The Lord Vamana Temple, Thrikkakara                              

Behind the Darwinian Evolution of the Species, the Rishies knew that there is an Evolution of Consciousness. This Consciousness evolution was symbolised by them as the Ten Incarnations of the Lord ! Life came from the sea and the first manifestation was the unicellular amoeba, as per Science. This principle was symbolised by them as the Fish Incarnation or Matsya Avatara !

Sir Erasmus Darwin belonged to the Lunar Society in Calcutta. From two Vedic Theories, viz the Law of Metempsychosis or Rebirth and the Theory of Ten Incarnations, he developed the Theory of Evolution. The East India Company via him took this Theory to London. Finally his grandsom, Charles Darwin, established this theory as the Law of Evolution in his magnum opus " The Origin of the Species " !

Man evolves and evolves from the unicellular amoeba to Divine Status, to that of Buddhahood, through millions of incarnations. This is the quintessence of Indian Philosophy.  From Koham, " Who am I " to Soham " He am I ".

This temple is dedicated to Lord Vamana, one of the incarnations of the Lord. King Bali was a righteous person, but afflicted by Egoism. So the Lord had to incarnate as a Dwarf. Bali gave him three boons. The dwarf grew into the Universe and Bali knew immediately who was before him ! The Lord ! The Lord had to place his Foot somewhere and he asked Bali " Where do I place My Foot". Bali humbled himself before the Divine Dwarf and said " Place it on my head" !

The King, when he knew that he was being banished, pleaded with the Lord that he be allowed to visit Kerala once a year and the Lord obliged. 

This event is celebrated all over Kerala as Onam, the Day of Abundance ! Thiru - Kal - Kara, the place where the Lord placed his foot became Thrikkakkara !

Kapila, the proponent of Sankhya Philosophy, one of the six main sciences of  Philosophia Vedica, did his penance here and the Lord appeared before him.  Kapila pleaded with Lord Vishnu to stay at Thrikkakkara and the Lord obliged !

Onam, the traditional festival of Kerala, is associated with this Temple. The main festival in this Temple is the ten day annual festival, which occurs in the sidereal month of Leo or Chingam. It begins on a Hasta day, when the Moon tenants the constellation of Atham or Hasta or Delta Corvi. It ends with a Divine Bath, arattu, on Sravana day.  Those who could not attend this festival celebrated Onam in their own homes by making attractive Pookalams or flower decorations on the floors and offering special nivedyams to the Lord of Thrikkakara, Thrikkakarappan !

Location of this temple is in Ernakulam Dist and it is two kms east of Edappilly, in Kochi.  One need not emphasise that this temple has great mythological significance !

By  Govind  Kumar

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