SREE POORNATHRAYEESA MANDIR, KOCHI (KER)

First among 8 royal Mandirs of erstwhile Kochi Kingdom. Sri Poornathrayeesa/ Vishnu is sitting under the shade of five hoods of Ananthan, whose folded body acts as the throne. Also called Santhana Gopala Moorthy (Saviour of infants).


It is said that the murti of Sri Poornathrayeesa was given to Arjuna by Vishnu, when Arjun sought his help to give rebirth to the ten children of a brahmin. Arjuna along with the ten children and the murti returned in his chariot and handed over the children to the brahmin.


Arjun then sent Ganesh to search a place for installing the murti. He was attracted by the holiness of Poornavedapuram (now Tripunithura), and tried to occupy the place for himself. However, Arjuna moved him to the southern side of the Mandir and installed the murti.


He then plucked some mustard seeds from surrounding fields and lit a lamp in front of the murti. Devotees consider the evershining “Valia Vilakku” here as the oil lamp lighted by Arjuna. Burnt oil of this traditional lamp possesses great medicinal value.


Poornathrayeesa is also known for his elephant love. More than 40 elephants participate in his Vrishchikotsavam and most of the elephants are sent for the utsavam without a money return expected by the elephant owners as Poornathrayeesa is considered to be elephant lover.

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