Azheekkal Sree Varaha Temple

Kerala, Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram

The history of Azheekkal Shree Varaha Temple is related to the history of Goud Saraswat Brahmins and their exodus. Legends say that Saraswat Brahmins were descendants of Saraswata Maharshi, son of Dadheechi Maharshi who stayed on the banks of River Saraswati in Kashmir. Skanda Purana says that Sage Parasurama brought 66 families from there to settle down at Goa, which came to know as Konkan. They were subjected multiple assaults in time. Alaudin Khilji attacked them in 1294, Mohammed Ghazni in 1357, Bijapur Sultan in 1498 and finally, the Portuguese King Toao III ordered their expulsion from Goa in 1559. While fleeing, many of these families took their kuladevatas along with them. One of the families bearing family name 'Kastoori' reached Azheekkal near Cherai and installed a temple for his family deities Varahamoorthy, Devaki and Krishnamoorthy. This is supposed to be the first temple dedicated to Varahamoorthy in Kerala. Krishna Prabhu, the family head, also installed a temple for Mareecha Yakshi, his family Yakshi, in the neighbourhood.

Legend

In 1542, the same year as the temple was installed, the Kasi Madom under the patronage of its head Yadavendra Theertha Swami was also launched. The Madom took over the control of the temple in that year itself. However, due to frequent sea erosions and flooding, the temple was shifted from its original position to where it is now. Even then, the sea water flooded the temple premises in 1723. To save the idol, the priest put them in the well. But they could not spot the well after the flood as the entire area was covered with sand. So Thirumala Devaswam gave an idol of Sree Venkitachalapathy, which was temporarily installed at the newly-built agrasala at Cherai. The location of the well with idols were identified much later and by 1835, both the idols were retrieved along with Mareecha Yakshi and installed again.

Architecture

Azheekkal Shree Varaha Temple complex has sreekovil with mukha mandapam, chuttambalam, sreebalipura, pradakshinavazhi, maha-sala, maryada, ratha veedhi and outer Brahma veedhi. In structural aspects, the temple is unique and comparable to famous South Indian temples having several enclosures like brahmaveedhi, akatte balivattom, chuttambalam, maha antarhara, seevelippura, maryada, maha maryada and ratha veedhi. A special feature of the ratha veedhi in the temple is iron railings fixed for easy movement of ratham or chariot. The temple tank is known as Sree Varaha Pushkarani and has got a mandapam in the middle. This mandapam is used for the 'aaratt' ritual.

The idols of both Lord Varahamoorthy and Lord Venkiteswara are made in pancha-loham (five-metal alloy). Both are in standing pose with conch and chakra in upper hands and lower ones in abhaya and varada poses. Varahamoorthy has to a boar's face. Idols of Maha Lakshmi and Bhoomi Devi are installed on sides of the main idols. Other idols are Lord Ganapati, Garuda, Lod Hanunan, Lord Siva (Koteswaran), Vasuki, Naga and Yakshi.

Darsan Info

Azheekkal Shree Varaha Temple is open from 5:30 AM to 11 AM and from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM.

Azheekkal Shree Varaha Temple has a large open ground in the front, unlike other Goud Saraswat Brahmin temples in Kerala, and typical of major temples of Kerala like Thrissur, Ettumanoor and Kottayam.

Darsan Dresscode

At Azheekkal Shree Varaha Temple ,Kerala traditional attire is preferred.

Famous Festival

February/March : Phalguna

May/June : Prathishta Day

November/December : Margaseersha

Culture

Azheekkal Shree Varaha Temple is believed to be the first of the Goud Saraswat Temples in the State. This marks the exodus of the Brahmin community from the northern India and their settlement along Kerala coast.