This is a huge temple and
is part of the Trinity of Kaduthuruthy, Ettumanoor and Vaikom Siva temples. The
aspect of Deity here is that of Annadana Prabhu, a giver of food. This is one of
the oldest and largest of all Kerala Siva temples.
The main festival in this
temple is the Vaikath Ashtami, which is performed on the Eighth Lunation in the
Holy Month of Vrischika or Scorpio. The Night of Siva, Siva Ratri and
Thiruvathira, which occurs when the Moon tenants Aridra, are also performed.
Actually the Lord Siva has
a Nirvana Roopam, that is the form of Formless Being, namameesha meeshana
nirvana roopam. His nature is that of the Veda, which was heard in higher states
of Consciousness, Srooyathe ithi Sruthi. He is all pervading, vibhum vyapakam
sarva veda swaroopam. He is without attributes, nijam nirgunam nirvikalpam
nireeham. And He resides in the Sky of Consciousness, chid ananda maakasha vasam
!
But then the Indian mystics
gave Him the form of the ellipsoid or Linga. Arunachala Hills resemble a Siva
Linga, hence He is called Arunachaleswara ! Actually His name and form are
name and form of the Nameless and the Formless !
Without attributes, without
Action
Without fluctuations mental
Without emotions and without Form
Ever liberated, Absolute is He !
In all Shiva temples, you
will find the figure of the sacred Bull or Nandi before the main Deity. This
Bull represents our animal aspect. The symbolism is that we have to remove our
animal aspect to have the Vision of the Lord !
Nrithyathi Nrithyathi Brahma
padam
Nakshatra Nava graha Hamsa Padam
In the infinite Milky Way
Containing thousands of stars
Manifesting eternally
As Sound, as Form
To blossom as the thousand petalled Lotus
The Music of the Spheres is on !
This is the Comic Dance
The dance of subatomic Matter !
Wherein the Lord Dances
His Dance of Eternity !
Full of divine melodies
It is Educational Music !
Pervading everywhere
Hence called Eternal Music, Sanatan Sangeeth !
This is the Adi Thala
The Srishti Sththi Laya Thala
The Thala of the Universe !
The Thala of orbital revolutions
The great Pranava
Pervading the Cosmos !
This is the Thala of Creation
Of Preservation and Destruction
In the drum of the Great Architect !
By Govind
Kumar
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