The temple is considered among the greatest temples in Kerala and was the first among eight royal temples of the erstwhile Kochi Kingdom. The deity was also considered the national deity of Cochin and protector guardian of Tripunithura. The deity in this temple is Lord Vishnu, who is in the form of Santhanagopala Murthy.
The temple is famous for its yearly utsavams or festivals. The main one is the Vrishchikoltsawam,which is conducted every year in the month of Vrishchikam (November–December), kicking off the Ulsava season in Kerala. This Vrishchikolsavam is the biggest temple festival in the world followed by the koodalmanikyam ulsavam iringalakkuda (Thrissur pooram is not an utsavam but it is a pooram so not counted as an utsavam) and one of the biggest major festivals in the world.
Famous Festivals
Ambalam Kathi Ulsavam is a unique festival which is observed to commemorate this incident. Thousands of devotees gather at the temple on this special day which falls in the month of Thulam. After the evening deeparadhana, they set fire to camphor arranged around the temple. All the lamps are lit and it gives off a feeling that the entire temple is on fire.
However, this is not the only festival in this temple. The Vrishchikolsavam, which is in late November, is the main festival at this temple.
Vrishchika Ulsavam is a festival which usually starts in November–December every year. The festival lasts for eight days, with events running 24/7. Events feature traditional folk art forms such as Ottan Thullal, Kathakali, thayambaka, Chenda melam, katcheri, maddala ppattu, kombu pattu, and kuzhal pattu. Stalls are set up in front of and behind the temple selling food and various articles.
Apart from this, the temple also hosts two other main festivals and other small celebrations as well every year. The birthday of Sree Poornathrayeesha falls on "Uthram" Nakshathra of the Malayalam month Kumbham (February–March), which is preceded by Para Utsavam, where people give special offerings to the temple. Every year in August–September, there is another festival called Mooshari Utsavam in commemoration of the sculptor who had moulded the divine image of Sree Poornathrayeesan. It is believed the sculptor himself merged with the divine to give life to the amazing mould of Poornathrayeesha, which is still used in the sanctum.
Lakshmi Naryana Vilakku, Uthram Vilakku and Thulam Ombath Utsavam are other main celebrations every year.
Address: Poornathrayeesa temple, Kottakakom, Thrippunithura, Kochi, Kerala 682301
Phone: 0484 277 4007
