Trichambaram Temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and is
located at Taliparamba in the Kannur District of Kerala, India. The temple is
noted for a unique tradition unheard in other Sri Krishna temples in India and
world – first food then puja. Another tradition is that elephants are not
allowed in the temple.
After opening the temple doors first in the morning, the
naivedyam (food) is offered to the presiding deity Sri Krishna. This is strange
because the food is offered to a deity in the temple after danthadavana –
brushing of teeth and snana. Any liquid or solid is offered to the deity after
a couple of purification rituals.
The golden rule followed in all temples is broken at
Trichambaram Temple for a specific reason and due to a demanding situation.
It is said that Sri Krishna here likes the offering of the
food first. He had suggested that he could not tolerate elaborate rituals on an
empty stomach.
The murti of Bhagavan Sri Krishna worshipped in Trichambaram
Temple is if of Bhagavan Balakrishna exactly after killing Kamsa, Chanura, the
court wrestler, and Kuvalaya, the royal elephant.
As he was exhausted after such a terrible fight, he
naturally developed unusual hunger. Hence, the tradition of offering food first
in the morning before any other ritual.
Trichambaram Temple is one of the rarest temples in which Bhagavan Sri Krishna is worshipped in Raudra Bhavaam (ferocious form).
No Elephants In Temple Rituals
The deity is carried on the head of priests instead of
elephants during pujas, rituals, and festivals. In Kerala, it is a tradition to
carry the utsava murti (temporary idol) during festivals on an elephant.
The reason is that Sri Krishna worshipped here had just
killed Kuvalaya, the royal elephant. So he would not like to see another
elephant.