Sri Janardanaswamy Temple — Attraction in Kerala

Moolavar : Sree Janadanaswamy Some of the salient features of this temple are…. The temple faces east with a Dwajasthambam, balipeedam in a mandapam. The balipeeda mandapa pillars are with Donor’s images and Pavai vilakku, Natarajar, Karaikal Ammaiyar, Kali, Krishna, Rathi, Manmathan, and Pichadanar. Are on the pillars of balipeeda mandapam. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar sanctum sanctorum is in the circular Sreekovil. In between the nalambalam, pradakshinaptha, Thulasi madam, Spatamatrikas, ashtadikpalakas in the form balipeedas covered with brass plates/ mouldings. In the nalambalam outer side are the Shiva Temple, Sastha, Vinayagar, and Nagars. ARCHITECTURE Gajalakshmi stucco image is after entrance mandapam and back side entrance of nalambala entrance top. The balipeeda mandapa front side may be constructed in recent years. The Janardanaswamy shrine is Circular on plan. The temple was built with stone from adhistanam to Prastaram. The adhistanam consists of jagathy, threpatta kumuda and kapotam. The Bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of Brahmakantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi. A conical, eka tala vimanam is on the prastaram. The namaskara mandapam with a pyramidal roof is in front of sanctum sanctorum, which is open on four sides. The nalambala with entrance on four sides form an enclosure for the Sreekovil. The nalambalam outer sub shrines are constructed with stone from adhistanam to prastaram and the super structure was built with brick and cement. The adhistanam is of pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, three patta kumudam, and pattikai. The koshtas are with bas reliefs of Maha Vishnu and ornamental works. HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS It is believed that the temple belongs to 1st Century CE Pandya period. (But the present structure may belongs to 12th to 13th century Pandya period). Later renovated during Venadu Kings and now under the control of Travancore Devaswom board. The temple as we see it now was built in the 13th century. According to a Tamil inscription in Vattezhuthu, found on the South base of the central shrine of Sri Janardhana Swamy, King Vira Padmanaba Marthanda Varma Thiruvadi (1240-1252 CE), of the Venad Dynasty, converted the temple of the Bhattaraka of Varkalai Udhayamarthandapuram to stone from Adhistanam to Prastaram. He further had the Sri Vimana covered with copper sheets, renewed the Namaskara mandapa/Mukha Mandapa and consecrated the temple on Karkataka Rasi, Wednesday, 21st day of the Rishabha Month, in the Kollam Year 425 (1252CE), (2/1084,T.A.S Vol 4, Page 151). Another inscription found on the North base of the mandapa in front of the Janardanaswamy shrine, containing a Sanskrit verse, written in Grantha characters. This inscription has been interpreted in depth by Prof Kielhorn in Epigraphia Indica Volume 4. It says King Goda Marthanda, had the god Hari, and bathed by Brahmins around mid-day on Thursday 11th May, in the Kollam Year 655 (1480 CE). The inscription mentions Varkala as Vayka. (Prof Kielhom is of the impression that it could also be referring to Vaikkom) An inscription in the East prahara, belonging to Raja Ravi Kulasekara Perumal, of Attingal Swarupam, who performed Hiranyagarbha and Tulabhara in Tiruvananthapuram, speaks about repairs executed to the temple in Kollam year 700 (1525 CE). An inscription on the East and North base of the Dwajasthamba, belonging to King Rama Varma (Kollam Year 1071-1896 CE) mentions that the fdwajasthambam was installed by the King on Thursday, the 4th day of the Makara month, when Sun was in Mrigasirsha. The temple has an ancient bell removed from a shipwreck, donated by the captain of a Dutch vessel which sank near Varkala without casualties. The bell inscription reads as “Peter von Belson' and 'Michelle Evarald' and the year inscribed as 1757 CE. One of the inscriptions indicates that the temple was partially renovated during the reign of Umayamma Rani who ruled this region in 1677–84 CE. Ref Temples of Kerala and Alayam...

Several myths, legends and stories are associated with the origin and history of the temple. Most popular among them is the story related to Lord Brahma and Sage Narada.  Once lord Brahma descended to earth to perform a Yaga (fire sacrifice). He chose the present Varkala as the Yaga bhoomi (place to perform the sacrifice).  The striate of lignite and mineral waters found in Varkala are attributed to this sacrifice. Engrossed with the ritual Brahma forgot his divine job of creation. Lord Vishnu became aware of this situation and came to Varkala to remind Lord Brahma about his duty. Lord Vishnu entered the Yagashala in the disguise of an old man.  The Brahmins assisting Lord Brahma received the old man and gave him food. But whatever he ate, his hunger was not satiated. Lord Brahma’s assistants went and told him about it. Realising that the old man is none other than Lord Vishnu Brahma came immediately to see him but was shocked to see Vishnu eating aabhojanam.

Lord Brahma then prevented Lord Vishnu from eating it and told him, “Lord, if you eat it, then the final deluge will swallow this world. “ Lord Vishnu then requested Lord Brahma to stop the Yaga and recommence his job of creation.

One day Sage Narada followed by Lord Vishnu was walking in the sky over Varkala. Lord Brahma who came there saluted Lord Vishnu. The nine prajapathis (Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Vasishtha, Prachetas or Daksha, Bhrigu (Narada is the tenth prajapathi, they are the ten lords first created by Brahma) were watching this. who were watching this started laughing for they couldn’t see Lord Vishnu. They thought that Lord Brahma was saluting his own son Sage Narada. Then Lord Brahma corrected them. They felt sorry at having committed a sinful deed. Lord Brahma told them that the proper place to pray for their redemption would be shown to them by sage Narada. Sage Narada threw his Valkalam (cloth made of deer’s skin) that he was wearing towards the earth. The Valkalam landed in a place which was later called by the name Varkala. Later Lord Vishnu made a pond there using his Chakra (wheel) at the request of Narada for the Prajapathis who wanted it to do the atonement. The Prajapathis did thapas ther e and were pardoned for their sins.

The janardhana (Janardhana is another name of Lord Vishnu) temple is believed to have been built by the devas. But this temple became dilapidated and was later reconstructed by a Pandya king. The king was once affected by a ghost. He went on a pilgrimage but couldn’t cure himself from the sway of the evil spirit. When he came to the present day Varkala, he saw the remnants of a dilapidated temple by the side the sea. He prayed to God promising he would rebuild the temple there. Next day he had a dream in which he was told to go to the sea and stand near the dilapidated temple. Nearby he would see huge amount of flowers floating in the sea, if he searches there he would get an idol. The present Janardhana idol was recovered from the sea by him. He built the temple and laid down the rules for maintenance of the temple.

The idol of Janardhana has Aabhojana in its right hand. People believe that this hand is rising slowly toward his mouth. The day that the idol Janardhanaswami eats the aabhojana the kaliyuga will be over and the world will face the great deluge.

The Dutch Bell There is a huge bell placed in this temple on which it is marked as 1757 (probably the year in which it was cast). The story behind this bell goes like his. It is said that the bell was offered to the temple as an oblation. While sailing to Europe a Dutch ship refused to move as it passed by the temple. Hearing the chiming of the bell from the temple the captain of the ship promised to offer the bell in his ship as an oblation to Janardhana swamy if he allows the ship to continue its journey. Soon a wind came and moved the ship and the crew safely to the next port. The captain returned and kept...

Janardhana Swami Temple, Varkala, Kerala

The presiding deity of this temple is Sri Janardhana Swami is in standing position facing east. His right hand is positioned as if he is performing "Aachamanam" i.e. it is raised towards his mouth. The day, the idol is able to eat the aabhojana from his right hand; the world will face the great deluge. People believe that over years this hand is raising slowly.

The temple is about 2000 years old. At the entrance to the inner shrine are the idols of Hanuman and Garuda on either side and in the main shrine is the idol of Sri. Janardana with Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi.

One of the inscriptions indicates that the temple was improved during the reign of Umayamma Rani, who ruled this region during 1677-84 A.D.

In the south-western corner and on the north-eastern side of the outer enclosure are the shrines of Sasta and Shiva with Nandi.

In times of yore, Brahma while performing a Yaga at Varkala was so much immersed in the Yaga that he forgot his job of creation. To remind Brahma, Vishnu came as a old man. The Brahmins assisting Brahma, received and fed the old man. But his hunger was not satiated. Brahma’s assistants informed Brahma about this. Brahma understood that the guest was Vishnu himself. He approached Vishnu,and found him trying to eat an Aabhojanam. Brahma prevented Vishnu from eating it and told him, “If you eat it, then the final deluge will swallow this world. “ Vishnu, then requested Brahma to stop the Yaga and recommence his job of creation.

After this one day Sage Narada followed by Lord Vishnu was walking in the sky over Varkala. Lord Brahma who came there saluted Lord Vishnu. The nine prajapathis who saw only sage Narada laughed at Lord Brahma, because they thought that Lord Brahma was saluting his own son Sage Narada. Lord Brahma corrected them. They felt sad at having committed a sinful deed. Lord Brahma told them that the proper place to pray for their redemption would be shown to them by sage Narada. Sage Narada threw the Valkala (deer’s skin) that he was wearing towards the earth. It fell in the present Varkala. Hence the town got the name Varkala.

The Prajapathis wanted a pond to do the atonement. Sage Narada requested lord Vishnu, who made a pond there; using his Chakra (wheel). The Prajapathis mediated there and were pardoned for their sins. It is believed that the devas constructed a temple of Lord Vishnu there and were worshipping the Lord Janardhana.

But over a period of time the temple dilapidated. During this time the Pandya king who was affected by a ghost, went on a pilgrimage but no where he was cured. When he came to the present day Varkala, he saw the remnants of a dilapidated temple by the side the sea. He prayed God saying that he would rebuild the temple there. Next day he had a dream and he was told to go to the sea and stand near the dilapidated temple and that he would see huge amount of flowers floating in the sea, and if he searched there he would get an idol without the left hand.

He was instructed to make a golden hand and attach it to the idol and build a temple round it. The present Janardhana idol was recovered from the sea by him. He built the temple and laid down the rules for maintenance of the temple.

There are small temples of Lord Shiva, Ganapathi, Sastha and Naga Devatha in this temple.

On the southern side of the temple two bells are tied. There is a story about it. It seems one Dutch ship was passing this way and suddenly the ship refused to move in spite of all efforts. The people told the captain of the ship to tie a bell in the Janardhana temple. The captain and his assistant came ashore and tied the bells. As soon as they tied the bells, the ship started moving. The names inscribed in the bell are Peter von Belson and Michelle Evarald.

Photos by Viswas Menon © Viswas Menon Write up compiled by...