Sri Vamana Temple Kodavalam

Sri Vamana Temple –
Kodavalam

Sri Vamana Temple is in North Kerala at Kodavalam Village near Kanhangad. Here the Vamana Murti is in the form of Vishwaroopam that he had shown to King Mahabali. Kodavalam Vishnu Temple is more than 1100 year old and is also associated with the Teyyam ritual.

The idol of Vamana Avatar of Vishnu worshipped here has four hands and holds – Conch, mace, disc and lotus.

History

The Bhagavata Purana describes that Lord Vishnu descended as the Vamana avatar to restore the authority of Indra, the King of the heaven, as it had been taken by Mahabali, an asura. Bali was the grandson of Prahlada, the renowned Vishnu devotee. King Mahabali was generous, and engaged in severe austerities and penance and won the praise of the world. Vamana, in the guise of a short Brahmin, carrying a wooden umbrella, went to the king to request three paces of land. Mahabali consented, against the warning of his guru. Vamana, then revealed his identity and enlarged to gigantic proportions to stride over the three worlds. He stepped from heaven to earth with the first step. King Mahabali, unable to fulfill his promise, offered his head for his third step. Vamana then placed his foot and gave the king immortality for his humility. In giant form, Vamana is known as Trivikrama.

Mahabali is supposed to return every year to the land of his people, to ensure that they are prosperous. This is celebrated as the Onam festival in Kerala, and he is also called Maveli.