Thrikkodithanam
# Thrikkodithanam

Thrikkodithanam is a village in Kottayam district in the state of Kerala, India. It is located on the outskirts of Changanassery Municipality.

The area of the villages is 9.5 $km^2.$ The local administrative body is called the Panchayat and it is one of the seven in Madapally Block. Other Panchayats adjoining Thrikodithanam are Paippad and Kunnamthanam.

## Demographics

As of 2001 Thrikkodithanam had a population of 33,087 according to the India census: 16,482 males and 16,605 females.

## Etymology

The name Thrikodithanam is believed to have come from the thi-kodi-sthanam, meaning "location of three flags".

## Mahavishnu Temple

The village is famous for its Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple, which was built during the reign of the second Chera Empire c. 800 AD. There is a stone fortress called Bhoodathan Kotta around this temple. According to local legends, the fortress was built out of a single stone, overnight, by a spirit (bhoodam). There is also a beautiful lake in front of the temple. Devoted to Lord Vishnu, Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Kshetram, alias Adbhuta Narayanan Temple, is one of the five Pancha-Pandava temples in Kerala and among the 108 Vishnu temples in India. This 9th-century temple is located at Thrikodithanam in Changanacherry, 25 km from Kottayam. Adbhuta Narayanan is the chief deity and his idol along with consort Karpagavalli, in standing posture, is made of an unusual black stone called Aanjana-kallu. The temple also houses the idols of Lord Shiva, Lord Krishna, Ganapathi, Narasimha, Nagadevas, and Kshetrapala.The temple structure is an architectural excellence adorned with beautiful mural paintings. The temple sanctum (sreekovil) is a double-storied structure built on a circular plan. The base of the sanctum is made of three ft high rounded granite stones and centuries old inscriptions can be seen here. The temple complex has two entrances, i.e. on the east and west.

## Sri Murugan Temple

Sri Murugan temple is situated next to Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple. Most devotees visiting the Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple also happen to visit the Sri Murugan temple.

## Temple Pond

There is a beautiful and sacred pond near the main entrance of Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple, i.e. Eastern Gate. Between the pond and the entrance there a strange granite statue known as Kazhivetti kallu. The 10-day annual festival is celebrated during the lunar month of Vrishchigom (November–December). The major highlight of the festival commences after dusk on the 9th day and carries on until the early hours of the following morning. It is a huge display of 1001 flares made of cloth bundles dipped in oil and placed on a pyramidal structure.

