Thirukkodithanam Mahavishnu Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Cochin International Airport is the nearest airport in Kottayam district.

• By train

  The nearest railway station to the temple is in Changanassery, the town where the temple stands.

• By road

  The temple is on the outskirts of Changanassery, which lies 17 km south of Kottayam, the district headquarters. Kottayam is linked to other Kerala cities by major roads and rail.

Rules to know

• Only the head priest (Thantri) and the second priest (Melshanthi) may enter the sanctum.

Why devotees come here

Thirukkodithanam Mahavishnu Temple stands on the outskirts of Changanassery in Kottayam district, Kerala. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams, where Krishna is worshipped as Mahavishnu. Legend links it to Sahadeva, one of the Pandavas.

Legend says Sahadeva, one of the Pandavas, built the temple. Legend also says the Pandava princes set out on pilgrimage after crowning Parikshit as king of Hastinapura. Kerala Tourism calls it an ancient Pancha Pandava temple, linked to the five Pandavas of the Mahabharata. The Alvar saints' Nalayira Divya Prabandham, an early medieval Tamil canon, glorifies the temple.

The temple is believed to date from around the 7th century CE. It is known for ancient stone carvings, wall inscriptions, mural paintings and wooden carvings of deities, and its wall paintings date back to the early 18th century. The sanctum stands on an elevated platform reached by five steps. The presiding image is 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, and the two-storeyed gopuram, or gateway tower, has wooden trails covering its upper storey.

Festivals

• MonthlySravana Deepam

  A festival of light, performed every month at the temple.

Tips for your visit

• Look for the granite statue near the eastern entrance, which is said to be a stern reminder that bribery and dishonesty cannot be tolerated.
• The sanctum sits on a raised platform, reached by five steps.

Questions people ask