed that he dug a pond grew lotuses and Sengaalineer flowers and worshipped the lord Vishnu. God appeared to him and he requested the lord to continue to stay here and bless the visitors. the area around the temple is sprawling with beauty and is said to have twenty seven other shrines in its 11 acres for various gods and goddesses. each having imposing gopurams and each having its own priest and priests. the dwajasthambha was made of gold and it had a wide amphitheatre as well as an auditorium for presenting events that were prevailing in those times. The temple is a Vamana avatara shrine and even today the broad square mantapam before the magnificent huge presiding deity is impressive. The Chera king Kulasekar Varma or Kulasekar perumal as popularly known has gifted a lot of land and a lot of work here. the onam festival the state festival has its origin from this place.
The hey day when the onam festival lasted for one whole month. Each family in Kerala used to send one member of the family to this place for the festival, the 64 revenue divisions with their local chieftains and the regional representatives would come and camp here each had a place here. each had a duty assigned to him the Zamorin of Kozhikode used to take his station here. the Raja of Edapally officiated as the priest and he used to nominate the person who would perform the pooja. the festivities ended on the thiru onam day in the month of Chingam. the last ten days was specially grand. The pageantry of 64 Caparisoned elephants the decoration, the great feast, the fireworks, the people in the most joyful mood. even to imagine the happenings gives one joy even today the poovidal that is the floral decoration in the mantapam is part of what used to happen in those times the starting of the ruler of cochin proceeding to take part in the festivities itself used to be an impressive function called Atha chamayam of Thirupunithura. this is practiced even today for ten days the important final days in memory of the great festivities happening during days gone by. today the 64 divisions celebrate the festivities in their own place and each makes a clay image of thirukkatkarai appan and pooja is offered to him symbolically. Mahabali the great ruler was blessed with the Lord putting his foot on his head as the true bhakta here.It is said that Mahabali wished to visit his kingdom every year to witness his kingdom. so the people of Kerala perform the festival of onam to welcome their just king and ruler who had created a paradise on earth for them. when the festivities of Onam are celebrated today is a small replica of what used to be in olden times.
The place Thirukkatakarai is very beautiful and scenic. Kapila Maharishi once on his visit was so impressed that he dug a pond grew lotuses and Sengaalineer flowers and worshipped the lord Vishnu. God appeared to him and he requested the lord to continue to stay here and bless the visitors. the area around the temple is sprawling with beauty and is said to have twenty seven other shrines in its 11 acres for various gods and goddesses. each having imposing gopurams and each having its own priest and priests. the dwajasthambha was made of gold and it had a wide amphitheatre as well as an auditorium for presenting events that were prevailing in those times. The temple is a Vamana avatara shrine and even today the broad square mantapam before the magnificent huge presiding deity is impressive. The Chera king Kulasekar Varma or Kulasekar perumal as popularly known has gifted a lot of land and a lot of work here. the onam festival the state festival has its origin from this place.
The hey day when the onam festival lasted for one whole month. Each family in Kerala used to send one member of the family to this place for the festival, the 64 revenue divisions with their local chieftains and the regional representatives would come and camp here each had a place here. each had a duty assigned to him the Zamorin of Kozhikode used to take his station here. the Raja of Edapally officiated as the priest and he used to nominate the person who would perform the pooja. the festivities ended on the thiru onam day in the month of Chingam. the last ten days was specially grand. The pageantry of 64 Caparisoned elephants the decoration, the great feast, the fireworks, the people in the most joyful mood. even to imagine the happenings gives one joy even today the poovidal that is the floral decoration in the mantapam is part of what used to happen in those times the starting of the ruler of cochin proceeding to take part in the festivities itself used to be an impressive function called Atha chamayam of Thirupunithura. this is practiced even today for ten days the important final days in memory of the great festivities happening during days gone by. today the 64 divisions celebrate the festivities in their own place and each makes a clay image of thirukkatkarai appan and pooja is offered to him symbolically. Mahabali the great ruler was blessed with the Lord putting his foot on his head as the true bhakta here.It is said that Mahabali wished to visit his kingdom every year to witness his kingdom. so the people of Kerala perform the festival of onam to welcome their just king and ruler who had created a paradise on earth for them. when the festivities of Onam are celebrated today is a small replica of what used to be in olden times.
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