Deities of Vaikom Shiva Temple

Deities of Vaikom Shiva Temple

Vaikom Shiva Temple has many deities installed in the grabhagriha like the Panachikkal Bhagavathi, Sthambha Vinayaka, Sarppa Sanidhya. The main deity here is Lord Shiva.

Vaikom Shiva Temple located in Kottayam district is one of the biggest temples located in Kerala. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Vaikkom's Shiva is fondly called Vaikkathappan. The Shiva Linga here is believed to be from the 'Treta Yuga.' Apart from the main idol the temple also houses many other idols. These idols have their own legends associated with them. Some of the idols located in the temple have been described below:

Panachikkal Bhagavathi
To the south side of the temple yard one can see a Shakteya Sanidhya called Panachikkal Bhagavathi. The legend of it origin of the idol has been described as follows:

Once, the great sage Agastya with many Maharshis was returning after worshipping Vaikkathappan on a Pradosha day. A Gandharva Kanyaka by the name Neelakundala was traveling with her family then. As she was very proud of her beauty she began laughing at the Maharshis and even the Maheswara. The sage became very angry and cursed her to become a Rakshasi . When she repented and asked for Shapa Moksha i.e. redemption of the curse the Maharshi taking pity on her said that after 86 years she will get Shapa Moksha (redemption) here in Vyaghrapadapuram.

Sthambha Vinayaka
The idol of Sthambha Vinayaka is also located in the Vaikom Shiva Temple. There is legend associated with it. Sthambha Vinayaka was in charge of the temple protection from the day Parasurama left for pilgrimage from the place. One day the cruel Rakshasi came there troubling the people and animals. The people approached Vyaghrapada Muni. He was well aware of the old story of Rakshasi and prayed to Sthambha Vinayaka. The later then ordered His servant Bhadrayush to deal with her. With the help of a Thrissul he cut the Rakshasi into three pieces. He then saw that all the three pieces transformed into the forms of three Devis. All of them then praised Vaikkathappan and Sthambha Ganapathi for granting her Moksha.

Sthamba Vinayaka then requested Vaikkathappan to grant them each a place who readily agreed. The middle piece is remaining here in the southern part of the temple yard and known as Panachikkal Bhagavati. The other Devies were sent tot Cherikkumel in the south and Koottummel in the north.

Sarppa Sanidhya
The idols of Sarppa Sanidhya are installed to the south of temple yard. The Snake Gods are worshipped here. Rituals and poojas are performed here only once a year. There was a pipal tree and a surrounding elevated platform, which was destroyed some years ago. A new tree has been planted and the platform has also been rebuilt in the recent years. Earlier Pampumekkad Illom was in charge of the poojas. Now the Parampur Bhattathiri of Thiruvalla is having the right to do the poojas in this Sarppa Sanidhya. In the Malayalam month of Kumba that falls in the month of February and March special poojas for the Sarppas are performed nowadays.

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