Thrivikramangalam Mahavishnu temple is located Tamalam Trivikramangalam
junction on the Karamana – Poojappura road from Kizhakkekotta in
Thiruvananthapuram city, Kerala. The main deity worshipped in the temple is
Bhagavan Vishnu. The time lies on the banks of Karamana River.
The murti of Bhagavan Vishnu worshipped here nearly 6 feet
and has four hands – Chaturbahu. The darshanam of Trivikramangalam temple is
towards east. The sankalpam of Vishnu here is of Trivikrama (Vamana taking
huge form).
The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Shiva,
Ganapati, Sastha, Devi and Nagas. Shiva, Ganapathi and Sastha are worshipped to
the north of Sreekovil. Devi and Nagas are worshipped on the left side of the
sreekovil.
The 10-day annual festival begins with kodiyettam on Rohini
Nakshatra in Meenam month (March – April).
Thrivikramangalam Mahavishnu participates in the Kutti-Arattu
of the Padmanabhaswamy temple on the Panguni Uthiram day.
Trivikramangalam Temple History And Architecture
Trivikramangalam temple dates back to the 11th – 12th
century CE and is famous for its sculptures and architecture.
The Sreekovil is three-storeyed and the roof is covered with
tiles. Above the granite Adhishtana there is a rare variety of outstanding
structures made of a rare variety of laterite blocks.
The panels depicting the dancing figures and the Dwarapalaka
figures are also noteworthy. The Dwarapalakas standing on the coils of snakes
carved in granite are located on either side of the main entrance. Dwarapalakas
are comparatively tall and their one leg is resting on the hood of the serpent.
There are three stone relief panels on the balustrade; the
central rectangular one flanked by two triangular pieces carved on vyali panel molded
in the form of an arch. The central compartment contains three figurines
of a dancing woman and two mothers with their kids on both sides of the dancing
woman. The other two panels depicts two types of dance poses along with the
accompanying artists keeping rhythm and time with percussion instruments like
Maram and Thappu.
One of the dancing figures illustrates the posture Ardha Madali
as described in the Natya Shastra of Sage Bharata. The graceful twist of
the danseuse’s body has been portrayed with exquisite workmanship. The seductive
smile and coquettish charm of the danseuse as well as the appreciate fervor on
the face of the percussionists reveal the wonderful aesthetic detail and
artistic sense with which the graceful lithic translation has been made.
There were murals on the lime plastered lower walls of the Sreekovil which are
almost been damaged.
The temple was originally owned by the Kupakkara
Madom.