Thiru Kadithanam Chenganacheri

This is one of the three Kadigai Kshetrams in India
Sahadeva created the Krishna Idol and built the Arputha Narayana temple

Located 4kms east of the Chenganancheri Railway Station (Kottayam-Kayankulam rail route) is the Arputha Narayanan Divya Desam in Thiru Kadithanam. This is one of the three important Kadigai Kshetrams in India, the other two being Thiru Kadigai in Sholingur and Thiru Kandam(Kadinagar) in Devapriya(North).

Stay here for one Kadigai and attain Moksham

Legend has it that those who visit the Arputha Narayana Perumal Koil in Changanachery and stay here for at least one Kadigai (24minutes) will be liberated from all sins/curses. Also read http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2009/03/sholingur-narasimha-at-thiru-kadigai.html

NammAzhvaar's praise of Arputha Narayanan of Thiru Kadithaanam:

"அற்புதன் நாராயணன் அறி வாமணன்

நிற்பது மேவி இருப்பது என் நெஞ்சகம்

நில் புகழ் வேதியர் நான் மறை நின்று அதிர

கற்பகச் சோலைத் திரு கடித்தானமே"

Pandava Brother created the temple

This is one of the five temples amongst the Kerala Divya Desams in this region that dates to the Mahabaratha time. Sahadeva, one of the Pandava brothers, is said to have consecrated this temple. This is one of the special Krishna temples in India specifically dedicated for moksham.

Nam Azhvaar praises the Thiru Kadithanam Lord as under in his Tiruvoimozhi verse:

"கோயில் கொண்டான் திருகடிதானத்தை
கோயில் கொண்டான் அதனோடு என் நெஞ்சகம்
கோயில் கொள் தெய்வமெல்லாம் தொழ வைகுந்தம்
கோயில் கொண்ட குடக்கூத்த அம்மானே"

King Rukmangatha, who belonged to the Surya Dynasty is said to have passed on the fruits of his Ekadesi penance to the Devas and sent them back to their abode (Deva Logam).

Narasimha Sannidhi

There are separate Sannidhis for Narasimha (on the Western side behind the Arputha Narayana Sannidhi), Krishna and Chandra.


‘Festival of Dance’ to Conceive

There was a festival of dance here at this temple. The belief was that ladies dancing with buckets on top of their head and undertaking prayers to Lord Arputha Narayanan would help them conceive.

PeriAzhvaar has made a reference to the above ‘dancing’ in one of his famous verses:

"குடங்கள் எடுதேற விட்டுக் கூத்தாட
வல்லவேன் கோவே மடங்கொள் மதி
முகத்தாரை மால் செய்ய வல்ல வெண் மைந்தா"

Other Festivals

Karthigai Deepam
10day festival in Virchigam
Narasimha Jayanthi

Quick Facts

Moolavar : Arputha Narayanan East Facing Standing Posture
Goddess   : Karpagavalli
Azhvaar   : NamAzhvaar- 11
Time        : 5am-11am and 5pm-8pm
Priest : Vasudevan Namboodari @ 94972 22107 or 0481 2435711

How to reach Chenganacheri

This Divya Desam is located about 4kms East of Chenganacheri in Thiru Kadithanam

Many express trains on the Kochi-Kottayam-Trinvandrum stop at Changanacheri.

(Chennai-Trivandrum Express arrives here at 445am and Chennai Trivandrum mail arrives at 8am)

An auto from the Chenganacheri Railway Station to the Divya Desam will cost Rs.50/-

Chenganancheri is about 2 hour drive from Ernakulam. Buses every 5 minutes on the Kottayam- Chenganacheri route.

Best to have food/lodging at Kochi

One can start the Divya Desam trip here with Thiru Kadithanam and end with Chengannur. The other option is to start with Chengannur and end with Chenganachery