SANKARANARAYANATEMPLE, VENKTANGU, TRICHUR DISTRICT, KERALA Introduction A prominent Sankaranarayana temple near Trichur is the SreeSankaranarayana Moorthy Temple in Venkitangu, which is located within the Toyakkavu area of theThrissur district. This temple is dedicated to the deity Sankaranarayana, aform that embodies both Lord Shiva (Sankara) and Lord Vishnu (Narayana) as one.The temple, also known as VenkitanguValiyambalam, is located at Venkitangu in Thrissur district, Kerala
Key Details: Temple Name: Sree Sankaranarayana Moorthy Temple Location: Venkitangu, near Toyakkavu, in the Thrissurdistrict Deity: Sankaranarayana (a combined form of Shiva and Vishnu) Significance: The templeis sacred to Saivites and followers of the belief that Shiva and Vishnu are asingle deity. Legend The legend of the Sree Sankaranarayana Moorthy Temple inVenkitangu states that the temple's presiding deity is the combined form ofLord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, a manifestation of Shankaranarayana, who appearedtogether to grant a joint darshan to the distressed sage Kroda Maharshi todefeat the demons Kharasura and Rattasura. Legendary Origins Kroda Maharshi's Penance: The sage Kroda Maharshi performedsevere penance to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu to conquer the demons Kharasuraand Rattasura. Shankaranarayana's Appearance: Satisfied with the sage'sdevotion, both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu appeared together at this holy spotas Shankaranarayana. Conquering the Demons: The combined form of Shankaranarayanathen vanquished the demons, freeing the world from their menace. Temple Significance The deity in the temple represents the unity of Shiva andVishnu, emphasizing their oneness. The temple is known as a sacred place for both Saivites andthose who believe that Shiva and Vishnu are the same. History Venkitangu Sri Sankaranarayana Murthi Temple is an ancienttemple constructed in 6-7thcentury - equal and straight in the same lattitude of Thrissur SriVadakkumnatha Temple, facing Sri Vadakkumnathan to East. It is said to be faced with a lot of destruction duringTippu's tyranny, It was reconstructed during 14th century and the remainintact. The Sri Kovil and other structures are still remaining withthe ancient pride. Architecture The architecture of the Sankaranarayana Swamy Temple inVenkitangu, Kerala, features a distinct style characterized by its use of woodand stone, with a focus on simplicity and intricate work on wooden elements. The temple structure typically includes components like thegarbhagriha (sanctum), mandapa (pillared hall), and shikhara/vimana (tower),common to Kerala temple architecture. Key Characteristics of Kerala Temple Architecture Materials: A significant characteristic of temples in Keralais their extensive use of wood, stone, and metals, with a strong emphasis onwood for structural and decorative elements. Design: The architecture often exhibits a unique simplicity,setting it apart from other regions of India. Components: Typical components include: Garbhagriha: The central sanctum where the deity is housed. Mandapa: A pillared hall or pavilion. Shikhara/Vimana: The tower or superstructure above thesanctum. Cultural Context: Temple architecture in Kerala integratesreligious symbolism and craftsmanship into its design. Distinctive Elements: While the overall style is of Kerala,the temple's specific design details, like a two-tier vimana and an octagonalshikhara, are mentioned in one source. Deities The main deity worshipped in the temple is Shankaranarayana.The murti is nearly 5 feet tall including the peetam. The darshanam of Venkitangu Sree Shankaranarayana is towards west. Sub deities The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Ganapathi, Vyasa Rishi and GoddessSaraswati. Daily pooja schedule Morning Opening (Nada Thurakkal): The day begins at 5:45 AMwhen the temple doors are opened for the first darshan. Malar Nivedyam: The first ritual, where puffed rice isoffered to the deity, is performed at 6:30 AM. Usha Nivedyam: The morning food offering to the deity takesplace at 8:00 AM. Ucha Pooja: The midday worship is conducted at 9:00 AM. Morning Closing: After the midday pooja, the temple closes at9:30 AM. Evening Opening: The temple reopens for evening darshan at5:45 PM. Deeparadhana: The evening lamp worship is performed at 6:30PM. Athazha Pooja: The final pooja and food offering of the dayis at 7:00 PM. Temple Closing: The temple closes for the night at 7:30 PM. Offerings Traditional Offerings: In addition to the daily schedule,devotees can make various offerings and perform other poojas. Common offeringsat the temple include: Rudrabhishekam,Trimaduram,Payasam,Dhaara Mrithyunjaya Homam,Ganapathy Homam,Archana Significance: The idol represents the combined form of LordShiva (Sankara) and Lord Vishnu (Narayana), and poojas are performed to bothdeities. Specialty It is said that during ancient times the temple was aMahakshetram. The walls of gopuram and compound walls are the only remnants of the Mahakshetram. As per history, the temple was a Veda Pathashala. Kokasandesham belonging to 14thcentury CE mentions Venkitangu Sree Shankaranarayana temple. Theshrine is also mentioned in Chatakasandesham. Temple pond A 4-acre temple pond known as Melukulam is part of thetemple. Festivals As per local history, the temple used to conduct a festivalwith kodiyettam or flag hoisting performed on Medam 10. The temple is alsoassociated with the famous ArattupuzhaPooram, a large-scale temple festival held annually on the Pooram day inthe Malayalam calendar month of Medam. Arattupuzha Pooram Timing: Celebrated annually on the Pooram day of theMalayalam calendar month of Medam. Significance: It is one of the largest Poorams in India,known for its grand display of percussion ensembles, elephant processions, andvibrant cultural programs. Activities: The festival includes a ceremonial gathering ofdeities from various temples in and around the region Devotees come to thetemple for This temple is famous for removal of all bad luck andto lead a prosperous married life. Vavu Bali Vavu Bali rites were also performed in this Venkitangu SreeSankaranarayana Temple. Management In olden days, the temple was managed by Kanippayyur,Chittoor, Emprathu, Ullannoor, Vadavarkottu, Nediyaparambu, Manthitta,Edappally and Kuroor Manas. Currently, the temple is managed by a committee formed byvillagers. Address: Sree Sankaranarayana Moorthy Temple(Valiyambalam),Venkitangu, Kerala 680510, Toyakkavu-680513. Compiled and posted byR. Gopalakrishnan 10-08-2025. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. 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