Vaikkathashtami l വൈക്കത്തഷ്ടമി നാളിൽ...l Vaikom Ashtami l Temples of Kerala

വൈക്കത്തഷ്ടമി നാളിൽ... l Vaikkathashtami l Vaikom Ashtami of Vaikom Sree Mahadeva Temple l Temples of Kerala l Keralascope Prime TV

Vaikkathashtami or Vaikom Ashtami is a popular temple festival dedicated to Vaikkathappan or Lord Shiva of Vaikom Sree Mahadeva Temple. The Vaikom Sree Mahadeva Temple is located in the heart of Vaikom town in Kottayam district, Kerala state, India. Lord Shiva is worshipped in Vaikom temple in the form of Shiva Linga, and is believed to be formed during the Treta Yuga.

The temple is one of the oldest temple in Kerala and one among the 108 Shiva Temples created by Lord Parasurama. It is considered that the original temple was constructed by ‘Perunthachan’ in AD 300 and reconstructed in the present form in AD 1539. It is the only temple in Kerala with oval shaped Sreekovil (Sanctum Sanctorum), though it appears in a circular shape.

In Vaikom Sree Mahadeva Temple, Lord Shiva is worshipped as Dakshina Moorthy in the morning, Kiratha Moorthy at noon and Shakti Panchakshari in the evening. The famous Vaikkathashtami of Vaikom Sree Mahadeva Temple is celebrated in the malayalam month or astrology month Vrischikam (November – December) every year. The thirteen days festival is calculated according to ‘Krishna Paksha – Ashtami’ coming on the 12th day.

The legend behind Vaikom Temple and Vaikkathashtami is that an Asura named Kharan received ‘Shaiva Vidya Upadesa’ from his grandfather Malyavan and went to Chidambaram and did severe penance (Tapasya), praying Lord Shiva to attain Moksha (liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth according to Indian Philosophy). Pleased by the penance of Kharan, Lord Shiva appeared before Kharan and presented three Shiva Lingas and advised him to worship the Lingas to attain Moksha. On the way back with the three Lingas, one on each hands and the other on his neck, Kharan felt tired and find a place to take rest. He placed the Shiva Linga on his right hand at that place, but coudn’t pick it up to continue his journey. At the same time he heard an Assariri (Remnant) from Lord Shiva that he wish to stay in that place. Kharan handed over the Shiva Linga to Maharshi Vyagharpada, who was in penance at that place (Later the Vaikom Sree Mahadeva Temple).

He continued his journey and placed the Shiva Linga on his left hand at Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple and the other one at Kaduthuruthy Thaliyil Mahadeva Temple. Hence it is considered as a powerful trisome and devotees believes that visiting and worshipping these three temples before ‘Ucha Pooja” will fulfill their wishes.

Maharshi Vyagharpada offered pooja and rituals on the Shiva Linga and on one ‘Krishna Paksha – Ashtami’ of malayalam month Vrischikam, Lord Shiva with Devi Parvathiappeared before Maharshi Vyagharpada and blessed him. Lord Shiva proclaimed that the place will be known after Maharshi Vyagharpada as Vyagharpadapuram and later transformed to Vaikom. The day that Lord Shiva appeared before Maharshi Vyagharpada is considered auspicious and the ‘Vaikom Ashtami or ‘Vaikkathashtami’ is observed on the ‘Krishna Paksha – Ashtami’ of Vrischikam.

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