Sree Vishwanathaswamy Temple
April 19, 2010 by admin
Filed under Sree Vishwanathaswamy Temple
Kalpathy agraharam, a Brahmin settlement in the form of row houses, consists of five villages – Chathapuram, Old Kalpathy, New Kalpathy, Govindarajapuram and Vaidhyananthapuram. The streets, beaded with houses adjoining both sides and a temple for each settlement, are a typical feature of agraharams.
Sree Visalakshi Sametha Sree Vishwanathaswamy temple, popularly known as Dakshin Kasi and locally as kundukovil located in the Palakkad district. Sree Vishwanathaswamy Temple was built in 1452 by Itti Kombi Achan, the Raja of Palakkad. The temple plan is of Dravidian style with a sanctum that is square and has a pillared portico in front. Profusely carved wooden columns enclose the entire temple. A pillared ‘nandi mandapam’ is located outside the entrance and there is a flag post in front.
This is the venue where the world famous Kalpathy Ratholsavam takes place. This archaic temple settles at the bank of the quiet Kalpathy River (Nila River). This charming temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and his consort Visalakshi (Goddess Parvathi).
The temple is situated at the bottom of eighteen steps leading from the eastern Gopuram. In the south – west direction of the temple is situated the temple of Sri Lakshminaryana Perumal of Old Kalpathy Village and Prassana Maha Ganapathy of Chathapuram village. In the east are the Kshipraprasada Maha Ganapathy temple of Pandhrandaam Teruvu (12th street) and the Manthakara Maha Ganapathi Temple of New Kalpathy village and in the east – west direction is the Sree Varadaraja Perumal of Govindarajapuram Village. In the eastern direction at one kilometre distance is the Chokkanathar temple of Chokkanathapuram Village.
There is a flag staff erected in front of the temple. The idol of Sree Vishwananthaswamy is situated facing the east and Visalakshi facing the south.