Tripunithura Temple is the temple with maximum number of festivals in a calendar year. The Vrischikolsavam festival of Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple is the most important one. Tripunithura Temple Vrischikolsavam 2024 date is November 28 to December 6. The 8-day festival is observed in such a manner that it ends on the Thiruvonam nakshatra day in Vrischikam month.
The festival is also known as Anguradi festival.
The festival is a rare occasion to listen to all traditional Kerala temple music. Melam, Panchavadyam, Thayambaka, Madhalapattu, Kombu Pattu, Kuzhal Pattu etc are performed during the 8-day festival.
The main highlight of the festival is Ezhunnallippu (procession of the utsava murti of the temple atop an elephant). Fifteen caparisoned elephants accompany the deity with Panchari Melam as music.
Panchari Melam with all its perfection is performed in the temple during the festival and it lasts for about 3.5 hours. Panchari Melam is followed by adantha melam and conclude with the third and fourth division of the chembada melam, which is famous here as nadapura melam.
Thrikketta Purappadu - December 1, 2024
Fourth day of the festival is known as Thrikketta Purappadu. Vilwamangalam Swamiyar visited the temple during the festival period and found the divine presence in the procession and not in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. So it is believed that the deity leaves the sanctum sanctorum and visits the devotees during the procession. The procession takes place at night before a huge crowd that makes various offerings including money.
The Kathakali and Carnatic music performed during the 8-day festival is noted for the participation of famous artists. Some of the world renowned musicians of South India gave their best music performance in the temple.
Some of the temple arts like Kurathiyattam, Ottamthullal, Seethankan Thullal, Patakom and Sandhya kali are performed during the festival.
Some Facts About Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple
The main deity worshipped in the temple is Poornathrayeesa (Bhagavan Narayana). It is also believed that the murti is Vaikuntanathan and Santhanagopalan. Thrayee signifies Rig, Yajur and Sama Vedas. As He is the God of the Three Vedas, the deity in the temple is known as Thrayeesha.
The belief is that Arjuna got murti worshipped in the temple from Vaikuntha. He installed it in the place.
It is believed that the first shrine here was constructed in the beginning of Kali Yuga.
The main deity faces east. It is mandatory that Tantri should be present daily during a puja. Presence of elephant daily is also mandatory. There is a Ganapathy Vigraha in fallen posture in the temple. It is believed that it accidently fell when leg of Arjuna hit it when he was performing the Prathishta of the main murti.