The Protector Of Kids-Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple... Contd

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Arjuna then went to the Yama Loka and enquired Lord Yama about the child who was totally unaware of child's death. Arjuna then decided to give up his life when Krishna intervened and took Arjuna to "Vaikuntha", There, they saw all the kids of the Brahmin, playing around Maha Vishnu. Arjuna then prayed to Mahavishnu to stop return the kids to the Brahmin readily returned the kids to Arjuna, along with an idol of Vishnu.

The brahmin was overjoyed to find his children. The family of the present Tanthri of the Temple. Puliyannoor Mana is said to be the descendants of the Brahmin.

Arjuna then requested Lord Ganesha to find a suitable place to install the idol. Ganesha came to a place called the 'Poorna Veda Puram', the present Tripunithura and attracted by the holiness of this ancient Vedic Village, himself occupied the place. It is said that the angry Arjuna kicked Ganesha aside to the southern side of the sanctum Lord Ganesha still occupies the southern part of the sanctum, unlike the common tradition, where Ganesha has a separate shrine at the south-western side of the inner prakara and installed the idol in that holy place, situated amidst mustard fields.

Valia Vilakku

It is said Arjuna plucked some mustard seeds and crushed them to get oil for lighting lamp in front of the idol. Devotees consider the evershining "Valia Vilakku" situated in front of the idol, as the oil lamp lit by Arjuna. It is said that the warm oil of this traditional lamp possesses great medicinal value.

Keda Vilakku

Inside the Sreekovil, there is a "Keda Vilakku"(lamp which burns forever) which is the first lamp lit by Arjuna during the original Pratishta. It is said that Arjuna gathered gingelly seeds from a nearby place, made oil out of the seeds and lit the lamp. Hence, the present Vazhipaadu of Sree Poornathrayeesa is the 'Olpenna' (offering of gingelly oil) to commemorate that occasion. This is said to be the most important Vazhipaadu in this temple.

The Temple

The temple faces east. In the year 1920, the entire structure other than the Western Gopuram was destroyed in an accidental fire. Fortunately the devotees could save the main idol. The Western Gopuram, which survived the devastating fire of 1920, is believed to have been built by 'Bhootaganas', overnight. The age of this structure, still remains a mystery.

Festivals
Perhaps, Poornathrayeesa temple is the only temple in Kerala, which has the maximum number of festivals.

Every Malayalam year begins here with an eight day long festival which is dedicated to the sculptor who had molded the Panchaloha (5 metal – gold, silver, copper, bronze and iron) of Sree Poornathrayeesan. It is believed that, as the molten panchaloha was cooling into the shape of the Idol, the gifted sculptor, who was an ardent devotee of Poornathrayeesa, merged himself with the Lord. Tradition has it that the 'chaitanya', or life force of the idol is initially given by the sculptor. So the eyes of the image was left unveiled. This festival is popularly known as Moosari Utsavam which comes in every year during the months Aug-Sept.

The annual, 8 day long festival Vrischikotsavam, celebrated in Nov-Dec, is conducted as a cultural and religious festival. The fourth day of this festival bears another importance as Thrikketta purappaadu. According to the anecdotes, the great Villvamangalam swamiyar visited the temple and found the divine presence in the procession and not at the sanctum-sanctorum. From that day onwards devotees donate money to the god considering the direct presence of Poornathrayeesa in the procession and more time is alloted for night procession of the deity.

Hence lets turn to the merciful Lord to shower His grace for all child issues.