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The glory of Sreekanteswaram
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Many a poet has sung the glory of the Lord of Sreekanteswaram.
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SREEKANTESWARAM IS known for the temple of Lord Shiva. There is another temple by the same name at old Puthenchantha (the area near Overbridge), which has over the years acquired the name Pazhaya Sreekanteswaram.
The Pazhaya Sreekanteswaram temple is located at an inconspicuous place, at the end of a lane opposite the SMV School for Boys on M.G. Road. The lane is flanked on both sides by buildings. The temple has two main deities - Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. There are a few eateries in the vicinity of the temple. The fragrance of camphor and incense sticks wafting across the compound of the temple is smothered by the smell of meat being roasted in spices at the eateries. The importance of this temple began to wane with the rise of the new Sreekanteswaram, but one can still find references to it in the Mathilakam records (documents relating to the administration of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple), dated 1587. The Chirikandeswaram mentioned in the record could bear reference to the old Sreekanteswaram. The old Sreekanteswaram was on the route taken by the King during Pallivetta, a ritual connected with the festivities of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
The new Sreekanteswaram is located to the southwest of the old temple. It is bounded by Punnapuram and Kaithamukku on the west, Puthenchantha on the east, the Fort on the south. The railway line bisects Chettikulangara, which is to the north of Sreekanteswaram.
Among the old topographical features of Sreekanteswaram, one would find that two aristocratic, old Brahmin houses - the Koopakkara madom and Kallanthattil madom - had some historic importance. Koopakkara madom once overlooked the vast lands, Pandara vilakom, belonging to the King. The Koopakara Pottis constituted one of the nine hereditary trustees of the ettara yogam of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple. These Brahmins occupied a pride of place in the history of Venad before the rise of Maharaja Marthanda Varma. The ettara yogam also included the King of Travancore.
The Koopakara madom owned a priceless collection of very old palm-leaf manuscripts. Many came here to seek knowledge and refer to the manuscripts, including Chattambi Swamikal.
The Kallanthattil Namboothiris belonged originally to Kolathunadu in Kannur. One of them came to Padmanabhapuram during the reign of Maharaja Marthanda Varma seeking to train the heir-apparent in martial arts. But, prior to entrusting him with the training, the King wished to test the trainer's skill and agility. gurukkal, After becoming convinced of his martial skills, the King invited the gurukkal to stay at Sreekanteswaram, which was close to the royal kalari at Sree Paadam palace. This was during the 18th century, when the capital of Travancore was shifted to Thiruvananthapuram. The story of how the gurukkal succeeded in impressing the King is narrated in Kottarathil Sankunni's `Aithihyamala' (`The Legends of Kerala'). Many years later, some of the members of the Kallanthattil family shifted to Thiruvalla. Poet Vishnu Narayanan Namboothiri's mother is a descendant of this family. Sreekanteswaram was also home to Sreekanteswaram Padmanabha Pillai (1864-1945), lexicographer and scholar, who compiled the `Sabdatharavali', an authentic Malayalam dictionary.
An effort that bore fruit after 20 long years of relentless research, the `Sabdatharavali' was the first of its kind to be compiled by a Malayali.
Old timers also recall another interesting figure, Bhaktan Parameswaran, who used to frequent the temple. A writer and publisher, Bhaktan Parameswaran used to promote low-priced religious books. Many a poet - right from Irayimman Thampi to Tulasivanam (R. Ramachandran Nair) - has sung the glory of the Lord of Sreekanteswaram.
M.G. SASIBHOOSHAN
BINDU SASIBHOOSHAN
Photo: S. Gopakumar
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
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Visakhapatnam
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