THRIKODITHANAM PANDAVAS

Prathishta / Presiding Deity : Pandavas
Upadevatha / Sub Deities : xx
District: Kottayam
Thaluk: xx
Panchayath: xx
Thanthri: xx
Trustee: Travancore Devaswam Board


Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Kshetram, also known as Adbhuta Narayanan Temple, is a famous temple located at Thrikodithanam, about 2 km from Changanacherry in Kottayam District. It is one of the five Pancha-Pandava temples in Kerala, dating back to the 9th century. This ancient temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and is considered among the 108 Vishnu temples in India. The presiding deity is Adbhuta Narayanan, made of Aanjana-kallu. The speciality is Narayanan is presiding along with his consort Karpagavalli.

You can find sub deities here namely, Krishna, Narasimha (incarnation of vishnu), Siva, Ganapathy, Nagas and Kshethrapalan.

It is believed that Sahadeva (youngest of pandavas) installed this temple.

Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple is mentioned in the poems and hymns composed by the greatest of Alwar saints, Nammalvar, in the year 800. The temple is noted for the mural paintings and stone inscriptions. Circular walls are adorned with beautiful mural paintings and the scenes from the popular pot dance and umbrella dance. These paintings also give an idea of the bygone era. The main attraction is the 16 panels of beautiful mural paintings in the circular wall around the sanctum.

The double storied sanctum is famous for its architectural excellence. Aadhisthaana, the base of the sanctum, is made of three ft high rounded granite stones. These base stones bear about 13 ancient inscriptions in the Vaatezutthu Tamil script. Copper tile plates are used to cover the sloping roof. The main entrance of the shrikovil is reached by four steps of polished black granite. Nalambalam, the space around the sanctum, has a sacred platform called Beli Kallu. Dwaja Sthamba, the ceremonial flag mast is another draw.

The boundary wall of this temple is believed to have been raised in AD 700. There is a beautiful pound close to the eastern entrance of the temple. Kazhivetti-kallu, a strange granite statue is positioned between the eastern entrance and the pond, and attracts a large number of devotees. This granite statue is of a man flat on his back, held up stiff and straight on a stone pillar about six ft high. Only his waist rests on the pillar, rest of the body is unsupported. Sri Subramanya Temple is the nearby attraction