Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple
About Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple
Located in Thrippunithura, approximately 10 kilometers southeast of Ernakulam in Kerala's Ernakulam district, Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple stands as one of the foremost temples in the state and was historically the primary royal temple of the erstwhile Kingdom of Cochin. The presiding deity is Lord Vishnu, worshipped as Santhanagopala Murthy or Poornathrayeesa, meaning the Lord of the Three Vedas. The idol depicts the Lord in a seated posture beneath the five hoods of the divine serpent Anantha, a unique representation distinct from the reclining pose found in other Vishnu temples. The upper hands hold the conch and Sudarshana Chakra while the lower right hand holds a lotus flower. According to temple tradition, Lord Vishnu bestowed this sacred idol upon Arjuna to aid in restoring life to ten children of a Brahmin, and the sanctum was subsequently constructed in the form of a chariot to commemorate this divine event. The temple is administered by the Cochin Devaswom Board and is particularly celebrated for its Vrishchikotsavam, considered among the world's grandest festivals, which draws more than 40 elephants in procession, reflecting the deity's renowned affinity for these majestic animals.
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