Proceedures of Darshans at Vadakkunnathan Temple, Thrissur
Sree Vadakkumnnathan Temple, like most of the old and established temples built centuries ago, has its own procedures as to how the darsanams and prayers are to be made. The procedures are mostly laid down by some saintly persons like Aadi Sankaracharya.The same is given below.
The famous Siva (Vadakkumnnathan) Temple of Thrissur is situate in the heart of the town. It is on high level comparing to other parts of the Thrissur town as it is on a hillock. Thrissur Vadakkumnnathan Temple is having 2 rounds of shrines, the outer round of sub shrines and the inner main shrine and other sub shrines for various gods. The temple is having a prescribed scheme of darshans/darsanams outside the chuttambalam/chutrambalam i.e. the darshans of the deities outside the main shrines but inside the main compound. Similarly there is also a scheme fixed for darshans inside the chuttambalam. The procedure is to cover all the shrines in an orderly manner.
Thrissur was also known as "VRISHABHADRIPURAM" and "THEN KAILASAM" in ancient days due to the presence of Sivan (Vadakkumnnathan).
Procedures to be followed Outside the Chuttambalam (outer prakaram)of Vadakkumnnathan Temple
1.Go to the Sree Moola sthanam and pray. This is on a platform around a peepal/arayaal tree outside the main Gopuram on the west Nada. The same is on our left side when we face the Gopuram.
2.Pray to Gosala Krishnan. This shrine is inside the outer compound wall on the North West side.
3.Pray to Nandikeswaran. This shrine is on the West side.
4.Parasuraman's small shrine is on the North east corner on our right side. Pray here.
5.Pray to Simhodaran in front of its shrine on the East side.
6.Turn to North and have darshans of Kasi Viswanathan. There is no deity or shrine.
7.There is a hole in the inner compound wall, covering main shrines in the inner sanctum. Through the hole look at the crown (thazhika kudam) of the Vadakkumnnathan shrine and pray.
8.There is a platform in the South East side of the compound. Climb on to this, turn to North and pray to Chidamaranathan. No deity/shrine is there.
9.When we come to South side gopura pathway turn to South and pray to Kodungallur Bhagavathi.
10.Climb on the platform at the Right (West) side of the South Gopuram and
a. Pray to Koodalmanikya Swamy of Iringalakuda.
b. From the same point pray to Oorakathamma Thiruvadi.
c. On the platform turn to North and look at the thazhika kudam of Vadakkumnnathan and pray.
11.Proceed to Vyasa Sila on a platform to our right side and write ‘Hari Sree Ganapathaye Nama: on the designated stone.
12.From there go to Ayyappa swaamy shrine and Pray.
13.Proceed to ‘Sree Mrita Sanjeevani ‘enclosure and pray.
14.Have darshans of Nagaraja Swamy at the west.
15.Pray at Aadi Sankaran's place at the west.
16.Pray at Sanku Chakram at the west.Procedures to be followed Inside the Chuttambalam of Vadakkumnnathan Temple Complex
Enter inner complex through the Western entrance. As soon as we enter, we will find a shrine to our left dedicated to Nandi (Ox).
1. Look at and pray to the picture of Vasuki (the serpent of Siva) on the north side of Nandi.
2. Look at the picture of Nataraja Swami on the East side of Nandi enclosure and pray.
3. Pray to Vettekkaran.
4. Proceed towards Sree Vadakkumnnathan shrine have darshan and pray.
5. Go to Sree Parvathy shrine (East Nada) at the back side of Vadakkunnthan Swaamy. We are not to go in clockwise direction. Pray to her.
6. from there go to the dedicated shrine for Ganapathy and pray to him.
7. Go to Sree Snakaranarayanan Swamy shrine on to the right side of Vadakkumnnathan shrine.
8. from there proceed to Sree Raman next to Sree Snakaranarayanan shrine.
9. Come back to Sri Snakaranarayanan shrine
10. from there to Sri Ganapathi and proceed as under to pray though there are many repetitions.
11. Sri Parvathi
12. Sri Vadakkunnathan
13. Mahaganapathi again
14. Sri Sankaranarayanan
15. Sri Raman.
16. Sri Sankaranarayanan
17. Sree Raman
18. Sree Sankaranarayanan
19. Sri Mahaganapthi
20. Sri Parvathi and
21 Sri Vadakkumnnathan
The above procedure is copied from the temple notice boards placed inside the main compound. These details are given to facilitate the devotees intended to go there for prayer.
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Thanks for uploading... Must understand the above things before the darshan at vadakkunathan temple. May sree vadakkunathan bless you....